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Tips To Organize Your Garage

From Grunge to Garagemahal

The American Dream used to be a car in every garage. Nowadays, most homeowners just dream about being able to fit their car in the garage. No matter the size of garage, the amount of junk, tools and extras always outweighs the available space. But with a weekend of elbow grease and a little planning – and yes, some elimination – even the most cluttered garage can once again be a safe haven for the family truckster.

garage clutter

You’re gonna get dirty

Even the most fastidious homeowner can neglect the garage. It’s just a catchall and doesn’t rank up there with the foyer or the modern kitchen. Blowing debris, mud tracked in from the kids, and dog hair from the family pet all add up to one heck of a messy place when it comes time to clean.

Pick a nice sunny weekend and empty the garage. Don’t just pull the lawnmower out. Gut it. Pull the lawn chairs down off the wall. Take the recycling bins to the back yard. This is the time to employ the “10 second rule.” As you grab an item, give yourself 10 seconds to have a valid reason for keeping it. If there’s no good reason then it goes in the trash pile or the sell pile. If it’s not there for a reason, it doesn’t stay. More than likely you’ll be saying goodbye to the newspapers you have kept for the last few years as kindling for the backyard burn pit you never built. And the toddler swing and kiddie bike should go on the sell pile considering your youngest just went on his first date.

Make it empty and survey your space.

Once the garage is empty, swept and de-webbed on the walls, you can make a map of where your treasures will actually live. Now is the time to consider putting in a work bench and corner off a work space. Check the walls for the most logical place to hang yard implements and bins for athletic and outdoor equipment. If you have a furnace and water heater in the garage, make a safe zone around the appliances. Do this especially if your home is newer so you do not void the home warranty.

Use a tape measure and notebook paper and lay out a schematic of the garage floor plan. When placing the car in the picture, make sure to leave room for properly opening the doors without scraping the wall, lawnmower or second car. Make the bicycle corral easily accessible for the kids so mom and dad don’t have to constantly be moving a car every time junior wants to ride around the block.

Time to invest

Hammering up a couple nails to hold the rake and shovel is old school and frowned upon in the reorganization world. Plan on investing a bit of money to get the most bang for your cleanup buck. Adjustable snap-lock hanger systems, plastic or metal shelving units, and a component-based work bench and storage cabinet system allow the garage owner to configure the space to their desired needs. Reorganization kits and supplies take into account that the center of the garage is for a car. But the walls can, and should be, utilized from the ground to the ceiling.

If you install it, they will come

Have a plan and stick to the plan when it comes time to re-fill the garage. Mount your fittings and hang the tools. Install the work bench and go ahead and fill the drawers and organize your tools. Having the component and letting it be a catch-all for organizing at a later date puts you right back at square one. Shelving units do no good still in the box propped up in the corner. Build them and fill them.

An organized garage is a helpful tool for any homeowner. And an organized homeowner is a happy one. Clutter gone.

Is your garage in need of some remodeling and renovation?  Contact us today for a free estimate!                                                                        

Bathroom Organization Tips

Bathroom organization styles that work smarter – not harder

bathroom organization tips

Hairdryers, toothbrushes, combs, hair brushes and picks. Shaving utensils, makeup, styling products and perfumes. The collection of grooming and beauty tools cluttering the bathroom vanity can quickly overwhelm everything, making the space unusable for guests and creating difficulty in finding the tools you need.

The bathroom should be a functional room that works for you. It’s where you start and end your day, so you want the space to give you energy and focus, not throw you off your routine because you can’t find what you need.

This is the perfect time of year to get organized, so why not start in the bathroom? The first step is to consider the entire room space. Does the vanity, mirror or shelving unit provide the storage space and accessibility you need for all your grooming items? If not, it may be time to personalize your bathroom space to accommodate everyone who uses the room. Here are some ways to create a personalized and stylish bathroom:

* Separate grooming areas – If you share a bathroom with someone who rises at the same time as you in the morning, it can quickly get congested in the room. Choosing a vanity with two sinks and related storage space is one solution to create better space and prevent grooming tools from getting mixed up or lost.

