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How To Make Your House A Home For An Elderly Loved One

May 29, 2017adminDIY Projects, Home Improvement Tips, SafetyDIY projects, home improvement, home trends, remodeling tipsLeave a comment

If you have a loved one who is getting on in years, you may be considering having them move in with you, especially if they are having trouble with mobility or cognitive issues. It can be an overwhelming process, however, and it comes with many things to think about. Keeping your loved one healthy, happy, and safe is a big job, and you may need help. It might also be necessary to make some changes to your home to ensure that your loved one is comfortable.

Here are some of the best ways to make sure the senior in your life is well taken care of.

Talk to their doctor

If your loved one has a lot of health issues, it may be necessary to talk to their doctor before making any decisions. You’ll want to be informed regarding their medications, appointments, and any machinery they may need to keep up their daily health. Make an appointment with your loved one so you can both sit down with their doctor and talk about what needs you’ll need to help meet.

Make some changes

Take a look at your home and assess what changes need to be made for your loved one to be comfortable and safe. Look room by room to seek out possible hazards; for instance, the kitchen should be well organized with clear labels on each shelf and the cleaning supplies kept well away from the food. Bathrooms should be equipped with grab bars in the shower, non-slip rubber mats, and you might consider installing an elevated toilet or padded seat. Lighting should be added to hallways, closets, and living areas, and rugs should be tacked down or taken up completely to prevent falls.

Consider their needs

If your loved one does have health issues that require a lot of attention, medicine, or machinery, think about how that will affect everyone’s daily life. Anything electrical will affect your utility bills and will need a backup generator in the event of a power outage. Outside of the physical, your loved one may require their own belongings and mementos to help them feel comfortable in their new living situation. If they suffer from Alzheimer’s, having familiar things around may help them recover memories.

Help them stay social

Maintaining an active social life is an important part of senior years, so help your loved one find friends and get out of the house. They might be interested in joining a gardening club or even an exercise club that meets a few times a week. Walking in the park or taking a water aerobics class can help them stay active and vital.

Consider daily care

Depending on your job, you may have trouble taking time off to take care of your loved one, so it’s important to consider finding a home healthcare aid to come in on certain days and help you. These professionals can assist you with household chores like laundry as well as help administer medication and perform daily tasks like bathing and feeding your loved one should they become infirm.

Moving a senior into your home is a big decision and comes with many things to think about, so do some research before making anything final. Consult your loved one to find out their needs and keep communication open with your family so that everyone is on the same page, as it can be difficult to maintain a healthy atmosphere if someone feels that they are left out on the decision making.

How to Keep Pests Away From Your Garden

May 25, 2017adminDIY Projects, Green Living, lawn and gardenDIY projects, garden, springLeave a comment

Springtime marks the beginning of another gardening season. You are out and about planting, pruning and making sure that every inch of your garden looks just perfect. You are just admiring your flower garden, when a cat runs right through the flowers and rips them to shreds. And cats are not the only animals that can ruin your garden. Many types of animals come out during the spring, so here are some ways in which you can defend yourself.

Mole repellents

All the tips here are going to be humane, telling you simply how to keep the animals away, rather than kill or harm them. The best way to get rid of moles is to simply plant the right things in your garden. Plants like daffodils, marigolds and alliums have contents that are natural mole repellents, and will surely keep those pesky moles out if planted around the perimeter of your yard.

Keeping your plants safe

Plant-eating animals are mostly small and not really easy to catch, so you have to protect your plants in a different way. A popular remedy is chopping up and boiling some hot peppers, then pouring the water into a spray bottle and spraying it over your plants. This is safe for your plants and will keep any bugs off. Still, this is not a good solution when it comes to edible plants – imagine putting fresh mint in your lemonade and tasting a hot pepper! For an alternative, you can use turmeric. Grate it and infuse it with some water, then repeat the spraying tactic on all of your plants! If spider mites are your problem, a mixture of flour, water and buttermilk sprayed on your trees once a week will keep the mites at bay!

Recycling food scraps

Organic scraps are not only good for compost, but also great for many other things. You can bury banana peels two inches in the ground next to the plants that are attacked by ants or aphids to make sure your plants will be safe. And if your problem is more of the slimier kind, use crushed eggshells to form a fence against any snails and slugs that want to enter the forbidden territory.

