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Enhance Your Curb Appeal This Spring with These Trends

Spring is coming! You see all sorts of articles in magazines and blogs online about fashion and interior design trends for the season.

But what if you want to update the outside of your home? Below are 7 of the hottest trends in home exteriors for Spring 2017!

Enhance Your Curb Appeal This Spring with These Trends

1) Covered and Screened Decks and Patios

Take your outdoor living space up a notch by adding pergolas or covers to your deck or patio. Besides providing shade, it will beautify and define the space.

Screens are another way to make the exterior of your deck or patio look great for your neighbors and people driving by. But they also provide you with the privacy that makes your outdoor space actually feel like a retreat. You can buy ready-made screens or get creative and design your own. In any case, the neighbors will get a nice view and you will get your spa-like retreat.

2) Fancy Pools

There is nothing like a swimming pool to beat the summer heat and provide a fun gathering spot for friends and family. So, if you’re considering building one, why not follow the current trend of building a luxury pool?

If you have the space and budget, you can build a rooftop pool that looks out over your city. Or you can build one that combines indoor and outdoor living by installing a retractable wall of windows that lead to your pool. Or you can invest in an infinity pool that makes it look like you’re swimming in the sky.

Whether you use the contractor’s established designs, or come up with ideas of your own, a pool will add a splash of curb appeal.

swimming-pool

3) Structured Gardens

Make your garden appear larger and more stylish with garden structures. First, design a layout for your space that includes where you want to place the pieces. The type of garden you want, whether it be cottage style, a Zen retreat, formal or an eclectic mix, will determine what type of structures you use.

You can go the traditional route and choose brick walls or concrete fountains. Or you can use sleek modern vine-climbing walls or garden sculpture. Buy your pieces or make your own. Either way, you can create your own enchanted garden that you and passers-by will enjoy.

4) Home Additions

Another growing trend is home remodeling. Porches are a popular exterior addition. Or, if you already have a porch, you can make it up-to-date by adding design details like those on Craftsman or Victorian homes. Cornice moldings, thick porch posts, finials, urns and much more can be added to your porch to make it stand out. Also, most of these porches display boho-chic furnishings.

Another popular remodel is replacing builder-grade garage doors with garage doors that match your home’s style. If you’re replacing an old door or adding a brand-new garage, don’t skimp on this item. Whether your garage is front-facing or not, the look of its door can have a major impact on the appearance of your home.

porch

5) Limiting the Colors in Your Garden

Another trend for gardens is using a simple palette of only 2 or 3 shades. It’s a modern, almost minimalistic look. But for those new to gardening or don’t want to be bothered by too much planning, it’s any easy way to go.

So how do you keep your garden from looking boring? One way is to have 1 color be the feature color and have the other shade or shades be highlights. And choose a variety of plants of the predominant color or colors. For example, have white roses, white hydrangeas and a white dogwood tree in your landscape.

Limiting how many shades appear in your garden will make it look classy, modern and sophisticated.

6) Grand Entrances

Even if you don’t have or want a porch, fabulous entrances are all the rage. The recent trend of red doors is now being replaced more imaginative front entries.

Some doors that are growing in popularity are Dutch doors and doors made of glass encased in intricate iron work. The symmetrical look of matching topiaries or marble benches on either side of the front door is trending. As are wreaths made for each season, banners and wind chimes.

All of these elements will make people say “Wow!” when they are about to enter your home.

7) Stone and Brick Exteriors

This trend piggy-backs on the natural, sustainable materials movement. If your home is already built with brick or stone, you can use paint to give your home a new look. Just be sure to choose the right type of paint and that it is applied properly.

If you just want to add a stone or brick accent to your home, you can choose between the real thing or an artificial alternative. Man-made options can look just as good and are usually cheaper.

Out with the old and in with the freshness of the season! Follow these trends so your curb appeal will pop this spring!