* The right fit – When incorporating a new vanity into your bath, it’s often difficult to find the right fit in size, style and functionality. You want a vanity that holds all the extra supplies needed in the bathroom – extra shampoo, clean towels, toilet paper and tissues – so they’re available for residents and guests alike. Plus you want something that matches the decor you already have in the room. Kohler’s Tailored Vanity Collection provides several size options, configurations and wood finishes as well as top materials in a variety of shapes and colors to perfectly blend into your bathroom style.

* Smart storage – Drawers and shelves in the vanity provide a great way to keep all your grooming tools within reach, and they can still be hidden away so guests can use the bathroom without seeing all of your clutter. Kohler’s Tailored Vanity Collection allows you to customize the look and use of your vanity, making it fit with your unique style. You can design the storage space with trays and dividers to best work for you. This also applies to the adjustable shelves, roll-out drawers and optional built-in electric outlets for the interior.

Organization can be the key to a successful day. With all of these storage options in your bathroom, you’ll be able to find the grooming tool you need when you need it, so you can start the day off right.

Ready to update your bathroom? Give us a call or send us an email!

Useful tips when preparing your home for a dog

adopt a petWelcoming a new dog into your home doesn’t have to be a daunting task. In fact, with a little research and the right know-how, you will be able to prepare your home for your dog in next to no time. This article explores how to prepare your home for your new dog, with tips on the steps you and your family can take to welcome the pet into your property.

1. Clean your home

Cleaning your home thoroughly is imperative if you are introducing any pet into your home, but especially important if you are bringing home a new puppy. As young dogs will often want to chew everything, make sure that the floors of your home are clean and tidy, and free from dust, grime and any other small items which could cause your animal to choke. You may also want to secure electrical wires to prevent a serious injury, as well as moving any valuable possessions to another room where your dog won’t be able to access.

2. Secure rooms that you don’t want your dog to visit

If there are rooms in your home where you’d prefer your dog to stay away from, install baby gates that will open and close easily. You will be able to secure these tightly preventing your dog from accessing certain rooms of the home. Your dog will still be able to see you through the gates, so these items are far less intimidating than other ways to prevent access.

3. Talk to your family about your new pet

It is important to talk to every member of your family about your new pet and how their lives could change significantly once the new dog has come home. If you have young children, it will be a good idea to sit them down and discuss what it entails to look after and care for a dog. You may want to sit down as a family and comprise a budget for the new pet. Write down things such as the cost of dog food, potential veterinary bills, and the cost of toys and accessories. You may also want to come up with a routine for walking the dog; perhaps members of the family can take it in turns to walk the dog depending on the time of day.

4. Move furniture and make space for your new dog

Clearing out a cupboard to make way for dog food and accessories is a good idea if you are welcoming a new dog into your home. You will need to prepare healthy meals for your dog everyday so it’s important to have all the food in one place for easy access. Let members of your family know about the “designated cupboard”.

5. Keep the home free from clutter at all times

There are certain things you may not be able to do once you have welcomed your new puppy into your home. These changes are only small, but you may have to adapt the way you do things to ensure the safety of your pet. You should no longer leave bags or containers on the floor as dogs – especially puppies – will get into the items. This can be extremely dangerous for your dog, so make sure you are aware of what you are leaving around the house and where.

6. Try and relax the dog

One the day that your new puppy is due to come home, you may want to make things as relaxing as possible for your new pet. Try and make the journey home as calming as possible. Your new dog may be nervous about meeting all of you for the first time, especially a new puppy. Try and make your puppy go to the toilet before it gets into the car.

7. Prepare your dog’s sleeping area in the home

A well-prepared sleeping area for your dog can really make it feel at home. Think about a comfortable dog bed with cushions, toys and accessories. The dog bed will need to be positioned in a part of the house that will provide easy access for the animal. There are a number of factors to consider if you are purchasing a dog bed for the first time. The product should be the right size, and should allow you to wash the bed frequently and easily (perhaps with a removable and washable cover).