How to repel bigger animals

If you have a problem with raccoons, remember that they do not go well with dogs. If you don’t have a dog of your own, fake it by placing some dog hair around your yard and kiss the raccoon problem goodbye. For cats or squirrels, flour mustard and cayenne pepper is your solution. Place the mixture around the perimeter of your yard, or mix it with water to make a spray. Another option that requires much less effort is using high tech defence. Having an ultrasonic pest repellent, like the one from Bird Control Australia, will make your life a lot easier. You won’t notice it, but potential intruders of the animal kind definitely will! It can keep away insects or any animals, depending on how you set it up.

You are now ready to continue with your daily gardening activities without worrying about any pests, big or small, ruining all your hard work. Try and be as humane as possible with all of the animals, because there are always ways to simply drive them away without exterminating them – and placing various poisons around your garden can also be dangerous if you have kids or pets, not to mention make all of your produce less enjoyable. After all, a few birds chirping around your garden might just be that special touch that is missing for a real fairytale garden!

House Remodeling Tips

May 18, 2017adminhome improvement, Home Improvement Tips, home remodelingDIY projects, home improvement, home remodelingLeave a comment

You bought a new house and it requires some adaptations in order to meet your needs? Or your old house simply needs some refreshment? Regardless of which situation you are in, home remodeling can be overwhelming, especially if you haven’t planned everything well and chosen your battles carefully. When selecting renovation projects, you have to consider usability, investment and potential return of investment (e.g. the project should either save you money in the future, or should increase the value of your home should you decide to sell). Sounds pretty complicated, right? We’ll help you with these clever remodeling tips.

Find good workforce

If you manage to find quality workers, you have already done the most important part of the job. Experienced remodelers will be able to give you advice on the most prudent projects, best materials and do their job efficiently at a fair cost. Consult the web, but also ask your friends and family for word-of-mouth recommendations. When you choose them, make sure you communicate all of your ideas and write a detailed contract.

Make extra space

Almost all remodeling projects have one clear goal: to add more space to the property. That can be done by tearing down the wall between the kitchen and the living room. If you want to go beyond that and make an extra room (family room, guest room, bathroom…) you can either go up or down. One of the greatest intricacies you can face here is enabling easy access to the space, so if you’re upgrading your attic, you’ll need more than step ladder.

Do the kitchen remodeling first

This is a project that meets both ROI demands: if you do it with energy-saving on your mind, you can cut your bills in the future, and regardless of the size of your project, you will still be able to increase the value of your property. Namely, even a minor kitchen remodeling can recoup about 80% of the invested money, says research done by Remodeling magazine. Some small-scale projects you can pull off are repainting the cabinets, replacing the handles and pulls, painting, replacing the ordinary light bulbs with energy-efficient ones, getting a new countertop and adding a backsplash.

Do other projects that increase ROI

It’s an unwritten rule that the projects that add to the total price of your house, also increase its functionality and improve its aesthetics, so even if you’re not selling, you’ll benefit from these renovations:

Basement remodeling
Entry door replacement
Attic insulation
Window replacement
Bathroom remodel

Increase the curb appeal

Finally, the house’s exterior also plays a major role in the overall picture. Here are some things you can do to improve the appearance of your outdoor space:

Pool restoration: There is nothing cooler than owning a pool in your backyard, but if it isn’t updated for decades, it is about time to do it. The best thing about this project is that you don’t need much to do it: a bucket of swimming pool paint can instantly revive it. You can go beyond that and build a deck around the pool, make a mulch or rock border and plant small bushes and perennials, etc.
Wooden deck addition: Adding a wooden deck is one of those projects that can add value to your property, but it can also present a beautiful place to spend time with your family, read a good book or simply enjoy the fresh air.
Fixing the driveway: A cracked driveway is not a very appealing sight. Solve this by applying a driveway sealer.
Painting the exterior: painting a worn out façade will instantly transform your house and make it look newer.

House renovation is indubitably a major project. It can require a lot of time, money and patience, but take it one step at the time, and you will make it.

Guest Post By:

Amelia Atkins

“Amelia is an author on the site Smooth Decorator and now a fresh architecture student. Love for architecture and design runs in her family ever since she can remember.”

Blooming Gardens: 4 Of The Best Flowers To Plant This Spring

May 15, 2017adminDIY Projects, lawn and gardenDIY projects, garden, springLeave a comment

When the spring season arrives, you begin to see the green leaves sprout on the trees and colorful flowers growing from the ground. Flowers need warmth and light to grow, which is why they tend to do a bit better in the spring with the longer days. There is often more water in the form of rain in the spring, which is another component that flowers need to grow. There are a few flowers that grow best during this time of the year compared to others, adding brightness to the lawn.

