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While we largely focus on interior design within the pages of this website, it is sometimes important to consider the exterior of our homes too. What we show on the outside can reflect the beauty of our homes inside, especially when we match the overall design of our properties to a particular style and time period. When we talk about our home exterior, we often use the term curb appeal. This is largely used in the context of a home sale, as the better the curb appeal, the more attractive it will be to the home buyer. This is certainly something you should think about when selling your home, but you should also find ways to improve your home's curb appeal for the benefit of your peace of mind at home and to appease any grumbling neighbors Here are some suggestions we hope you find useful. #1: Give your front door a new lease of life A fresh lick of paint will often do the trick when refreshing your front door, especially when using a color that pops when contrasted with the rest of your home's stonework. You could refresh the hardware on your door too, perhaps with a handle made out of polished brass if you are trying to add period charm or with something a little more modern if your home is of contemporary design. Door decor can also prove pleasing to the eye, such as a lavender wreath, a hanging basket, or a decorative name plaque. #2: Keep pests at bay By pests, we aren't only talking about mice, moles, and the vast array of garden pests that can ruin your home's curb appeal. We are also talking about wandering cats who could dig up your flower patches or birds that could leave droppings on your roof and walls. You can buy various types of repellants to keep pests both large and small at bay, including those that keep away next door's moggy. Pest control services can keep the majority of birds and beasties away too, including bird specialists who can provide roof and solar panel pigeon protection. There are all kinds of how-to guides online, so if there is a particular pest ruining your home's curb appeal, continue your research online. #3: Take care of your lawn This is the obvious thing to do as an overgrown lawn is never going to please the eyes of anybody walking by. Regularly care for your lawn by removing weeds, mowing your grass, blowing away leaves, and keeping it watered. Plant some flowers too, perhaps by taking a cue from these beautifully designed flower bed ideas, and consider adding garden decoration if you think it is safe to do so. #4: Get on top of any repairs It could be a broken fence or mailbox. Or it might be a cracked driveway. It could also be chipped paint on your exterior walls. Such issues can be an eyesore to any onlookers, so whatever the problem is, make the appropriate fixes or call on a specialist for professional help. Never underestimate your home's curb appeal. While you will understandably focus on your interior design when trying to improve the look of your home, there are times when the exterior will need some attention too. Follow our suggestions and look for further inspiration online or by paying attention to the homes in your neighborhood.
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When it comes to selling your house, you obviously want to get the best deal possible, right? And in a market that’s as crazy as real estate, working with a good estate agent is key to getting the money and the time you’re looking for. You want a good price and an even better time period, making sure you’re off the market and home free in less than a few months. Some estate agents are better than others - and there’s no denying that - so make sure you’re aware of what makes an agent good at their job, above anyone else. Because of this, we’ve put together a short list of such marks for your easy convenience below.  Pexels Image - CC0 Licence
What’s Their Website Like? The first thing to do is click through to look at their website, and make sure you like what you see. Is it bare bones? Are there many properties? Are the navigation tabs relevant? If they have a blog section, is it filled with handy, good to know information? And most of all, how recently was the website updated? If you’d like an example of a good update schedule, be sure to click here for something to base your criteria on. Ask yourself questions like these while browsing and you’ll narrow your search down much faster. How Good Does the Valuation Sound? When an estate agent puts in a valuation of your property, and it’s so much more than any quote you’ve heard before (from friends or family, surveyors, the general market consensus, etc.,), it’s a sign you’re being pulled along just for the job. The agent in question wants to reel you in, and before you happily jump on the numbers they’re showing you, you need to take 5 and think about it. Because an estate agent that’s being honest with you will quote you a valuation that’s about what you think it should be. It should also align with other valuations currently on the market, which makes sure it’s a realistic price that is likely to attract buyers. All in all, the valuation should sound good, because you expected that number, but it shouldn’t sound too good to be true. What’s Your First Impression of Them? Once you find an estate agent you think you like, and you’ve only communicated by text or email before now, it’s good to have a face to face meeting just to be sure they’re who you think they are. Once you do, you can get an all around impression of the agent, and make sure you would actually like to work with them. Make sure you like the way they communicate, and how attentive they are on the job. Do they check in regularly? Do they keep you updated? Are they personable enough for your tastes? It all matters! When it comes picking the right estate agent, you’ve got to be on the lookout for a few marks in their favor. Some aspects matter more than most!  Image Courtesy of Pixabay