Author bio:

Andrea Hudson is a passionate blogger and a great animal lover. She loves writing articles about home remodeling and how to improve your home space when getting a new pet . In her free time she enjoys taking long walks with her two small dogs.

If you’re considering getting a new pet for your home in Westchester County, NY, please visit the SPCA of Westchester.  They have an amazing amount of animals waiting for their forever home 🙂

Top Home Improvement Tips 2014

Share Your Favorite Home Improvement Tips for 2014!

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Children’s Room Interior Design Tips

Design Tips For Your Children’s Room

There are many ways you can keep your kids room vibrant, well-organized and inspired. The following tips will give you some great ideas you can use to handle this in a more creative way:

Children's Room Interior Design Tips  Children's Room Interior Design Tip

• First of all, you should keep in mind that colors play a huge part in the overall ambiance of a room so; in this case, you might want to stick to the more soothing hues. You can work with colors such as lavender or soft, warm colors. These will help your kids sleep well and relax when they’re not running about the place.

• You can put up a sturdy piece of art or a favorite photo of you and your little ones and finding a cool frame at a garage sale or resale shop. You can take a photo of a favorite place you’ve been together, enlarging it and cutting it to smaller pieces you can frame and then hang up on the wall.

• You can also use chalkboard paint to create a giant blackboard where your kids may draw with chalkboard or some washable markers. You can see if you can buy some re-purposed school lockers to add to the corner or you could just go with a less school-oriented furniture piece.

• You can also create a nice reading corner for your kids complete with their own bookcase, a good light and some comfy seating.

• Buy some frames and use them to showcase the best art works of your child in their room. This will serve a dual purpose of function and decoration, as they will have a chance to feel your pride in their creations.

• You can use a number of organizers with multiple pockets to hang on a closet door. This will help your kids store their trinkets and smaller objects without having a huge number of them on display around the room or on the floor, ready to step on.

• You can help improve the storage closet by installing a mirror, light boxes and some magnetic boards. These will help with their projects or just having fun in general.

• Your kids will also need a nice and comfortable study space where they can deal with their homework in peace. This will greatly help with school in the long run.

• You can stock a number of cubbies with any supplies your kids may need at school or at home. These will allow them to access everything with ease, while at the same time keeping it simple and even mobile when needed, depending on what the cubby looks like. One with pull-out bins would be excellent for this situation.

• Try getting creative and make your own DIY storage solution. Whether its bins made of something you have at home or another way, it can be a fun project for you to enjoy with your kids.

For further tips visit: Chiswick cleaning services

5 Tips For Making Your Move a Smooth One

 

New Home
Source: www.aspenrentalsmn.com

Buying a home is one of the most thrilling experiences in a person’s life. However, moving into it is another story entirely. Moving is stressful. There is no way around it. First you have to find boxes to pack your stuff in, then you have to pack everything you own into those boxes. Then you have to carry all those boxes and your incredibly heavy furniture out to the moving truck. Then you have to drive to your new home – that could take minutes or days! Then you have to carry all of that stuff back inside. After all that, you still have to unpack and organize your home. That’s a lot of work! Enough to make anyone want to run the other way, but you just bought a new home, and you are going to move into it. Don’t worry! It will be over sooner than you think. In the meantime, here are five things you can do that will help make moving a little less daunting.

1. Start Early

Usually we find ourselves scurrying around a day or two before a move putting things into boxes. This creates unnecessary stress, and it can mean that your things aren’t packed carefully. Start a couple weeks ahead of time and pack up everything you don’t absolutely need for the coming weeks. Take extra care packing china. Get storage closets packed up and make sure there is nothing lurking in the backs of drawers, under beds, or behind the couch. A week before your move you can pack up the kitchen dishes and most of your family’s clothing. You can live on paper plates and microwave dinners for a week, I promise. Sort out the clothes that you will need for the week and pack up everything else. This way the day before your move, there won’t be much left to put in boxes.

2. Label Everything

Label every box as soon as you finish packing it. Make sure the label clearly states what is in the box and which room you want it to go in. This way, no matter who takes the box out of the truck, they know which room to put it in. Make sure the labels are easily visible. It will save you tons of time sorting out which rooms the boxes go in later.

