It’s time to think spring which means fresh home updates. Spring home improvement projects will help you update, add comfort and save more of your hard-earned paycheck. Jump start your spring projects with inspiration from these 2013 remodeling trends.
Energy-saving updates
From low-volatile organic compound (VOC) paints and adhesives to more energy-efficient windows and furnaces, spring projects can help improve air quality and increase your comfort. Look for ENERGY STAR-qualified products that help lower your home’s energy consumption, and in turn, your utility bills.
Better bathrooms
For many homeowners, sought-after remodeling projects for 2013 will include kitchen upgrades, bathroom remodels and master bedroom suite renovations.
Bathroom remodeling options can include heated bathroom flooring, custom tile and stonework, custom vanity and cabinetry, beautiful bathtubs, showers and fixtures, low-profile linear shower drains and big windows to let in more natural sunlight.
Hot kitchens
Yahoo! Homes says 2013 kitchen remodeling trends focus on practical, durable and do-it-yourself (DIY) projects like refacing kitchen cabinets, adding quartz composite countertops, hardwood-looking engineered floors, deep bowl kitchen sinks, commercial-style or built-in appliances and mixing colors and tones on cabinets.
If any of these projects are out of your comfort zone, please contact us and we’ll be happy to discuss your options with you!
Tips to help you save on Spring home improvement projects:
Spring home improvement season is on the way, and if you’re like most homeowners you have a list of jobs you want to accomplish. Some will be small, economical do-it-yourself projects. Others may require the services of a professional and a greater monetary investment. However you accomplish your home improvement plans, it’s important to do so as cost-effectively as possible.
To make the most of your home improvement projects this spring, take these five steps:
1. Define what you want to do. Be precise and detailed in exactly what you want to accomplish. Going into a home improvement project without a clear vision of the end result means you’ll be making decisions on the fly – and that’s the type of decision-making that can become costly. Knowing exactly what the scope of your project will be can help you better estimate the costs and stay on track with your budget and objectives.
2. Decide if you can do it yourself or need to hire a pro. Yes, DIY can save you dough, but only if you can do the job right the first time. Fixing mistakes can cost more in the long run than hiring a professional. Be honest with yourself about your DIY capabilities, and if a project is beyond your scope, look for a pro to help.
3. Make sure you’re hiring a reputable contractor. While the majority of home improvement contractors are honorable and just trying to earn an honest living, there are also less reliable ones out there, too. Doing business only with companies or contractors who are licensed and bonded can help you weed out the scam artists. Always seek independent reviews of any contractor you may hire. Don’t just rely on the references he or she provides.
4. Create a budget for your project, communicate it to your contractor and make sure he or she understands you’re committed to staying on budget. Good contractors know how to balance quality concerns and cost constraints and will work with you to avoid cost overruns. Your budget should lay out how much you will spend on materials and labor, with some “wiggle room” left over to cover emergencies or necessary changes.
5. Check your credit. It would be great to pay cash for everything your home needs, but it’s not always possible. It’s likely you’ll need to fund larger projects with credit, so it’s important to understand your credit status before you apply for any kind of loan or line of credit. Knowing your credit score and what’s on your credit report can help you better understand the likelihood of you getting the loan you need and what terms you might expect to get on a loan.
Spring is a great time to make improvements that will increase your home’s resale value and your enjoyment of your home. It’s important to make wise decisions about how you’ll manage and fund your home improvement projects, so that when the work is done, you’re left with a better home – and as little debt as possible.
Contact us at 914-576-2572 to schedule your free in home estimate. We’ll make sure we work within your budget while providing the best quality craftsmanship!
Home garden’s make a beautiful addition to your landscape and provide you with many opportunities to put them to good use. First of all you will always enjoy the sight of live flowers each morning when you wake up. You will also always have nice arrangements made from fresh cut flowers. And last, but not least, you will always have the perfect bouquet for any occasion or person. You only have to go to the garden and pick what you want.
The reason why many people do not like the idea of growing their own gardens is usually the fact that they do not have enough patience to wait for the plants to grow and start to blossom. For many flowers this can be true, but still there are some that grow faster and will not make you wait so long for the perfect result.