Author Bio:

Kacey MyaKacey is a lifestyle blogger for The Drifter Collective, an eclectic lifestyle blog that expresses various forms of style through the influence of culture and the world around us. Kacey graduated with a degree in Communications while working for a lifestyle magazine. She has been able to fully embrace herself with the knowledge of nature, the power of exploring other locations and cultures, all while portraying her love for the world around her through her visually pleasing, culturally embracing and inspiring posts.

https://twitter.com/kacey_mya

https://www.pinterest.com/kaceymya/

https://www.instagram.com/thedriftercollective/

Update Your Home This Spring with These Eco-Friendly Options

Update Your Home This Spring with These Eco-Friendly Options

It can be hard to think of spring while in the depths of winter. However, this has been one of the warmer winters in recent years, depending on where you live. However, the colder it gets, the closer we are to spring! Spring is a classic time to clean and update your home because everyone is sick of being cooped up all winter and you can finally get outside and play. If you’re interested in making your home more environmentally friendly, then this spring is the perfect time to do it.

Give Your Windows a Perk

Bringing natural light in is always a welcome relief from winter, but it can also put a hurting on your climate control. Replacing the windows in one room, each year, lets you update them slowly so you don’t have to shell out the money all at once. Double paned windows allow for the best insulation, but they are more expensive at a minimum of $500 each. In order to get the full benefit, all windows would have to be replaced. A cheaper option is to upgrade the insulation around your windows, but that requires regular upkeep.

home improvement new windows

Paint Your Roof

Greece is well-known for their stark, white homes. There’s actually a very good reason for that. The white helps to keep the home cooler, which is a necessity around the equator. You can achieve the same thing by painting your roof either white or another light color. However, it’s likely that you would have to repaint it frequently, about once a year. If that idea doesn’t agree with you, it’s also a good place for a garden or solar panels!

Update Your Insulation

A properly insulated home is your best defense again wasting extra energy to remain comfortable. Take a look at your home, and see what’s lacking. Insulation in the attic and basement is often neglected, even though it’s vital to keep your home’s heating and cooling costs under control. Putting in new insulation isn’t even that expensive. If you shop around and are willing to put in the work, it’s even something you might be able to DIY, if you get some advice.

Update Your Insulation

Replace Old and Damaged Goods

Old drafty doors need to go. If unchecked, they can be a constant drain on your energy usage. This actually applies to a lot more than just your front and back doors, as well. Garage doors are rarely replaced when they need to be. Damaged siding or roof tiles also need to be replaced before they cause more damage. Doing a thorough, yearly inspection of your home’s exterior can give you the chance to fix problems before they become serious. Plus, a new garage door can do a world of good for improving your curb appeal. That update can pay for its self, as do many other green updates.

Pack Your Home with Green

Pack Your Home with Green

House plants are good for a variety of reasons. They tend to be good for your spirits, they help keep the air clean, they provide a visual reminder of warmer weather and they can help your home be a bit eco-friendlier. In addition to filtering out a wide variety of potentially damaging chemicals from the air, they also pack your home with humidity. Heating and air conditioning both tend to suck that right out of the house!

Update Your Floors

Most classic flooring isn’t exactly environmentally friendly. A little updating can make a big difference in it. This is a slightly more expensive option, but floors take a lot of wear and tear. They all need to be replaced at some point. Bamboo is a beautiful, sustainable option but it’s also pricy. It’s hard enough to last a lifetime, cutting down on the environmental impact of another replacement.

However, if it’s not in your price range, or you don’t like the look, then cork is another green option. It’s much cheaper, incredibly simple to harvest, it lasts a very long time and it has an unusual texture. It’s great for kids and keeps the floor warm during the winter.

Update Your Home This Spring

Take it Outside

Since these are tips for spring, it only makes sense to remember the landscape. Native plants are wonderful, and provide a simple way to keep your lawn healthy with minimal work. You can also look into drip irrigation, composting, rainwater harvesting, and growing your own garden. Leave as many plants and trees as you can, especially if they provide protection to your home. Bushes provide an extra layer of insulation, and lots of plants allow for the wildlife to have food and cover. With humans encroaching on their land everywhere, they need it!

If you plan to spend a hefty chunk or just a bit, there are a ton of options to make your home greener. Pick a small one to start, and progress on to larger endeavors. With all the savings you’ll get from updating your home, you’ll be able to make bigger changes!