Pansy

This is a dainty flower with large petals. The center of the flower is usually yellow or light in color. Many of the pansies that you see are pink, purple or red. This flower grows best in the cool mornings of the spring season. The leaves are slightly curved along the edges, making it easier for them to capture raindrops and water that is given to them during the day. Plant the pansies in an area of the yard that sees a bit of shade as they don’t do well with the full sun beating down on them.

Iris

The iris is a flower that can grow to a tall size. They are best placed near a porch where they can climb up a trellis or a column of the porch. There are a few colors to choose from, but you usually see purple, light pink and white. The flowers blend easily together to create new colors. Most flowers will tend to get their full blooms toward the end of the spring season. The strong petals work well with an irrigation system, like those offered by Hydrotech Irrigation Co, in the yard. They need to be in an area that sees a good bit of the sun during the day.

Daffodil

Nothing will put you in a cheerful mood like a bright flower. The daffodil looks almost like a lion if you look at it from a distance. There are several sizes and shapes of the flower, such as those that have a trumpet design to those that look like a mane on a lion. Don’t water the flower too often, and keep it in the full sun.

Tulips

If there is a flower to use as a symbol of spring, it’s the tulip. You can plant the tulip along a sidewalk, around a tree or anywhere else in the yard to give a bright look to the house. There are numerous colors available, giving you a variety of ways to accent the home with the delicate flower.

Flowers in the spring often cheer up anyone after the dreary winter months. It’s best to plant the flowers at the end of winter so that the flowers have time to grow in the warm weather that arrives in the spring. Take care to add just the right amount of water to the soil as the flowers grow.

Tiny Abode: How to Remodel Your Small Space to Make It Feel Larger

May 12, 2017adminDIY Projects, home improvement, Home Improvement TipsDIY projects, home improvement, home organization, home trendsLeave a comment

As you sit in your home, you might think that the walls are closing in around you. Some small spaces feel this way because there simply isn’t enough space for all of the belongings that you have. There isn’t enough space to entertain or have friends over to the house like you would want. Fortunately, there are a few ideas that you can try to make your small space a bit larger.

Adding Color

One of the ways that you can make a small space seem larger is by adding a new coat of paint. The paint should be in a bright shade, such as white, teal, light gray or yellow. Choose a color that works best with that room of the home, such as green or yellow for the kitchen or a neutral shade for the living room. Once you have the walls painted, you can easily add decorations that will bring out your personality in a way like never before in your small home.

Open Things Up

When it comes to small spaces, it’s important to be able to open the area up more from time to time. This can be done by opening up a window or a bi-fold doors, like the ones that specialty glass stores like Nu-Look Glass & Aluminium Windows have. If the doors lead outside onto the patio, you can leave the doors open during the summer. You can also have certain rooms that lead into living rooms and other common areas have bi-fold doors as well so that you can open them up and have the illusion of having a bigger space.

Hidden Storage

While you’re sitting on the couch, you can grab a book or a magazine from the inside of the coffee table, surprising others in the room as they might not expect this kind of storage. You can find numerous pieces of furniture that double as a table or even a chair with hidden compartments for added space. Small items, like toys that get left on the floor, can quickly get tossed into these compartments.

Extending Upward

Instead of extending out to the center of the room, utilize the space that you have on the wall. Add shelves that reach to the ceiling for everything from books in the living room to toiletries in the bathroom. When the eye looks upward, it makes the room seem larger instead of being cluttered with items that take up most of the room.

A small space can quickly make everyone stir crazy. Use the vertical area that you have for more storage, and add brighter colors to make the room feel open. Consider changing the design of the rooms once in a while as well to give a new look.

Infographic – Maintaining Timber Decking

May 9, 2017adminDecks & Patios, DIY Projects, infographicdeck, DIY projects, infographicLeave a comment

A timber deck in your garden can be a neat, luxurious area in which to enjoy the summer sunshine, giving you somewhere to sit out and relax, read a book or sip a cool drink as the gorgeous weather shines down upon you. However, there’s also the less glamorous but quite necessary aspect of maintaining the decking so that you can enjoy the idyllic scenario described above.

Crowe Sawmills produced this infographic guide to timber decking maintenance, talking you through the tasks that are required for each season (apart from winter, when thoughts of spending time on your deck are not so glowing) and offering a few handy tips on carrying out the maintenance work.

In this mid-spring season, the time is right for washing and sealing the deck to remove any rot that threatened to set in over the winter months. Primary repairs can then be undertaken during the summer, when daylight hours are at their longest and the weather is most conducive to such tasks. Once the summer is over, you can trim any bushes or trees near the decking and clear all downspouts so that the onset of rot is minimized coming into the winter.

