Kitchen, bath renovations remain tops, but go lean and green
When it comes to adding value and enjoyment to your home, kitchen and bath remodels still remain tops, remodeling and real estate experts say. But how people remodel is changing. High-end renovations, costing tens of thousands of dollars, are dwindling, replaced by upgrades that provide homeowners with the most return for the least investment.
Thinking of remodeling but don't know where to start? Let your mouse do the heavy lifting and transform your current space into your dream home. These days everyone turns to the Web to get inspired. Start your renovation by concentrating on the rooms you use the most and offer the best return on investment (ROI): your kitchen and your bathroom.
Practical upgrades pay off in kitchens and bathrooms
Practical pays off when it comes to kitchen and bath renovations. Gone are the days when virtually every kitchen or bathroom remodel involved top-of-the-line luxury upgrades and a budget big enough to fund an Ivy League education. Today's homeowners want more value for their remodeling dollars, and that means turning to improvements that make both functional and fiscal sense.
Does your kitchen feel more like Julie's than Julia's? No need to be concerned ... if Julie could learn to master the art of cooking in less than a year, you can design your own chef's studio in a fraction of that time. Follow Julie's footsteps and take your lead from those who know kitchens best - professional chefs.
Simple accessory switches can lighten your decor for summer days
Replacing dark accessories with brighter, lighter ones is a fast, easy way to lighten the mood in your home. Re-accessorize the right way - spend your redecorating dollars on items that will give you the most impact for the lowest monetary investment. Here are a few ideas from some home decor experts to get you started.
Nearly everyone can appreciate polished surfaces and tidy rooms, but spring cleaning has other benefits. Spring cleaning can also help deal with allergens and pests in your home. Many people are aware of allergens like dust, pollen, mold, mildew and animal dander, especially in the spring, but some sources of these are often less obvious. Just a few simple steps added to your spring cleaning every year can help you to enjoy your home.
There's nothing like white to add a cool, clean look to your home. From linens and pillows to china and cabinetry, a splash of white not only adds light to your interiors, but can lighten your mood as well. The kitchen is one of the best spaces to go wild with white.
When the weather heats up, you're looking for ways to keep your cool. Incorporating new dishes that don't require a lot of heat to prepare and leave you feeling cool is a great way to survive the summer heat.
Help kids get back into the swing of school with simple room updates
There's no avoiding the return to school. But parents can help kids ease the transition by creating an environment that's comforting -- and conducive to learning at the same time. If your child is struggling to adjust to going back to school, some simple changes in her bedroom might help make the move less difficult.
Summer: the perfect season to design an eye-catching and comfortable kitchen
In the summer, most activity moves to the great outdoors. Porches, patios and decks are the official "heart center" of most homes during the warm weather months, especially at mealtimes. Instead of congregating in the kitchen as they do in the colder season, families tend to gather on the patio to enjoy dinner and recap the day's events.
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