Kacey-MyaKacey is a lifestyle blogger for The Drifter Collective, an eclectic lifestyle blog that expresses various forms of style through the influence of culture and the world around us. Kacey graduated with a degree in Communications while working for a lifestyle magazine. She has been able to fully embrace herself with the knowledge of nature, the power of exploring other locations and cultures, all while portraying her love for the world around her through her visually pleasing, culturally embracing and inspiring posts.

https://twitter.com/kacey_mya

https://www.pinterest.com/kaceymya/

https://www.instagram.com/thedriftercollective/

Outdoor Spring Clean Up Guide-Infographic

Spring is here and so is the warm weather!  Make sure your home makes a great impression on guests using this Outdoor Spring Clean Up Guide!

How To Give Your Home A Makeover Without Breaking The Bank

You love your home, but the look is beginning to get a little stale. Fortunately, there are things you can do inside and out that will make your home look better than it has in a long time. Here are five tips that will ensure your makeover attempt is a success.

home makeover

Get Rid of the Clutter

Take a look around each of the rooms and identify things that serve no purpose or that you could live without. Even if you can only reduce the number of items found on shelves and tabletops by half, the impact on the space will be significant. Best of all, you won’t have to dust those things any longer.

Deep Clean Every Surface

Now is the time for some deep cleaning. Scrub every nook and cranny of the house thoroughly. Call in professionals to clean the carpeting and the upholstery. Don’t forget to take the window treatments to a cleaner. When the surfaces shine and the house smells fresh, you’ll be well on the way with your makeover.

Paint the Walls

You can opt for a solid paint color or consider adding a chair rail and going with a two-tone look. If you really want to do something different, consider rag painting with a lighter color to add some contrast. New colors for the walls will make secondary colors in the rest of the space stand out more and give everything a new look.

Rearrange the Furniture

Consider exchanging some of the furniture in each room so that chairs, tables, and other elements are now in a different part of the house. You will find that moving a chair from the living room to the den, or taking the recliner from the den and creating a reading corner in a bedroom adds some zip to the space. Employ the same approach with wall art and other decorative elements. You’ll be amazed how some of those pieces look and function better in a different area.

Replace the Doors and Windows

Home Remodel Project front entrance_cedar siding_windowsNothing makes a home look tired like worn out doors and windows. Consider opting for aluminum or vinyl windows instead of going with wood again. For the doors, try a new color or possibly a different design that still blends in with the style of the house. You can even replace the interior doors and update the look inside. For energy-efficient options that can also make your home look great, consider Fas Windows and Doors.

Making over your home does not have to break the bank. With the right choices, you’ll even save money in the years to come. Start brainstorming today and it won’t take long to determine what you can do to make your home look better than ever.

 

 

Spring Cleaning Checklist – Infographic

Spring cleaning can be a very rejuvenating process and once complete will leave your home feeling fresh and new.  But why do we carry out this strange annual practice?  And are there any specific things you need to do?  Well to find out, scroll through our ultimate guide to spring cleaning!
The Ultimate Spring Cleaning Checklist
The Ultimate Spring Cleaning Checklist by Terrys Fabrics.

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How to prepare your kitchen for spring

spring kitchen remodeling

Spring is coming! In order to prepare your home for its rejuvenating effects what you need is a proper spring remodeling and is there a better place to start doing so than your very own kitchen. However, there are so many things to do and in so little time, that you will have to organize yourself properly in order to make it. With this in mind, here are some things you need to do in order to prepare your kitchen for spring.

Spring cleaning

There is no better place to start with this spring makeover than to thoroughly clean your kitchen and all of its surfaces. Whatever you decide to do next, having a clean work environment is always a paramount. Take out and throw everything you no longer need and swipe clean all the counter surfaces, your fridge and of course the stove. However, seeing how your kitchen is a place where you prepare the food for your entire family, you don’t want to have it tainted by dangerous chemicals. Luckily, there are completely natural solutions made from vinegar, salt, baking soda and even bleach. At the very least a bit of soapy water never hurt anyone.

spring kitchen cleaning

Painting it adequately

Every now and then your kitchen will need painting and seeing how in spring we have a bit longer and warmer days, it might be as good time as any to do so. In 2016, natural colors are in but you need to be very careful when painting your kitchen and dining room since it is known that different colors can affect our appetites differently. For example, colors black and brown are made to diminish your appetite (which makes them into powerful dietary tools) while yellow and orange are known to make you want to eat more. Always keep this in mind, even if you are going for wallpaper instead of paint.