3. Enlist help

Call your dad, your sister, you best friend, and your neighbors over to help you out. Don’t feel bad about it. The more people who help, the faster and easier it will be. Just remember to help them out the next time they move.

4. Confirm your moving day schedule

If you are moving out of a rented place, make sure you know what time your final walk-through is. If possible, leave someone behind to go through with your landlord after all of your things are out. Also, it is a good idea to send someone ahead to the new house and have them make sure they can unlock the doors easily. If you are not getting the keys until you arrive, then double check the time for key pick up with your Realtor or previous owner. Send someone ahead for this if you can. Have this person open all the interior doors in the house. It will make dropping off boxes and arranging furniture so much easier.

5. Clean before you move–in

Home buying can be a dirty process. If at all possible, clean your new home before you start moving things into it. If you cannot physically get there to do it, try to arrange to have a maid-service come in and clean before your arrival. The last thing you want to do after a long day of moving is clean the bathroom, so you can take a shower. Plus, you don’t want to try to put things away in a dirty kitchen. It’s an extra step, but one you will be happy you took.

Managing That Mess of a Garage

garageAh, the garage: that all-purpose locker with seemingly less space for cars and more for old bikes, tools, boxes of junk and lawn chairs. If you can barely wade through your garage without navigating a sea of toys, garden tools and deflated basketballs, it’s time to organize the mess and get back on track!

Start Fresh

Your first step is to clear everything out of the garage and onto the driveway or lawn. As you do so, make a pile for items you want to keep, a pile for garbage, and a pile for donations. Once the garage is cleared of all junk, do any necessary cleaning such as sweeping and power washing if the floor is in bad condition with oil spills and the like.

Purchase cabinets, clear bins and racks for storage and place these along the walls. Consolidate like items on one rack or bin and clearly mark or label each bin for easy identification. HGTV says storing like items together can help you streamline your household routines.

Install decorative hooks near the doorway for hanging jackets and lay a waterproof mat on the floor for placing wet and dirty boots. If this all seems too overwhelming to you, hire a professional organizer to come into your garage and do this job for you. He or she will have experience organizing large and small rooms using as much usable space as possible.

Properly Store Hazardous Materials

Chemicals, paint and auto fluids can be dangerous in garages. Because so many people store things like pesticides and anti-freeze on floors or shelves in garages, curious children or pets can find them, sometimes with disastrous consequences. The DIY Network recommends storing hazardous substances in their original containers, placing them on high shelves or in locked cabinets. You may not think road salt and ice-melt can be a hazard, but if pets get into them, they can get very sick or even die.

Avoid storing your gas grill in the garage, as propane is combustible. If it leaks, it’s invisible, yet one simple spark — even from static electricity — could ignite it. To be safe, store your grill at least 10 feet away from the side of your home.

Clutter Solutions

Control the clutter in your garage by using all available space. Look beyond the four walls of your garage and create more levels by using durable shelving and plastic tool-wallstorage products. For heavy-duty objects, such as tools and equipment, install a durable shelving unit that’s easy to assemble yet can hold up to 50 pounds each. Buy some storage totes for toys and sporting equipment and install hooks that anchor into the drywall. These hooks can hold 30 pounds of weight, or 70 if screwed into a stud. Convenient track systems with adjustable hooks are ideal for hanging anything from hoses to bikes. By using all four walls in all ways possible, you can quadruple your space.

Tackling your messy garage isn’t just a one-time thing: you may need to de-clutter it on a regular basis. Keeping on top of the mess before it gets out of control is key.

This article was provided by Chase Roberts, home and garden expert and design consultant. If you’re interested in breathing new life into your garage and want to start with the door, Chase recommends you contact Houston Overhead Door for garage door service in Houston.

