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If you are looking for a safe place to live, then you must take the time to check for all of the building safety amenities before signing your lease. This blog will go through some must-haves so that you can make sure your new home has everything needed to keep you and your family safe. Builder Maintenance One of the first things you should look for is a reasonable amount of regular and routine building maintenance. If it has been documented that there are regularly scheduled maintenance updates, this means that your apartment will be kept up to code with safety standards more often than not. This includes painting (interior and exterior) and a roof anchor to prevent falling accidents which you can outsource from Shine On Anchors for the best in the market. If you are not satisfied with the contractor in charge of these updates, you should look for another building manager because if there is an emergency that needs fixing right away, this could lead to a safety hazard. For example, fire extinguisher changes or window repairs may need to be done, if not, this will make your unit unsafe for you and your family. Intruder Alarms Another building safety amenity is an intruder alarm. This will provide the unit with protection from any potential burglary or theft, typically in public areas of your home like hallways and common spaces, so that you can feel safe when returning to your apartment after work or school. Fire Alarms An additional must-have for a safe living space is a fire alarm. This will alert occupants of the building if there is an emergency, such as smoke or flames, in your unit so that you can evacuate quickly and safely without any harm coming to you. CCTV Another safety amenity that is a must-have for any building is CCTV. This will give you peace of mind knowing that an incident would get documented if it ever happened. This information can help the police find who committed the crime or identify what caused the emergency in your apartment. Access Control When it comes to building safety, an access control system is a must. This will allow only those who have the key or code to enter your unit and prevent entry to any unannounced guests that could potentially cause you harm. Extinguishers and First Aid Kits Along with the other building safety amenities, you must have fire extinguishers and first aid kits in your home. This way, if there is a minor accident or injury to one of your family members, they will react accordingly because these items are crucial for any household. Sprinklers Another must-have in your new building is sprinklers. This will help to put out any potential fires that may start because of an electrical or natural disaster, such as a tree falling on the power line and its short-circuiting, which could lead to small flames starting up in some areas of your apartment. Emergency Exits Lastly, any building should have emergency exits safely labeled and displayed for all occupants to know where they need to head if there was an earthquake or another natural disaster. In conclusion, you must take the time to look for all of these building safety amenities before signing your lease so that when you move in, you will feel safe and secure.
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If you would like to spend more outside, why not do more with your outdoor living space. Especially if your yard or garden isn't geared up for fun, you could make a few additions to increase the enjoyment factor. You will appreciate the changes you make if you consider the things that you find fun. And so too will other members of your family if you cater to them as well. So, what could you do? Well, it depends on you and the people you surround yourself with. But here are a few suggestions that we hope you find useful. #1: Add a swimming pool  (Unsplash CC0) If you have space in your outdoor space for a swimming pool, why not consider the option. For inspiration, take a look at these design ideas for your pool and look at those belonging to your friends and neighbors too. Admittedly, you will lose some of the space you might use for other things, but you might not mind the sacrifice once you start having pool parties at home. Of course, swimming pools are also great for exercise, so there is more than one reason to consider a pool renovation. #2: Add a play area For the young and the young at heart, a play area is a great idea. You could section off part of your outdoor space for giant garden games, water play equipment, swings, slides, and cornhole boards. You could even match the play equipment to your home's aesthetic, using colors that match your home exterior and garden. You could also add the personal touch with personalized cornhole bags and other pieces of equipment that can be tailored to your family. And what about a treehouse or playhouse? These are great additions to any outdoor play area and they can be themed to match your children's interests. Let them escape into their own private enclave, with everything they need to have fun inside. Build your own if you have the know-how, hire a professional, or source something you can find online. If you are able to come up with your own creation, remember to add safety features and include flooring that can easily be cleaned. #3: Create a space for entertaining  (Unsplash CC0)