Organization

Next thing you need to pay attention to in your kitchen is the issue of organization. Try and always look for different storage solutions and methods. For example, everyone knows that it is easier to store your pots without their lids on, but later on when you need to pair the pot with the lid this doesn’t seem as such a good idea after all. This is why you can greatly benefit from such a thing as lid racks on the inside of your cabinet doors and many other similar ideas. Even if your kitchen is absolutely tiny, you always have some unused walls to hang a wall rack on so there is no need for desperation.

spring kitchen organization

Make it cooking friendly

Finally, once the spring begins, days will start getting warmer and warmer and there is something you will have to do about it. Install an AC unit inside of it, or if you already have one, check if you need air con repairs. Finally, seeing how there are many fumes that will circulate the room (caused by your cooking) now might be a good time for you to purchase an aspirator. Here you have two choices, either one with recirculation as a method or one with the exhaust pipe. Simply do some homework on both of these methods and go with one that you find more fitting.

Although all of these remodeling efforts are minor in nature, they are more than necessary to prepare you for the upcoming season. By starting in due time, you should be more than prepared to enjoy the spring in your very own kitchen. This notion alone is something that is indeed hard (if not impossible) to top.

 

Spruce up Your Garden for Spring

When the temperatures start raising once again, the sun starts sending those warm rays of light and the cold winds become replaced with the soft breeze, we all start looking forward to yet another spring. But of course beside these delightful things the spring brings with it, there are those not so cheerful chores that we are not looking forward to. Of course, we are talking about spring cleaning. And when you are done with cleaning your entire house you know it is time to spruce up your garden a bit. So what are some of the essential things that you must not miss while preparing your garden for another spring?

Spruce up Your Garden for Spring

Squeaky Clean

Before you start doing any serious work, first you need to clean up your yard. During these few lengthy months there are certainly all kinds of piled up rubbish, different kinds of debris, fallen leaves or branches that you should take care of. Also, do not forget one of the most tedious jobs – weeding. After you have finished, make sure to mow your lawn, so it would welcome spring looking fabulous.

Feed the Soil

When you are done with cleaning up, it is time to prep your soil. This means giving it a round of feed and seed and making sure that your garden is up and ready to grow some new plant life. To feed soil, add organic matter such as compost, manure, cover crops, straw, or grass clippings from a non-treated lawn. Make sure to protect your garden soil structure from copaction. This is a crucial step as you want to make a good and healthy foundation for all your plants to grow.

Start Planting

The next step is deciding on what you wish to grow this time. If you want to have a mixed garden with veggies, fruits and other decoration plant life, the best option is to start with the foodflower garden plants as some of them need to be planted in early spring. After that, decide on your flowers, prepare your pots, containers and flower beds and start planting!

Spring Trim

Of course, you must not forget your already grown plants. It is a good idea to give your bushes and trees a nice spring trim. A good idea is to use an ewp for those high reachable areas that you need to prune. This way you will encourage healthy growth and flowering of your plants, but also, make your garden look neat and healthy.

Mulch It Good

When you have finished with everything, the final step is to re-mulch your garden. This is always a nice touch, as it truly gives your yard a strong base for another warm season. This step is quite similar to feeding the soil, as your garden needs to be taken care of before and after planting as well.  Just make sure before re-mulching to turn the old mulch to allow air, water and nutrients to reach plant roots. Do this step by using a metal rake, garden weasel or pitchfork. Also, you will need about an inch deep, light topdressing of mulch. Never apply mulch over three inches deep.

Finishing Touches

After all is said and done, it is time to give it some last finishing touches. A garden is a perfect place to get in touch with Mother Nature and feel closer to home. That is why it is important garden finishing touchesto create a pleasant ambient by placing some accessories and decorations. You could try repurposing a few of old things like bicycles or crates, placing garden gnomes or making miniature fairy gardens to add a bit of charm to the place. Also, consider placing a patio with a few lawn chairs, just so you could enjoy the wonder of nature in all its glory. Do not forget to check your old pots and containers whether they need some fixing up or should you simply use your wits to create new ones.

