 (Image Credit)
Everyone knows that the environment is incredibly important at the moment. With some dubbing the current state of the world a “climate disaster” or “climate emergency”, there is more pressure than ever before to clean up your act. Many of the methods you see online can take a lot of effort each day, though, and this makes it hard for many people to keep up. To help you out with this, this article will be exploring passive ways to improve your home’s carbon footprint and environmental impact. Better Windows Windows are a weak spot for many homes. Glass isn’t a very good insulator, and this means that it will let a lot of warmth out of your home during winter, and a lot of heat in during summer. Double glazing from companies like the one found here can solve this issue, with gas between the panes of glass that will be able to trap hot or cold air inside your home. Adding Insulation Alongside changing your windows, adding insulation to your home can also make a big difference. This can be added inside your walls and roof, making it possible to achieve much lower energy bills without having to change the look of your home. Options like this are great for the environment, and there are loads of companies out there that can help with it. Low-Flow Toilets Low-flow toilets have been on the market for a long time, but many homes don’t use them. It takes a lot of energy to purify water, and there is a limited supply on Earth, making it worth saving as much as possible in your day to day life. Of course, though, you have to be willing to compromise on a strong flush for this. Boiler Servicing Boilers are the heart of the heating systems in most homes, providing hot water that comes out of your taps and showers, along with heating your radiators. Old boilers can become inefficient over time, and this makes it worth spending some money to have your boiler serviced on a regular basis. While this may not sound passive, it’s far less work and a lot more comfortable than turning heaters off all the time. LED Light Bulbs Filament light bulbs have been on the market for a very long time, but they haven’t gotten much more efficient. While LED bulbs can cost more to buy, they will use significantly less power than those that use wire filaments, without making your compromise on the light levels in your home. In fact, LED bulbs can often be brighter than filament ones. Automatic Power Systems Power is important to homes, but you don’t need to use it all the time. Having timers in place to turn off lights, televisions, and other non-essential appliances can be great ways to make sure that you are using as little power as possible. This will always positively impact your footprint. There are a lot of methods available to those who want to reduce their impact on the environment, but it’s always worth looking for ones that require as little work as possible to ensure that you can stick to them.
0 Comments
 (Image Souce)
Artwork comes in a lot of different forms. Unlike in the past, just about every type of art can be found in the modern world, and there are very few restrictions on the pieces that you can use to decorate your home. Of course, though, most people will stick photos, prints, and paintings when they are decorating their place. To help you to break away from this, this article will be exploring some of the best ways to use interesting artwork in your home to make it look extra special. This process is nice and easy, but you will need to be creative to find the very best options for your home. Water Features Water has long been a popular decor choice for large businesses like hotels, giving them the chance to create a unique feel with their spaces. In recent years, though, this sort of option has become far more accessible for those looking to make their own home look more interesting. Many people assume that this sort of option can only work outside, but there is a huge market for indoor water features. Many of the options you find don’t require any special plumbing, as they use a reservoir and power source to keep themselves running. Kinetic Sculptures Kinetic sculptures have been around for a very long time, with examples like a Newton cradle being extremely popular. This type of sculpture incorporates movement into its design, often using no electricity to create hours of fun. A wood sculpture that has been designed like this can make a wall look far more interesting than it used to, giving you the ability to start it at the beginning of the day and enjoy movement for the rest of it. As time goes on, more and more products like this are being added to the market, giving you access to a wealth of options when you are looking to improve the look of your home. Clothing Fashion has changed dramatically over the last few years. Across the world, people from all walks of life are being able to embrace the chance to indulge in clothing that they wouldn’t have been able to afford in the past. Of course, though, how can this be something you decorate your place with? Sports memorabilia, music merchandise, and a huge range of other clothing options can feel too good to wear but will look awesome hung on your walls or kept in display cases. This sort of idea is becoming increasingly popular as the years go by. Plants & Animals Plantlife has long been used as one of the main decor options for gardens and other outdoor spaces, but this idea can be taken inside, too. Plants can look great in loads of different forms, from being kept in simple pots to being hung on your walls in vertical gardens. A lot of work will need to be done to maintain the plants you keep in your home, but this can be worth it to make the whole place feel lush and fresh. You can find websites that can deliver plants to your door. This next idea can be somewhat controversial, though it can be perfectly fine if you approach it correctly. Animals like fish can thrive in a home environment, with beautiful tanks that can be decorated with loads of different features. Of course, though, if you decide to go down the route of using fish or other animals as part of your decor, you have to make sure that you are willing to put the time into caring for them properly. This sort of idea can easily be achieved in most homes. Clocks As the last idea to explore, it’s time to think about clocks. In most cases, you probably won’t want to have more than one clock in each of the rooms in your home. This doesn’t mean that you can’t use this sort of decor option to make your rooms feel interesting, though, as there are loads of different types of clocks on the market that can make your place look great. It’s well worth exploring websites like Instagram and Pinterest when you’re looking for products like this. Social media can be a great source of inspiration. With all of this in mind, you should be feeling ready to start moving away from the standard artwork ideas people have for their homes. Of course, there is nothing wrong with pictures, but it can make a lot of sense to be more creative when you’re choosing the look and feel of the place you call home.  