4 Steps to a Clutter and Pest Free Basement

A cluttered and disorganized basement can be a particularly frustrating prospect for any homeowner and there are a number of problem pests that are all too willing to take advantage of these unkempt conditions. Nevertheless, it is all too easy for rubbish to pile up and attract unwanted guests, but by using these four steps you can make your cluttered property clean and tidy once more…

Understand the Benefits of a Clutter-Free Space

ratThe first step to salvation is understanding why your home’s condition is a problem. As we mentioned, one of the major issues found in many cluttered properties is pests which can turn a once happy home into an unhealthy place to live. Pests like rodents, cockroaches and insects carry disease and can cause respiratory problems and other health complaints if infested areas are left untreated. Decluttering and disinfecting these affected areas can dramatically reduce pest problems.

In addition to pests, there are other health effects of living in a cluttered home. Cluttered basements tend to put you and other family members at risk of falls, whilst the excessive clutter and heightened levels of dust and dust mites can exacerbate respiratory problems, especially if you suffer from allergies or asthma. Decluttering your home will also reduce stress levels, creating a clear space for you to enjoy with friends and family members for years to come.

Focus on the End-Result

Letting go of years of clutter can be a particularly traumatic experience, especially if you are a compulsive hoarder. However, focusing on the end-result and what you can achieve in your new, decluttered basement will ensure you start off your clear out with extra vigor and full commitment. Remember that your home needs to be functional as well as risk and pest free for you to truly enjoy it. For many people, it helps to put pen to paper before starting the decluttering mission; this will enable you to acknowledge the challenge your basement or any other room within your home presents.

Decluttering just in time for Christmas is also highly recommended and will make light work of finding those decorations and other festive treats that become hidden under the remnants of last year.

Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for Help

Asking for help from a professional is always recommended if you are dealing with a particularly large mountain of mess within your home. Salvage experts can be a real help, whilst enlisting a qualified pest controller to handle any pest problems you may have head on is essential to getting your home back to a clutter and pest free condition.

A Few More Tips for Conquering the Clutter

When it comes to controlling your cluttered home, always start slow to ensure you handle every room as effectively as the next. Sticking to the mantra of throwing items out that you haven’t used in the last year is also advisable when curbing your hoarding obsession. Reserve a small box for items that you are really unsure about whether to throw out or not; revisit this in six months and if you still haven’t used this, let it go without any regrets at all!

This post was written by Brittany Thorley from Cheshire Demolition UK, one of the nation’s leading salvage and reclamation companies. They assist hundreds of homes every year in their decluttering mission!

Do you need help with your basement?  If you live in the lower Westchester, NY region, we can help you get more organized by renovating your basement and adding walls to create new storage areas.  Be sure to give us a call at 914-576-2572 to schedule your free in home estimate. – Gary B.

Bathroom Cleaning Tips

bathroom cleaning tips
Image Credit: http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7098/
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You may not realize this yet, but people who come to your home, whether they are friends or relatives, will judge you based on everything they see. From the entry way and your living room, to the bathroom, all of the surroundings will make an impression, even if that person doesn’t want it to. It’s not going to happen because they are judgmental (although some of them might be) but because that’s how we naturally function – we notice aspects of places and situations and based on those observations we draw certain conclusions. It’s not a conscious process but that doesn’t make it any less relevant. My point is that if you want to leave a good impression on people who visit, you have to do your best to keep everything clean and tidy. Usually the bathroom causes the biggest troubles, so I will give you a few tips on how to clean it better.

Knowing is Half the Battle

In his magnum opus “The Art of War”, Sun Tzu states that in order to win every battle, you must both know thyself and thy enemy. Don’t get me wrong, I’m not saying that cleaning your bathroom is a battle. I’m saying it’s a perpetual and ongoing war and if you want to stand a chance, you must employ elaborate tactics and plan things accordingly. Before you act, you must plan. Before you plan, you must know. What is so important that you need to know? It is the fact that you can’t win this war. But you can win every battle by simply being persistent and smart about it. Let me elaborate. Your bathroom is one of the rooms in your home that will get the messiest the quickest. It’s small and used by many people on a daily basis. That’s why waiting for it to get nasty means you will have to spend that much more time and energy on cleaning it. However, since you already know that’s going to happen, you will be able to counteract it. What most people don’t see is that cleaning your bathroom (or any other room, for that matter) before it’s dirty is actually much more beneficial. The whole cleaning process will consist of a few wipes and tidying up a bit for no more than five to ten minutes. Try it. You will win every engagement in your own terms instead of letting your bathroom dictate the rules.