Most of us simply adore spring and all the wonders it brings with it. Of course, if we wish to completely enjoy in the fruits of our labour, we need to work for it. So get busy and spruce up your garden to make place for another amazing spring season.

Six Simple Springtime Renovations for Your Yard

backyard

Renovations can improve your home and make it more enjoyable, but you don’t have to focus on just the interior. This year, make some changes to your yard and create an outdoor space you’re sure to love. When you want a private retreat where you can relax and unwind after a long day, consider making these smart upgrades to your yard.

Fabric and Wood
Build an arbor over your deck or even a nice grassy spot in the yard. Drape a lightweight fabric over the top to help shade the area and give it an elegant feel. It doesn’t take much skill or craftiness to construct one, and you can always change out the fabric for a constant new look. You’ll love the combination of materials, and this just may become your favorite spot in the yard.

landscape

Water and Sun
Thanks to Blue World Pools above ground pools, it’s easy to add some water to your yard. You can give yourself the space you need to float away on a hot afternoon, and your kids will love hopping in to play some water games. Measure the space carefully so you can choose the largest size possible, and make sure you have a path to mow around it.

Storage Benches
You can always use more seating, but you also need storage. If you’re trying to decide on the right railing, consider going with storage benches instead. You’ll effectively use the available space, and you’ll make it easier to keep the deck neat and tidy. This is also a great option for your pool deck. Put a few drain holes in the bottom the bench and you can toss wet toys inside when the kids are done playing.

Clean up the Landscaping
If your backyard is an overgrown jungle, then it’s time to reclaim the landscape for your family. Take the time to push back the wilderness, clear out the weeds, and expand your turf. Not only will you create a more visually appealing space, but you’ll also cut back on the bugs.

Warm it Up
Make it easy to enjoy a roaring fire at night by adding a fireplace, or even an open fire pit. A carefully designed and crafted fireplace will direct heat to a certain area, but you can fit more friends around the open design. Either way, you’ll love the ambience while kids will enjoy roasting marshmallows.

Definable Areas
If you already have a large and functional space, then it may be time to give each area a little more definition. You can use curtains to turn a covered area into more of an outdoor room. Gather chairs around a fire pit in another area for gathering with friends, and put your dining table and chairs in a set location.

Most of these ideas won’t cost a great deal of money, but can all make your space more enjoyable. You’ll love having a functional area where you can relax, and the whole family will look forward to spending time in your oasis.

 

Tips on Creating a Truly Stunning Landscape

garden-tips

Making your garden a functional and eye pleasing place is not an easy task. Both of these aspects require careful planning, implementation and maintenance. Of course, without an initially well thought out idea the chances of getting a satisfactory final result is practically impossible. Yes, it is true that there are many possible  and existing stunning gardens that are so different when compared, however, they all share several universal characteristics and this is what is going to be covered here, giving you

Color Harmony

garden-flowersYour house and your garden need to be in perfect harmony if you wish to leave an impression and have an overall recognizable landscape. What this really means is that the dominant color of your façade needs to be followed by complementary or analogous colors that are dominant in your garden. Chose a scheme that pleases you the most and opt for flowers and bushes accordingly. Wood and terracotta colors are always a win when it comes to garden accessories and sheds, as well as flower pots.

Surface Levels

Practically, there are two possible approaches, a single level and a multi level terrain. Both of them have their upsides and downsides and both can be a great base for creating a stunning landscape, just as is proven in nature. The safest way to go would be, if you can choose in the first place, to let your house dictate. If it is a one storey house, single level terrain would be a safe choice. On the other hand, two or more storey homes would be better accompanied by multi level terrain, that is, if the circumstances allow any adjustments at all.

Trees and Bushes

garden-tropicalThis is another area where proportion plays the most important role. By all means make a difference between the trees you choose and the bushes you opt for, in term of height. If they are of similar height they will blend into an indistinguishable whole making you uniform in all negative aspects of the term. In a recent talk with the people behind Sydney-based company Priority Trees, I found out that this type of mistake is very common and that people change their flora several years after planting it due to not being initially informed. Therefore, when you narrow your choice to a few of each category, do your research on expected height of different types of trees and shrubs you are considering and only then make your final choice.