This article will suggest a dozen of them and basic tips on how to optimize their care. The first one to start with is called cosmos. This plant is annual and usually grows with long stems. They look very pretty, have enough foliage, and can be seen in several different colors some of which are pink, purple, red or white. They are very easy to grow because they do not need much of a fertilizer. It will actually suppress the blooms of the plant if there is too much of it.
The Mexican Sunflower is another one of these fast growing flowers. It is so bright that you will love it from the moment you see it. Its blooms are red and orange. They have the ability to complete two generations for the time of one summer. When you are planting the Mexican Sunflower in your garden you have to be sure that there is enough room for it because it can grow up to four foot in width. You have to be extremely careful when you cut these flowers to use it for an arrangement. Its stems are very fragile. To avoid breaking, try to cut it using very sharp tools.
The yellow flag is an early spring flower which can grow best in wetlands. It is not impossible to have it in a drier place, but there it will grow smaller and will spread less and with more difficultly.
The Black-eyed Susan is a perennial. It grows with numerous blooms on one stem. It can bloom during the whole summer without a break and the more you cut it the more it will grow again.
The purple cornflower is very interesting in its shape and can be dried and boiled on a tea. It attracts butterflies during the whole summer and you don’t have to worry about it because it rarely gets diseases and is very tolerant to dry weather.
Marigolds are also amongst the fast growing flowers and are very beautiful. They are continuously blooming and can be seen in every shade of orange and yellow. It’s best to plant them with the vegetables because they need pest treatment more than any other flower.
Poppies are the annuals that come with more than seventy varieties of their color. Their foliage is blue-green. For better results, make sure to remember to cut them just before their flower opens. To make them last longer in the vase, hold the stem in the flame of a lighter for a few seconds then put them in the water.
The horse-mint is the perennial that, when dried, has the taste of oregano. Besides growing it in your garden you can dry it and use its nice fragrance as a natural air-freshener in your home.
Guest Post By:
Bio: Daisy Hart is a writer and blogger with great flair for flowers and flower decoration. She is focused on writing the best possible way and is constantly searching for new sources of inspiration. Her present article treats: gardening and caring of flowers related thematic.
Easy seasonal changes refresh and revive your home:
Spring’s new growth and warm sunshine provide inspiration for renewal in our lives. It’s a time to pack away the sweaters and boots for lighter layers and brimmed hats. Homeowners should embrace this same mindset – one where you pack away the heavy textures and colors of winter in favor of breezy fabrics and fun decor that inspire a fresh feeling in your house.
Break out of the winter gloom by making some simple changes to your home with bright, fresh decor. Here are the top trends in interior decorating that capture the optimistic feeling of springtime, without having to spend a lot of time or money.
1. Color your world happy
To uplift your mood and give your home a new personality, color should be the first thing you address. Paint is an easy and affordable way to dramatically change a living space. Spring’s hot color palette includes rich hues of blue and turquoise, vibrant pink and orange tones, and soft greens and neutrals. Visit your local Lowe’s for inspiration from the paint color studio that allows do-it-yourselfers to identify the “hot” paint colors of the season and even pick up samples of each hue to try at home.
Feeling adventurous? Dabble in some vibrant shades inspired by the flora and fauna in your region. Love the bright red of blooming tulips? How about the rich blue of the sky at the noon hour? Try picking one thing and paint it that bold color – a single wall, a door, or even a piece of furniture. Watch as the entire room suddenly comes to life.
2. Mix in light and fresh decor
Making small changes to your home’s decor is a great way to refresh the interior, and you don’t have to spend a ton of money. Window treatments are a great place to start – replace dense fabrics with airy options that beg to blow in the warm breeze.
Next, store away existing rugs and replace with ones that feature bright colors or botanical designs. Dark accent pillows can be replaced with fluffy, colorful options that add life to dated couches and chairs. Seasonal decor changes are simple and can be swapped out year after year.