This vivid infographic outlines the process succinctly while still covering all the jobs that should be done. We think it’s a fantastic guide to timber decking maintenance and we hope you feel the same.

Thinking of DIY Repairs? 7 Times You Should Call a Pro

May 5, 2017adminDIY Projects, Home Improvement Tips, Home MaintenanceDIY projects, home maintenance, home repairsLeave a comment

The growing popularity of home improvement and repair shows can make us believe that we are capable of doing just about anything when it comes to improving or repairing our homes. However, that is just an idea that is far from reality. In case of an emergency, you might want to grab a tool and handle the problem yourself, but DIY repairs are rarely as simple as they may seem on TV, and they can end up in a disaster that could cost you more money than hiring a professional. The common rule of thumb is that you can fix some cosmetic flaws yourself, but just in case you are wondering, here are the situations when you really should seek the help of an experienced professional.

Fixing electrical wires

Here’s another rule for you: if it can put you in a hospital, don’t do it. Really, fixing faulty/burnt electrical wires might remind you of the familiar movie scene where you should cut the red wire or match some colors, but it is far from being so. Unless you have some practical knowledge about working with electricity, it is better to leave this job to the pros.

Adjusting electrical lines

This is an even more complicated chore. Again, if you are not well-versed in this skill and you’re not familiar with the local code requirements, you could put yourself in an extremely dangerous situation. Poorly performed electrical works are a common cause of fire, so even if you don’t see any consequences right away, there could still be a pending doom. Also, if one day you decide to sell the house, this problem could be discovered by inspection and you could end up spending much more money than you’ve saved by taking matters into your own hands.

Window repairs and replacement

Unless you’re doing it on the first floor, window repairs and replacements can be quite tricky. In fact, anything that requires a ladder or scaffold can lead to a nasty fall. Don’t you think that the risks are too big to justify saving a few bucks?

Unclogging blocked drains

In some cases, this can be solved by an amateur, but unclogging drains isn’t always a simple task. Sometimes, clearing a blocked drain pipe requires professionals working with high-tech tools that can detect and remove blockages from your pipes quickly and efficiently. You will notice such persistent blockages when the usual boiling water and plunger methods fail.

Frozen pipes repair

Frozen pipes are quite common in some climates, but that doesn’t mean that you should tackle this problem all by yourself. They can lead to accidents that can cause some serious damage to your home. If the cold hasn’t already caused them to burst, professional plumbers can solve the problem before your whole house is flooded. Altering plumbing lines is also out of the question.

Leaky roof

There is nothing more annoying than hearing tiny raindrops dripping from your ceiling to the floor or furniture piece. Besides being annoying, this problem may damage the ceiling structure and cause health hazards like mold and mildew. This is not the time for showing your housework skills. Remember what we mentioned a couple of paragraphs above? Improper use of ladders and scaffolding can result in falls, and you don’t want that.

Removing large amounts of paint

What could possibly be dangerous about this? Nothing, unless you are removing large amounts of paint that may contain traces (or even larger amounts) of lead. Health concerns and legal requirements make this job an endeavor that should be left to professionals who possess protective equipment that can shield them from hazards associated with lead (e.g. kidney damage and anemia).

Wishing to take things into your own hands when it comes to maintaining your household is perfectly understandable. However, in some cases, it is better to call the professionals instead of biting off more than you can chew.

Guest Post By:

Chloe is an art historian, recreational ballet dancer and a contributor at smoothdecorator.com. She is passionate about photography, dance and music. Her biggest dream is to travel the whole world with her husband and take stunning photographs of beautiful places. She also enjoys learning and writing about home design, since she is crazy about aesthetics. You can find Chloe on FB, Twitter, and G+.

Learn how to Live the Lagom Lifestyle

April 29, 2017adminHome Improvement Tips, infographicDIY projects, home improvement, infographicLeave a comment

The Scandinavian lifestyle Hygge became a phenomenon in 2016 generating millions of books, articles, tweets and Instagram posts.

Hygge has no literal translation, but in general it meant ‘cosy lifestyle’. However, there’s a new Swedish lifestyle that is becoming even more popular than Hygge, it’s called Lagom, (pronounced la – as in bar and gom like Tom).

Lagom is considered to be the Goldilocks of lifestyles, adopting a ‘not too much, not too little, just right’ approach. It’s all about getting the right balance and, whereas Hygge is focused on momentary instances of bliss, Lagom is a way of living which creates happiness and getting the work/life balance just right.