Selling your home can be a tough challenge considering the amount of time and effort that it takes to do so. Agents must be contacted, listings must be made and a lot of redecorating or renovating might be required in order to bring it up to scratch both inside and out. Additionally, you might have to be open to letting strangers often look around and this can feel like invaded privacy which can result in wildly conflicting emotions about whether you should be selling your house at all. While there are many variables and facets to selling your house, there are some key factors that you should always be on the lookout for when deciding to sell, are in the process of selling, or when nearing the end of a transaction. Some of these include:
Quick Sale Sharks You have probably seen the adverts stating “we buy any home” or “we buy homes for cash” and while there are many reputable companies out there that are highly respected and will give you a fair, albeit usually lower price for your home when you need a quick sell, there are probably just as many who will be looking to fleece you as much as they can. A 2019 report in the UK found that the average cost of a typical property scam costs the victim around £108,000 at a total of £74 million since 2005 with property fraud accounting for 71% of all fraud committed, although most of this was related to mortgage and rental scams. However, it still serves to highlight the importance of being vigilant when selling your home as it could cost you a significant amount of money, time, and heartache should you fall victim to a complex scam or even a shrewd buyer looking to take advantage of your vulnerable position. Cash buying for homes is a popular choice for many home sellers that are looking to sell as quickly as possible but there are some things you need to be aware of on how to find a cash buyer for your house. There are benefits to selling to a cash buyer such as being able to sell on your own terms without an agent, showing when you want to, and most importantly, keeping all the profit for yourself. So when considering a cash buyer only use reputable firms that have experience, can prove that they have the cash, and have genuine promising reviews that you can access from third-party sources. Housing Economy The economy plays a key role in many things such as jobs, national GDP, and commerce but it also has a large impact on housing and the sales thereof. Sometimes, however, the housing market can operate independently of the national economy, and even in times of recession can be a good time to either sell or buy, depending on certain specific factors. This makes keeping an eye on both the national economic situation and the housing economy a pivotal part of considering a home sale. During the 2008 crash, housing prices dropped by as much as 20% which made them prime targets for those with the cash to buy them up at a much lower rate as they looked to take advantage of people in need of quick money. Fortunately, even the Covid-19 pandemic hasn't had quite as much an effect on house prices as 2008 but it has still had an impact at around 1 to 4%, which can mean a potentially negative ROI on some properties that are on the market now. Fortunately, most economic downturns are temporary and housing prices may only be temporarily affected. Through various sources such as the internet, radio, and TV it is possible to predict when a negative turn might be coming and you can either choose to get ahead of it by listing a property sooner rather than later or weathering the storm if you are able to wait since the housing economy usually bounces back pretty quickly. Emotional Attachment One of the most important aspects when it comes to selling a home is the emotional attachments that come with it. You might have spent many years making your home what it is from initially renovating, redecorating every few years, holding important family events, and even raising children. All of these are what makes a house your dream home and it's only natural that you become emotionally involved with the property itself, which can sometimes feel like part of the family itself. When looking to sell, you need to begin the process of thinking of your home purely as an item of sale rather than the place where you built a life. Should you fail to do this you run the risk of changing your mind, off-putting property sale tasks, and taking it off the market altogether. In short, without an emotional detachment, it could become all but impossible to sell your house. A good rule of thumb is to remember all of the great times in your home while also trying to remember the excitement and adventure you felt when buying it. This can help prepare you for getting excited about your next property purchase and occupancy that is set to become a new chapter of your life where you can make many new memories and allow your previous home to do the same for another family. It might be the case that you are thinking of doing something new in your home. If you have been reading interior design blogs, looking on Pinterest, or coming across posts on other social media sites, it might have inspired the interior designer in you. Now, you may want to change the way that your home looks, and we are here to help you with this. We are going to be giving you some advice down below, so keep reading if you would like to find out more.  