I recently came across a great source for area rugs - as well as a great Amazon Decor source: https://amazon.com/walkonme - and while the Amazon store is a great go to, the line is also sold on Overstock, Wayfair, and HomeDepot.com too.  For almost every project, I’m always searching for affordable area rugs. The Walk On Me line offers: - Thick, plush and super soft area rugs - Vegan / Fake / Faux Fur - Animal and Eco Friendly - Real non-slip integrated backing - Machine Washable  Having machine washable area rugs is especially important with kids and pets - the convenience and worry-free insurance of being able to throw in the washer.  Love the idea of a thick, plush, and super soft area rug for a cozy sitting area. The plushness makes a space feel warmer and inviting as well.  Because these area rugs are not only washable but also offer a non-slip integrated backing, they’d make great use for commercial spaces like waiting areas or offices.  Walk On Me is currently offering a 15% discount in their Amazon store for a limited time only by using promo code: JSID15OFF - check out the selections here: http://amazon.com/walkonme
Happy Rug Shopping! When it comes to buying your first house, it is something that is really exciting. However, as a first-time buyer, there can also be some surprises along the way. There may be some costs that you might not have considered before the house buying process, as well as a few things that you simply just didn’t know about. So with that in mind, here are some surprising things that first-time buyers might encounter. image
Your mortgage could get sold When you are getting a mortgage it can feel like a whole new world of finances and paperwork. But did you know that it is quite likely that your mortgage will get sold at least once? Many mortgage brokers will sell some mortgages in order to make money, as well as allowing some capital to free up, so that they can continue to loan money to people. If this happens, then there is no reason to panic. You should just listen to what your lender says about where new payments need to be made to. You can buy a house without seeing it completed When it comes to buying a new-build home, which is quite common for first-time buyers, you can often buy a house or apartment off the plan, which means that you haven’t seen it finished, but buy it anyway. This is something that can be quite common, if you look at Meriton apartments and homes, for example. Although there is an element of risk of not liking the house or apartment afterwards, when there are a lot of potential buyers, getting in there early and buying off plan can be a good way to make sure that the property becomes yours. More bills If you are going to buy a house from renting, then you will quickly realize just how many more bills that you have. Landlords can often cover a lot of costs, such as repairs of appliances, for example. As a homeowner, all of that will be up to you. Your landlord may have also combined energy bills and things like broadband, but now it will be all of your own responsibility to sort and arrange. The value of the home depends on a lot of things By keeping your home in good shape and decorating it well, doesn’t mean that the value of the house will increase. There are so many other factors to consider when it comes to the value of a home, and whether it will increase or decrease. The location, accessibility to good schools, and other factors can play a part, as well as what work you do to the home, such as extending to add an extra bedroom. If you are a first-time buyer, then be prepared for some unexpected things to come your way, as well as unexpected costs to come your way. Having a little extra money in your budget can really make a difference, and that will mean that you can have a little bit of relief should something very unexpected come your way.  Pexels
You may love your home but know that it requires some attention. A little refresher and updating can go a long way but you may not know where to start or how to go about completing these types of projects. The following advice will outline what you should be doing and how you can begin to tackle these important enhancements. Be patient and take your time because while you want to get it done in a timely fashion you also want to do it right. Create A Project List Start by creating a project list of what you want to tackle and get done. Getting organized will help you stay on track and ensure you’re taking care of the most important to-dos first and foremost. Go around your home and take inventory of what needs your attention the most. Do your homework and figure out which of the ideas you come up with will revitalize your home and give you the best return on your investment so your efforts pay off. Research Ideas Once you know what you want to do to your home then you should conduct some research regarding trends and possibilities. Learn more about the different material options and styles and looks that are out there. Not only think about what other homeowners are doing but also your own taste and what you believe will be the most attractive and right elements for your home style. Set A Budget You should never dive into house projects without first setting a budget. Review your finances and figure out how much you have to spend and want to spend on each project. You may discover that you want to address a few of the smaller tasks right away and take some time to save up your money for the larger updates so you can pay straight cash for them instead of using a credit card. Determine What You Can DIY Another step in the process of updating your home is to determine what you can DIY and what projects you want help with from a pro. There are many projects that you can likely handle and will do just fine at completing once you watch a few How-to-videos. It’s not only fun to learn and challenge yourself but you can save some money by doing it yourself too. However, it’s also important to know your limits and areas you may want to avoid such as plumbing or electrical. Interview Multiple Contractors For the projects that you decide you want help with from a pro then it’s wise to interview multiple contractors for the job. Avoid hiring the first person you meet or think of and have a few different options to explore. Get recommendations from friends and family members and read reviews online to understand better who might be the best fit for your home updates. Be sure to have a contract in place and read the fine print before you begin any work. Confirm the contractor is fully licensed and insured and that you both agree to a timeline in advance.  pexels