Lagom revolves around the notion of making your life easier, more enjoyable and less expensive. Recycling, up-cycling, reducing energy consumption and sustainable living are the ethos of Lagom.

In the home, clean and simple décor that isn’t overly fussy or frilly highlights Lagom. Looking for eco-friendly alternatives is paramount, with the use of salvaged and reclaimed wood to create furnishings and replacing man-made fabrics and materials with natural ones.

Take a look at the infographic below to find out more about Lagom and how you can adopt this Swedish way of living to enrich your life in the most positive and beneficial ways.

Discover how to Live the Lagom Lifestyle by The Rug Seller by The Rug Seller

Garage Soundproofing: The Essentials

April 26, 2017adminhome improvement, Home Improvement Tips, home remodelingDIY projects, garages, home improvement, home remodelingLeave a comment

Being the largest and the most isolated room of the house, the garage makes a perfect location for loud activities, such as band practice, engaging in a hobby, etc. However, the noise you make is not a negligible problem, both for your household and your neighbors. That’s why soundproofing your garage is so important. On the one hand, it will keep outdoor noise outside, so you can work without distractions, while on the other hand, your neighbors will be pleased to hear you finally “turned down the volume” like they asked you to.

A room inside a room

The most effective way to soundproof any room is to make it double i.e. to build a room within a room. It might sound tricky, but the most important thing is that these two rooms should have minimal contact. Make three layers of drywalls and insulation to make sure it’s as effective as possible. First, hang a drywall inside the perimeter of the garage and add insulation. Then, frame another wall to fit the first one and then repeat the process. This framing can be done with wooden pallets or something similar, so it’s not that expensive as it might seem.

Mind the absorption and diffusion

In acoustics, absorption is a process in which a material or an object takes in sound energy and soaks up any unwanted frequencies. Diffusion, on the other hand, sends the reflections off in different directions and breaks up the sound; so, the best way to soundproof a room is to combine these two. This can be achieved by simply carpeting your garage and putting a nice sofa there, but you can take it to another level and cover your walls with absorption panels. You can purchase these or make them yourself – either way, your garage will be much better soundproofed and the acoustics in it will become much better.

Seal the door(s)

Regardless of how many doors your garage has, they can be a potential area for sound leakage. For starters, installing some kind of heavy door can be a good investment – it will lower the chances of sound escaping through it. If this is not an option, you can always make your current doors heavier and soundproof the edges. Check the seals and secure them with sealing strips to make sure your doors can be shut tightly. As for adding some weight to your door, there are special vinyl materials on the market that can ensure that effect and make sure your doors are well-insulated.

What about the windows?

Many people avoid putting windows on the garage simply because they let sound out easily. But, if you’re going to turn your garage into a workshop, then having at least some daylight is a must. There’s no need to block your windows and turn your garage into a prison cell when you can install double glazed windows. These kinds of windows are not just good for soundproofing, but for insulation and saving some money on the heating and cooling bills, as well. They work well in many different climates – for instance, installing double glazed windows in Melbourne is a must because of the city’s temperate oceanic climate and frequent temperature variations.

Don’t forget about ventilation

Once you sealed all the leaks and made your garage very well-insulated, it’s important not to forget about ventilation. This is important not just for breathing but also for preventing mold from accumulating – without proper ventilation, moisture in your garage will damage your equipment or whatever you decide to keep in there. Having an air vent is necessary, but the trouble is that they can let sound out, too. Make an MDF acoustic box and place it over your vent and you won’t have to worry about it.

Once you’ve done this, you can be sure that your garage is completely soundproof. Now, it’s your turn to relax and engage in your favorite activity. It’s time to make some noise without disturbing anyone!

DIY or Hire a Professional: Make a correct Choice – Infographic

April 15, 2017adminHome Improvement Tips, Home Maintenance, infographicDIY projects, home improvement, home maintenance, infographicLeave a comment

Doing household work yourself will sometimes reflect the exact results you want. However, some work require professionals to make it up to the mark without compromising in quality like roofing or cleaning of gutters before the rainy season. Sometimes you may also notice that hiring a professional is less costly than doing it yourself only you need to understand is How? & Where?

So whenever you are in dilemma, preferring to hire a professional or doing it yourself, refer to the infographic created by Saxton Blades, “Do it yourself vs hire a Pro”. This infographic will detail you regarding 10 different jobs which seem easy but may be complicated and the cost for doing that task yourself versus hiring a professional.

The-cost-of-DIY-vs-Hiring-a-Pro-INFOGRAPHIC