A patio area is great for entertaining as is a summerhouse or a sheltered area under a pergola. There are things you will need, of course, such as comfortable furniture for your guests to relax in. A grill or an outdoor kitchen is a must if you want to feed your guests when they come to enjoy your company. You might want to add a fire pit too, as this will be something your guests appreciate, especially when the evening air turns a little chilly. And what about a hot tub? That will really warm your guests up when they complain about the cold. It can also be a great place to relax in, with or without other people to share it with. #4: Create a reading nook Remember reading? It's something people used to do before the advent of movie streaming sites and Facebook! We are being sarcastic, of course, but if you need an incentive to read more (by which we mean books and not social media posts), it might be that an outdoor reading nook will be ideal for you. Your kids might spend more time with a book in their hands too, which is great news if they're a little too involved with screen time. All you need to do is set up a garden canopy with a comfy sofa or chair underneath. You could hang outdoor lights around your searing area too, which will be perfect for those late evenings when the sun decides to go to bed. And you could also add a water feature or some wind chimes to drown out the sounds of anything that could distract you from your reading time. #5: Create a haven for local wildlife Why visit a wildlife sanctuary when your garden can become the go-to place for local birds and animals? Of course, we aren't suggesting you set up your own zoo, as your neighbors wouldn't appreciate an elephant living next door (especially if it tramples over their fence and geraniums). But they won't complain if your garden is set up to welcome birds, hedgehogs, toads, bees, and other such creatures into your outdoor living space. You could install birdbaths, nesting boxes, and feeders for your winged friends, for example. You could also plant nectar-rich plants to attract more bees. Hedgehogs might wander in if you provide areas of lush undergrowth, with decorative grasses, shrubs, and leaf piles. And if you add a pond or another type of water feature, you might see more dragonflies and frogs coming into your garden too. When you're relaxing in your garden, you will have a great time watching local wildlife going about their daily business. And your children should be thrilled too. Check out the following advice if you are interested in creating a wildlife sanctuary in your outdoor space. #6: Set up an outdoor movie theater This may be something you have done already, as many people decided on this option when local movie theaters were closed during the pandemic. But if not, it's worth considering the option. There are certain things you will need, including a movie screen, speakers, and projector, so there will be a few costs involved. You might also want to pay for extra seating too, although you could always use your existing garden seating or a blanket or two. Once set up, you would be able to watch movies outdoors, be that a big Hollywood blockbuster or a nice rom-com with your partner. There is information here on what you need for your movie theater, so have a read for advice on the best equipment to buy. Let the fun times commence So, there we have it, 6 fun things to do with your outdoor living space. Do whatever makes sense for you and your family and give everybody the incentive to spend more time outdoors in the coming days and weeks. Thanks for reading!  Looking to sell your home and want feedback, ideas, solutions to get your house showcase ready? I can help!
Offering interior design consultations for any of your home staging & interior design needs online or on-site! Can help with: Paint color selections for interior or exterior. Remodeling feedback on design direction, layout, colors, finishes, materials, etc. Room design functionality, layout, ideas, concept, direction, sources. Staging ideas for home resale or new home buyer feedback / moving in help. For home, office, retail, and any other design advice you are looking for. Available for on-site meetings in the LA/OC areas and online for anyone, anywhere (by forwarding photos of rooms or space needing help with. Design ideas and direction will be provided in written feedback with ideas, concepts, links, color selections, solutions, etc.) Design consultations are $100/hr. Please email with any questions: JSInteriorDes@aol.com Payable via Venmo @Jill-Seidner or PayPal links below.  Photo by Binyamin Mellish from Pexels
Enhancing your home's value is something that you will need to seriously consider, especially if you want to sell it in the near future. Deciding on the right project is a combination of what is necessary and needed along with what will increase the value of your home. If you can strike a good balance you are well on your way to upgrading the value of your home with a few simple home improvement projects. Here is a look at the most lucrative home improvement projects if you are trying to increase the value of your home. Upgrade Appliances Replacing old appliances with energy-efficient models is one of the best moves you can make to upgrade your kitchen. Upgrading your kitchen appliances to new energy-efficient models does not have to break the bank. You can buy good second-hand items for your kitchen that are energy-saving. Bear in mind that major appliances such as refrigerators and freezers can last for twenty-five years. People often change these refrigerators not because they are no longer working but because they want to upgrade to newer models. If you can get an energy-efficient model that is second-hand but looks great and works great, then you will save yourself some money and upgrade your kitchen at the same time. Renovate Your Bathroom A bathroom renovation is a great way to improve the overall look of your home and add value to it. The renovation that you do can be moderate or elaborate depending on the style and your taste. You can install new fixtures in your bathroom in order to give the room a whole new look. If the tiles are looking a bit worse for wear you can regrout them to make them look better. You can also add mirrors to your bathroom in strategic places to make the room seem a bit bigger and to reflect light in the space. Renovate Your Basement Your basement is one of the places that you should consider renovating in an order to enhance the value of your home. You can put a moisture barrier under house to prevent excess moisture if this is a problem or you can renovate your basement to make it livable. A lot of people have basement apartments that they rent out for extra cash. Enhance Your Home The ideas here can improve the value of your home in no time. All you have to do is pick out which projects are right for you and then decide on your budget. Once you do this you should get started right away. If you have the skills to do it then doing a DIY project will save you a lot of money. However, you don't have the skills it is best to hire a professional so that you don't make costly mistakes  Pexels. CCO Licensed.