Buying a new home is an incredibly exciting time, you’ll be looking forward to a new chapter, and making a great investment. House hunting can be a complicated progress, and many people find it stressful. To help you ease the stress, here are four mistakes to avoid when you are house hunting.1 . Failing To Set A BudgetBefore you start house hunting it’s important to establish a budget, and understand what you can afford. Failing to budget means you could end up looking at homes that are way out of your price range. Equally, you might be able to afford more than you think. According to NerdWallet, ‘you shouldn’t spend more than 28% of your gross monthly income on home-related costs and 36% total on debts.’ Whether you’re looking for high end real estate and properties or an inexpensive flat, it’s important to know your budget from the get-go. 2. Not Knowing The NeighbourhoodWhen you’re buying a property in a new neighbourhood you need to spend plenty of time getting to know the area. You might have found your dream house, but choosing the wrong neighbourhood can affect your quality of life. The neighbourhood will also have an impact on the value of your property over time. Spend time in the area, go shopping, eat at restaurants, explore the parks and research the schools. When you’re working with your real estate agent, you can ask questions about the neighbourhood. You might want to ask:
Your agent will be able to support you to find out more about the area. With plenty of information, it’s easier to make an informed decision. 3. Failing to shop around Buying the perfect home takes a little time, if you don’t shop around you could end up settling for the wrong place. To help you shop around you should make a list of your wants and needs. Think about how many bedrooms you need, and how important it is that you have a garden. Are you looking for a new build or an older property? Which amenities do you need on your doorstep? Answering questions like these will make your house hunting journey a whole lot easier. 4. Skipping the house inspection Before you commit to buying a property it’s important to get a house inspection. A house inspection will identify any faults with the property, it might be structural damage, electrical faults, or asbestos risks. A house inspection will highlight any issues that need urgent attention. If there are issues which affect the value and safety of the home, you might find yourself rethinking the deal. The house hunting process doesn’t have to be stressful. It’s important to get organized, and know exactly what you are looking for. Avoiding these mistakes will get you that little bit closer to finding your dream home.  Pexels - CC0 License
Most of us know what a great home looks like. We may spend time browsing for them online, or we get that unmistakable feeling when taking a property tour. Of course, all of us have different tastes, but sometimes, there are objective markers as to what constitutes a great home, to the point where we instinctually feel it where possible. But how can you find the perfect home for YOU in this capacity? It’s not very easy to define that if we haven’t spent the time trying to figure it out. Luckily, there are a few filters, principles and rules you can set or define before going on your house hunt to make sure you end up with something you’re interested in. What does that mean going forward? Well, the next time you decide to browse the best homes for sale, consider some of the following tidbits of insight. You never know just when they may be applicable or help you see the value in a home that someone else might not. Let’s get started: Filter Your Budget (And How You May Stretch) It’s good to filter what kind of budget you’re happy with, and search properties within that lens. However, it’s also good to widen those strict terms just a little to give you more leeway. For instance, you never know just how an amazing location might convince you to buy a cheaper property and spend a year renovating it instead of moving in right away, or perhaps borrowing money or stretching your budget to go for a house that has it all. So, be mindful of your budget, but don’t consider it totally gospel. This can help you browse more options without being silly about it. Find Specialized Property Agents Property agents and realty services can help you get the viewings, explore an area, and highlight the fixtures. Of course, they can also help you seamlessly put an offer in and manage the transfer of the property, including the associated fees and paperwork. However, you will notice that some have experience in certain home types, and others may have specific experience in rural areas. If looking for a particular property, like a city penthouse, make sure to use agents that have thorough experience in that field and a wide portfolio of properties to show you. Think Of Communities & Lifestyles, Not Just Homes It’s not just about the property you’ll live in, but everything that comes with that. Make sure to view the local community, speak to some of its people, spend a weekend there, and consider what your lifestyle may be when choosing that location. A seafront home may encourage a completely different mode of living than when living in a large city. But what if the large city is also on the seafront? You can see how a location truly dictates what kind of activities, culture and general attitudes you may be exposed to. It’s worth thinking of that as much as you can. With this advice, we hope you can continue to find the perfect home for you - as you deserve. You might have heard that home buyers only care about the four walls. In other words, they aren’t particularly concerned with what exists inside a home they are thinking about purchasing or what’s around it. However, polls show time and time again that this isn’t the case. Indeed, it seems a variety of factors will impact whether a buyer chooses to commit to a home purchase. So, you do need to make sure that you are taking the right steps to ensure that your home is attractive and something that they would want.  Pexels CCO License