Source Image - CC0 Licence A New Color When it comes to houses or apartments, the same kind of principles apply. The first thing that you should think about doing is giving the space a new color. This really gives it a new lease of life that you didn’t know it needed until you looked at the walls and saw nothing but bland. Try to go in the opposite direction of whatever you want in originally, as this will make the biggest change to your home. So, if you have something like magnolia now, try and go for something that is warm and dark. It might not be your typical choice, but who cares about typical? Do something daring that makes your home feel fantastic. Furniture You Love  Pic Location - CC0 Licence
You should also think about the furniture that you love when you are trying to create something beautiful. How is it going to be positioned? What is the best order for things to sit in? Does that table look better in the living room or another room? It’s not just one room that you’re sorting out, so there is nothing wrong with moving things about from room to room where necessary. Sometimes, something that you have in another room would look perfect in your living room and vice versa. Essentially though, as long as you have the pieces that you love, this is the main thing. If you want to purchase some more furniture, check out online stores to get some fantastic deals. Happy Memories Finally, you might want to make sure that there are some happy memories scattered around the home. This could be something that someone has made for you, pictures of you and your family and friends from occasions that made you smile, and so on. There are plenty of ways to display happy memories in your home, and there is nothing more beautiful than that. When you walk through the home, you get to see all those times where you were happier than you ever have been, which will make you feel good at seeing these memories. It’s well worth it. We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the things that you can do in order to create something beautiful in your home. Of course, this is going to be subjective, and you should never listen to what someone else has to say about your home. What is important is that you love what you have created, so enjoy it! Finding your dream home isn’t always easy. When you have a specific vision of what you want, it can be hard to find a home that meets your exact requirements. Your search could take a long time, and still leave you searching for something that might never appear. So what are your choices instead? Take a look at some of your options for building your dream home.  Image Credit: Unsplash under Creative Commons
Renovate and extend an existing property While you might not find everything you’re looking for in a dream home, some properties could have some elements of what you want, with room for improvement. Being able to renovate and extend an existing property can be a very rewarding thing to do, helping you create a home that’s exactly to your taste and needs. Renovating a home can be a long, difficult and costly process, but the end results are worth it. Research renovating a home to help you prepare for what lies ahead. Build your own If you truly want to create your dream home, then a great option is to build your own. This gives you complete flexibility over how your home looks and what it contains, provided you have the budget to make it happen. The first challenge is to research buying land to build a house and finding an available plot. From there you can bring in the necessary professionals to then turn your dreams into a reality. Rebuild on an existing plot of land Buying land to build a home can cost a lot of money, so another option could be to rebuild an existing house. Perhaps you want to turn a single story into a double story, or even completely demolish a property to build again! Building your home from scratch can be tough, but if there are existing foundations there, you could get your project off to a much easier start. Find ways to transform your existing home Could your dream home be right under your nose? Don’t rule out staying in your current home just yet. Making changes to your existing property such as an addition or converting some of the rooms could help you achieve exactly what you’re looking for, without having to move! A large home renovation can be a lot of work, especially if you’re living in the property at the same time, but if it saves you having to move, it could be the right move for you and your family. With a lot of options to help you build your dream home, it could be more within your reach than you realize. Explore the different options that are available to you, do the calculations and choose the right option for you and your circumstances. There may be a lot of work ahead for you, but it will all be worth it when you finally cross the threshold into your dream home. https://unsplash.com/photos/9rYfG8sWRVo
There is no denying that building a home from scratch can be an extremely exciting project. It is something that a lot of people dream about! They want to make sure that they have a property that is perfectly tailored to them. However, there is no denying that the journey to becoming a property owner of a home you have built yourself can be a difficult one. There are often a lot of hurdles along the way. So, with that in mind, let’s take a look at some top tips that can help you to navigate the process.