3. Bring the feeling of “green” indoors
The buds and blooms of spring are a big reason it’s such an inspirational season, and houseplants are a great tool for awakening that sense of nature and bringing the outdoors inside. Houseplants make any room look more luxurious, and they are natural air cleaners, awakening the senses of spring’s fresh air. Good, low-maintenance indoor houseplants include the peace lily, spider plant and snake plant.
Interior decor can also reflect the natural feeling that indoor plants provide. Coordinate pieces that feature nature’s elements, such as a leaf motif on a lamp shade or a beach scene on a piece of wall art. These elements, while subtle, will work together to provide a seamless update to any drab decor.
4. Cut the clutter
Of course any home refresh is not complete without some cleaning. Don’t let spring cleaning overwhelm you – start small and go through any clutter, sorting into piles to use, store, give away and throw away. A good dusting goes a long way too, so be sure to hit all the surfaces with a damp cloth. Shine up mirrors, which will reflect that beautiful spring sunshine to brighten and enlarge the feeling of the room.
To stay on top of your organization and home management, create a MyLowe’s profile at www.lowes.com/mylowes. While there, you can create a virtual version of your home for easy project planning. You can add items you need or save ideas that inspire you to your profile for easy reference, making it simple to keep track of your to-do list. Millions of people are currently using the program to make home project management simple.
Changing your home to reflect the seasons is easy with a few basic steps and a little creativity. Remember to embrace the feeling of spring, and the inspiration will come naturally.
Grass is an extraordinary plant, the unsung hero of backyards everywhere. With proper care and feeding, grass can help clean the air, cool the ground, reduce erosion and provide one of the softest outdoor play surfaces. With all of these amazing benefits, it pays to start the spring season off right by giving grass a boost.
Moderate temperatures and increased precipitation in spring are perfect for repairing, seeding and feeding grass. Well-nourished grass withstands harsh conditions better, and provides a lush, durable place to play while squeezing out unwanted weeds by blocking access to sunlight. Follow these tips to take your grass from tired to terrific.
Seed
Fill in bare or thin spots with grass seed to encourage a thick lawn, helping prevent weeds from invading your lawn by blocking access to sunlight. Use a high-quality seed appropriate for your region, like Scotts EZ Seed to fill in thin spots and thicken the lawn. To repair larger areas, use Scotts Turf Builder Grass Seed with WaterSmart coating.
Feed
Grass needs nutrients to grow strong, deep roots that can endure harsh conditions and grow in thick to help block access to sunlight for weeds. If the lawn does not need reseeding, use a high-quality lawn food like Scotts Turf Builder. This lawn food can be used in any season on any grass type, and delivers balanced nutrients for strong, thick grass. Use a starter fertilizer when planting new grass to promote root growth and seedling development.
When seeding or feeding, use Scotts DLX EdgeGuard Broadcast Spreader for larger areas to direct lawn food only where desired – on the lawn and off hard surfaces – and out of storm sewers. This spreader combines the accuracy of a drop spreader with the speed of a rotary spreader.
Mow
Set your mower at the highest setting and leave grass clippings on the lawn. Mow frequently to avoid removing more than one third of the grass height, and do so when grass is dry to avoid damp clumps that could smother grass. Leaving clippings on the lawn recycles nutrients stored in the clippings keeping the soil cooler, encouraging deeper root growth and enriching the soil with organic material.
Keep these simple mowing tips in mind every time you head out to trim the grass: Mow your grass at the highest setting, keep grass clippings on the lawn and water only when needed.
Water
Grass that is fed and kept at a taller height develops deep roots which are better able to conserve water and withstand periods of heat and drought. Rely on rainfall as the primary source of water. During periods of drought, the lawn can go without water for an extended time. Even though the lawn may look brown and wilted, it will recuperate after the rain returns. If you do choose to irrigate the lawn, water less frequently for a longer period of time rather than short frequent waterings.
These tips for a great lawn will provide a foundation for a fun-filled summer in your own backyard. For more information on seeding and feeding this spring, visit www.scotts.com.
It’s time to think spring which means fresh home updates. Spring home improvement projects will help you update, add comfort and save more of your hard-earned paycheck. Jump start your spring projects with inspiration from these 2013 remodeling trends.