 Supply the Troops

I wasn’t planning on using a war metaphor for this article but since it works so well, I think I will stick to it. In order to win battles, your troops (that’s you) need constant supplies. You need your cleaning equipment in a close proximity to the areas you are cleaning. How can you clean your bathroom in ten minutes (even when it’s not really dirty) if you have to run around the house gathering your supplies. You can’t! But you can easily achieve it if you place them near the places where they will be needed in time. This means you will always have backup and you won’t have to waste time with logistics. You will be surprised as to how many battles have been won just because of better supply lines.

Consider the Terrain

The Art of War
http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3607/4563839366_765653816a.jpg

Sun Tzu is one of the first people who consider the terrain as being an important aspect of warfare (at least as far as literary accounts are concerned). What is it about the bathroom you need to consider? First of all, as I said, it is one of the smallest premises in your home. This means that there should be no excessive objects held there. Anything that does not belong should be immediately removed. This will make cleaning it much easier later on.

If you employ these tactics on a daily basis, you will find how easy it is to maintain a clean bathroom and leave good impressions on people who visit you. Also, “The Art of War” is a great read so I would definitely recommend it.

Author Bio: July Minor is really passionate about blogging. She loves to write different topics for home improvement. She runs a small cleaning company http://www.carpetcleanerlondon.org.uk/south-east-london/se21-dulwich/ and she really enjoy that. In her spare time she loves to read and take long walks.

Interesting take on cleaning your bathroom!

15 Blogs with Creative Ways to Reuse and Recycle Outgrown Nursery Furniture

cribThe saying that that time flies is especially true when it relates to your children growing up. No matter how much you want them to, kids don’t stay in the baby stage forever, and before you know it you’ll find yourself with a slew of baby items that your toddler has outgrown. Once your child is no longer in the baby stage you’ll have to find something to do with all of these things, from changing tables to cribs to  other various odds and ends. Instead of tossing them, consider reusing and repurposing outgrown nursery items. These 15 blogs will show you how.

Changing Table

Changing tables don’t have to be used solely for that purpose. In fact, you can repurpose them into everything from drink carts for parties to craft stations for the kids. With the help of these five blog entries you’ll be able to repurpose your changing table into something you can continue to use.

Crib

You were likely over the moon excited about the prospect of becoming a parent when you bought your first crib, however, once your child has moved past the crib stage you have to find something to do with this now unnecessary piece of furniture. Many cribs can’t be re-sold due to changes in the models and because of evolving safety standards, so what do you do with it? Take a look at these five blog posts to find out how to transform your child’s crib into something new.

  • Repurposing Old Items to Save Money There are several ideas on this post you can use to transform your crib into a functional piece of furniture.
  • The Other Three Benches Revealed! Take a look at the pictures of how this blogger took a crib and turned it into a one-of-a-kind bench.
  • Repurposed Cot This blogger couldn’t stand the idea of completely changing the crib into something else, so she made it into a desk that can be turned back into a crib if the need arises.
  • Crib to Chalkboard Easel Tutorial Take the headboard and footboard of a crib, paint it, then hinge it together to make a chalkboard easel.
  • $2 Magazine Rack! By using the frame that holds the box spring and mattresses you can make an inexpensive magazine rack.

Odds and Ends            

When you have kids you quickly find that there are all sorts of odds and ends that your kids outgrow over time. Take a look at these five blog articles to learn how to transform just about everything into something new and useful again, from an old high chair to a child’s play set and even some old dresser drawers.

Kaitlyn Johnson is a regular contributor for newborncare.com. She loves writing articles on baby care & parenting influences. Kindly check out the recent published article “http://www.newborncare.com/blog/15-blogs-with-creative-ways-to-reuse-and-recycle-outgrown-nursery-furniture/“.

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