Less is More

By all means do not clutter your garden, rather let it breathe. Every item you chose for it needs to be clearly visible and identifiable; otherwise it should not be there in the first place. This means from the distance and up-close as well, so make sure you do not put too much of anything.

Final Touches

As a matter of fact, they do not exist in the exact meaning of the word. The work and creation never ends since almost everything in your garden is a living organism. Keeping your garden landscaping ideasimpeccable is necessary to keep its stunning appearance, so, be prepared to dedicate a lot of energy and time.

As you can see, every step in creating and maintaining a stunning landscape needs to be carefully planned and taken. However, all the hard work required will be more than rewarded and surely will not go unnoticed.

You may also consider adding a stunning Gazebo or Pergola to your landscaping project!  Be sure to contact us for your outdoor addition needs!

Inspiring Ways to Add Privacy to Your Yard

privacy fence

As a hot summertime is coming, we should take a proper care of our yard. It’s the only place where we can enjoy total peace and flamboyant nature. Can you imagine how amazing the feeling is when you come home exhausted from work and take a nap in your comfy hammock settled in the shade in front of your house? Our yards are our personal kingdom, a secluded getaway that we treasure and save only for ourselves. But, what happens when someone disturbs such harmony?

Over the course of time, people have become overly interested in other people’s lives and habits. If you have ever spotted your neighbor peeking through your fence, don’t despair. That happens to all of us. While some people just gave up, the other ones are still looking for most effective ways to add privacy to their yard. If you would like to make your yard more peaceful and creative, here are some inspiring tips to tickle your fancy.

Install a Fence

backyard fenceSetting the fence up is definitely the most traditional and effective way to enclose your yard. There is a really wide choice of fences, including their structure, shape and dimensions that all depend on your yard. However, you should definitely pay attention to the materials you are planning to use. Although white wood picket fence has been a dream of most house owners, you should think twice before setting it up. When installing such fences, you need to be ready for a huge commitment. You need to know how to maintain wood fence panels properly in order to make them look great. If you don’t want to spend a lot of time taking care of your fence, you should definitely choose one that is easy to maintain like powder-coated aluminum or vinyl.

Green up Your Yard with a Hedge

Some people consider walls and fences overly conservative and isolating. If they would make you feel confined in your own backyard, create privacy with beautiful hedgesmaybe installing a hedge is a perfect solution for you. Hedges have the same purpose as the most expensive fences or walls, adding both safety and aesthetical value to your yard. The choice of hedges is really wide and the most common division is into evergreen and deciduous ones. If you want to make your exterior more unique and creative, you could also combine several kinds of hedges with other plants and trees, which will add vivacity to your yard.

Opt for Delicate Lattice

If you feel that a traditional fence isolates you completely from your surroundings, you should look for alternative ideas. One of the most amazing ones is installing a delicate lattice, which has various purposes. It will seclude your yard perfectly and, since it doesn’t take up a lot of your yard, it can be installed everywhere.  Most importantly, lattice panels are easy to install and maintain. Setting them up, you will finally have an opportunity to grow your favorite flowering shrubs, climbing roses or tidy vines.

Personalize Your Favorite Nook

shade sailIf redecoration and reorganization of the entire yard is too complicated or expensive to you, you could also pick your favorite part of the yard and make it unique. Such a place should be provided with enough sunlight, shade and comfort. For example, you could look for shade sails online, as they are an amazing solution for both sunny and rainy days. You could install your favorite garden furniture, light fixtures and a comfy hammock under them and be sure that nothing could ruin your relaxation.

What we can conclude is that people who have a yard are really lucky. They are provided with an amazing opportunity to enjoy every spring or summer day in peace, isolated from the outdoor noise and views. That’s exactly why you need to add privacy to your yard. All you have to do is to be creative. You can play with various kinds of fencing, combine them and create a real heaven on earth. Following these tips, you will manage to create a safer yard and finally be able to completely relax.

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