So there you have it: some of the different tips that you can follow to make sure that your new build is a success. We hope that the advice and tips that we have mentioned above will help to make sure that your new build dream is a big success. It can be a stressful yet exciting project for anyone. However, one of the best things you can do is make sure you enter the process with your eyes wide open, making the most of all of the advice and tips that come your way! For many people, their location is what’s keeping them where they are rather than their home. But when your home is no longer meeting your needs, there’s always going to be that lingering temptation to move, no matter how much you love your area and neighborhood. But there are some ways to improve and revitalize your home in an effort to avoid moving. Find out about those options below. Convert Under-Utilized Spaces If you have spaces in your home that are not being utilized, now is the time to improve them. When you convert under-utilized spaces, you can ensure your home offers more than it currently does. Maybe you have spaces in the basement and the attic that are simply not being put to use right now. If that’s the case, turning them into additional bedrooms or other functional spaces might be a good idea. Build an Extension If space is an issue in your home, you might want to think about having an extension built. When you do that, you can add the extra room you need without having to leave the neighborhood that you love. Of course, obtaining planning permission is something you’ll have to overcome but if you can do that, building an extension doesn’t have to be particularly complicated.  Image Source - CC0 License
Remodel the Most Important Rooms in the Home If there are particular rooms in the home that you see as most important, you can improve the home by remodelling those particular rooms. There are some rooms in the home that are generally seen as more important, such as the kitchen and bathroom, so those are the rooms you should probably focus your attention on for now. They’re the rooms that you use functionally every day of the week. Consider a Knockdown Rebuild There are some companies such as Bellriver Homes that can help you with knockdown rebuild projects. This is a big and drastic move to make, but it’s one that many people opt for. As the name suggests, it literally involves knocking down your existing structure and then building a new property on the newly vacant land. It’s something you should do further research into. Make Better Use of the Outdoor Space If you have a garden that’s rarely used, you should do something about that by doing something new with it. There are so many great ways to make a garden space more functional, so find the approach that’s going to work for you best. You could add a swimming pool, make it a social hub or even turn it into a vegetable garden. Adding function can bring new joy to your property and help revitalize it. As you can see, there are many options to consider when you’re looking to stay in your location but improve the home facilities you have at your disposal. At least one of the options discussed above will suit your needs and help you to revitalize your home in the way that works for you and your family.  Pixabay CC0 License
When it comes to designing home living spaces, bigger is better. At least when perceptions of space are involved. Unfortunately, increasing the physical dimensions is usually impossible or mega expensive. Thankfully, it is possible to trick the eyes into thinking rooms are larger. Here are five of the best ways to make it happen without the need to invest huge amounts of time or money. #1. Introduce More Light Lighter, brighter rooms will always look larger than their dark and gloomy counterparts. Whether it’s the installation of sliding doors to bring more light into the room or using ceiling lighting solutions is up to you. Dressing the windows in a more suitable manner can have a telling influence too. Either way, a combination of natural and electrical lighting should be used to create a brighter appearance. In addition to making the home look brighter, it can create a happier atmosphere. #2. Make Smarter Color Choices While bringing more light into the home establishes a positive platform, you need to do more. Choosing better color schemes can have a telling influence on the energy of a room, including spatial perceptions. Whether it’s a lighter shade of vinyl flooring, a neutral wall color, or a bold feature wall doesn’t matter. All of those features must work together to create the desired overall appearance. Meanwhile, the furniture choices can complement the strategy even further. #3. Go Open Plan Open plan living has become an increasingly popular choice in recent times. It makes the whole living area look far bigger, especially when sliding doors are used to step onto the garden. When you remove an internal wall but wish to retain the ability to section off individual spaces, sliding doors with glass panels work well. Again this ensures that the light is allowed to promote a larger vibe. Another top trick is to install a frameless shower unit rather than something that cuts off the visuals of the bathroom. #4. Build Up When looking to make rooms look larger, you will want to retain as much floor space as possible. As such, avoiding unnecessary clutter is vital. Even so, you will want to add decor features. Building up with tall cabinets rather than wide ones is a good starting point. Meanwhile, wall-mounted shelving can have a positive influence on using rooms to their full potential. Working vertically can also include making calculated choices regarding house plants or ornaments. Either way, the impact is huge. #5. Choose Big Furniture The idea of choosing larger furniture pieces may sound a little counterproductive. In reality, though, it can have a positive influence if used instead of several smaller furniture pieces. One big corner sofa can fit nicely in a difficult space compared to taking up the middle of the room with armchairs or small sofas. Further developments can be made by using retractable tables or ottomans that double up as storage as well as seating. When used with the other tricks, success is assured.  I am currently working on a project that is a minor bathroom renovation. The client wanted to update a kid’s / guest bath in a budget oriented, simple way. The concept board above represents new selections to work with the existing vanity - but adding in new countertops, sinks, faucets, mirrors, lighting, and hardware. They are going to re-tile the existing tub / shower too. Added in a few natural textured accessories to mix with the neutral, versatile color scheme!
 Over the past few months, I’ve been working with a client on her kitchen remodel. The process has been a well planned and thought out design, allowing plenty of time for thinking through the design concepts and researching the selections. For this project, the client has had a strong direction of what she likes and the look she is going for, bringing much of her inspiration to the project. While we’ve had on going communication and meetings, she has also spent time researching selections and the finishes she’d like to use. The concept board above is the most recent, finalized selections for the project. The three below (followed by the final) represent the evolution of the project as we entertained various “inspiration” photos and created the different looks, or boards, based on them. Construction is to begin in a few more months!     |
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