Are you continuously spending money on your home without making any return? You could be living in a money pit. Below are a few signs that your home is costing you more than it’s worth. You keep having to make unexpected repairs Home repairs are one of the unavoidable costs of being a homeowner. However, you shouldn’t be constantly making repairs to the point that you’re getting yourself into debt. If you bought a fixer-upper or bought a very old home, it’s possible that you knew what you were getting yourself into. Unexpected repairs are the expenses that you should be worried about. This could include plumbing issues, electrical issues or cracks in walls. It’s possible that the home may have been poorly constructed and could be slowly falling apart (which means many more future repairs). The bills are too high Do you get shocked every time you receive an energy bill? Do you feel as if you’re paying way too much rent? This may be something you can negotiate with bill providers or your landlord. However, there could be cases where it is largely out of your control. For instance, an old uninsulated house is likely to lose heat more easily - you may have to weigh up whether it's worth investing in insulation or not. A property in a popular neighbourhood meanwhile may have high rental rates due to its location - you need to determine whether the location is worth the cost. Your home isn’t gaining value If you’re spending a lot of money and your home isn’t gaining any value, this is also something to worry about. You should be particularly worried if home prices in your area are depreciating - you could end up selling your home for less than you bought it if you leave it too long. This could be the case if a neighbourhood has become less attractive due to recent events or developments. Should you stay put or sell? You should consider whether the continuous costs are worth it. A historic home may need constant repairs, but it may be worth it if the home has lots of character and is in a beautiful location. Dream homes don’t come cheap. Of course, it is important that your income is able to cover the costs of your home. If home repairs are getting you into debt and this debt is growing, it could be a good idea to get out fast. Even if your home is seemingly falling apart, there are solutions if you need to need to sell a house fast. The sooner you get out, the sooner you can protect your finances. It may be worth arranging a home inspection to determine what other costs may be around the corner. You may find that all the biggest repairs are behind you. Alternatively, there could be much bigger repairs to come. A professional surveyor will be able to tell you what the case is. You should also consider whether you can invest in any preventative measures. As mentioned already with high heating bills, you can solve this by investing in insulation. If you keep having to repair flood damage or vandalism, you may similarly be able to put in place measures such as flood defences or security cameras.  Book an interior design consultation for any of your interior design or remodeling needs online or on-site! Can help with: Paint color selections for interior or exterior. Remodeling feedback on design direction, layout, colors, finishes, materials, etc. Room design functionality, layout, ideas, concept, direction, sources. Staging ideas for home resale or new home buyer feedback / moving in help. For home, office, retail, and any other design advice you are looking for. Available for on-site meetings in the LA/OC areas and online for anyone, anywhere (by forwarding photos of rooms or space needing help with. Design ideas and direction will be provided in written feedback with ideas, concepts, links, color selections, solutions, etc.) Design consultations are $50/half hour or $100/hr. Can also be purchased as a gift with no expiration. Please email with any questions: JSInteriorDes@aol.com Payable via Venmo @Jill-Seidner or PayPal links below.   Although it has become a trend, the look of mixing metals and finishes is definitely a great way to add visual interest. I love the look of silver, brass, black - all mixed together or even mixing golds and silvers. Don’t be afraid to mix things up - gone are the days of matchy matchy! Check out these images for inspiration!      All images via Pinterest
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It's time to make some changes to your living room. After all, it has been a whole year since you last changed anything! There are many ways to update your living space, and here are the top four ways for you! DIY a Bar Area If you love to entertain and grab a drink with your friends, then why not have a bar in the living room? You can create an area for this by installing cabinets or shelves under your TV. If you don't want to make any pricey changes, many stores sell ready-made bars as well or find ways to affordably transform your pallet bar! Your home bar will be more than just a gathering place; it can also serve as storage for your cocktail glasses and store other bar supplies. If you're short on space, consider installing shelves that are at different heights to maximize the amount of room available! Additionally, if you don't want to have all of the alcohol out in plain sight, try installing a mirrored cabinet with glass doors. If you're starting, try using bar carts as opposed to a full-blown custom bar! These are easy on the wallet, and they offer some excellent storage space for your alcohol too! A perfect way to make your living room feel like it has been updated is by adding this touch of class. Add a Chandelier A chandelier is a perfect way to add an instant touch of elegance and class to your living room. You can find many different styles on sites like eBay or Amazon, so it's easy for you to customize what you're looking for! Plus, they come in a wide range of price points too! When deciding where exactly you want to install your chandelier, think about the focal point of your living room. If it's a fireplace or TV, try installing the chandelier over that area for extra drama! Mix Modern and Vintage Pieces If you're looking for a way to bring in both the old and new, then try mixing different pieces of furniture! For example, try adding a modern coffee table to your vintage couch or vice versa. You'll be surprised at how much more interesting it will make your living room feel! Plus, if you find that this mix doesn't suit your needs, you can always switch it up. Have More Green If you're looking for some more green in your living room, then try out the idea of adding plants. If you have ample space available, consider getting an entire plant wall! Not only will this provide great decoration but it's also good for the environment. You can purchase faux plants, too, if that suits your needs better and they're easier to maintain. If you're looking for something more temporary, try out the idea of a seasonal plant wall! These are perfect if you want the green without committing to it all year long, and they can be changed with each season. Plus, this type is easy to maintain. In conclusion, there are many ways to update your living room this year, and hopefully you will find some of these ideas helpful.  Pool time! It’s summer and it’s sure been warming up (at least, here in LA!) - so why not think about soaking up a little pool time!? Actually, the only pool time I’ve had recently is researching pools. A long time client recently asked me to help with some selections for her pool renovation. I took to Pinterest to research concepts before diving (pun) into the actual selections + materials. Check them out at the bottom of this post!        Last summer, I helped this client with her backyard and patio furnishings (left). On the right, is a concept board featuring three material and color scheme options for her pool coping, tile, & surfacing. It was fun to research ideas for pool selections!
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