Use A Home Stager You might want to think about using a home stager to ensure that your property looks fantastic to a potential buyer. A home stager will make interior design and decor choices for you. The aim will be to highlight the key selling points of your property and ensure that a buyer does notice them. You might think a home stager is too expensive but they can earn you a lot more than they cost. Declutter If you speak to a realtor you can find on sites like Camijoneshomes.com one of the first pieces of advice they’ll give is that you should be decluttering your home. The reason for this is that decluttering your home will make your property look significantly larger overall. Thus, it will also look more expensive. As well as this, by removing the clutter you can guarantee that the home feels more impressive and grand. One of the issues with decluttering your home is that you might not have the space to put the extra items. If that’s the case, then you should think about using outside storage. The right outside storage will be budget-friendly and ensure that your home looks great. Boost Curb Appeal When you are selling a home, you always need to think about the first impression that you are making with the home. This is all about the curb appeal or what the home looks like from the outside. There are lots of ways to ensure that the exterior of your home looks appealing. For instance, you might want to think about speaking to a landscaper. They could have a few ways to level up your property. This might include adding a water feature or adding different levels to your garden. Explore The Latest Trends Finally, you should think about the latest trends and incorporate them into your interior design and decor. One of the ways that you can do this is by adding new tech to your home design. You could consider a smart control system or something like a UHD TV. The latest TVs look like works of art, particularly when they are fitted to the wall with a professional design. You can find more information on UHD TVs by visiting www.howtogeek.com. We hope this helps you understand everything that you need to know about how to make your home more attractive to a potential buyer. If you take the right steps here, then you can guarantee that you do get a fast home sale at the right price. Buying a house is a big milestone and a lot of young people are eager to get onto the property ladder as soon as possible, but is that really the best thing to do?  Image Source - Pixabay CCO License
Plenty of people will tell you that getting your own place is the best thing to do because it’s an investment and you are paying towards owning a property instead of paying rent on somebody else’s. Although that is true, there are a lot of other things you have to consider too. These are some of the reasons why you should wait before buying your first house. You Can Save A Bigger Deposit A lot of people rush into buying a house because they have enough for a down payment and they are accepted for a mortgage. But how much can you borrow? Even though you can technically get a mortgage, you might not be able to borrow that much, which means that you won’t get a great house. If you don’t want to make sacrifices on space, you will usually have to go for a less-than-ideal location, and that makes more difference than you think. It’s better to look for local apartments for rent in a desirable location instead of spending all of your money on a run down house or a house in a bad location. That gives you more time to save a bigger deposit and get your finances in order, so when you do eventually buy a place, you can get the house of your dreams. You Don’t Have To Pay For Maintenance Most first time buyers underestimate just how much it costs to own a house. People are always talking about how much money you save when you buy your own place instead of renting, but they fail to factor in the cost of important home repairs. You might think that you are financially stable enough to own your own home, but you may find otherwise once you move in and start paying for all of the maintenance. In many cases, it’s better to wait a while until you have more money to pay for the upkeep of your home. In the meantime, let your landlord deal with it. It’s Easier To Move Where will you be in five year’s time, or ten? You might not know that, which is fine, but you should consider that when you are deciding whether to buy a house or not. If you are just starting a new career, for example, work could take you halfway across the country. If you are renting, moving to a new place is fairly straightforward. But if you own your home, you have to go through the whole process of selling. If you only bought the house a year or two before, this isn’t ideal and you could even end up losing money on it. That’s why it’s better to wait until you are ready to put roots down before you buy. People are always saying that young people need to get on the housing market as soon as possible, but that isn’t always true. These are some of the best reasons NOT to buy a house if you are young. If you are a Dr. Who fan, you are probably aware that a crack in the wall could open the door to a new dimension and new adventures in the time and space continuum. However, when you are a homeowner, there is no such thing as an exciting crack on the wall. A crack is likely to be bad news. Depending on the cause of the crack, things could be worrisome. However, there is more than one reason for the unpleasant crack to appear. To help you understand what’s happening, here’s a little list of some of the most frequent causes and the risks they pose to your safety and your home.  Unsplash - CC0 License
Home curb appeal and structure If you’ve been working on your home exterior to improve its curb appeal, you’ve probably taken a good look at the paint on y our exterior walls. A fresh coat of paint can make your home look clean and new again. It can also bring the decor together, making the door and the garden stand out a little more. However, before you call a professional painter, you want to inspect the walls. If you spot a crack running along the exterior façade, it could be the result of damage to your foundation. When the foundation is affected, the house structure becomes weakened. In the long term, the structure will deteriorate further if you don’t book professional services that offer the best foundation repair for your needs. Cracks in the paint A small crack in the exterior paint, however, is no sign of foundation deterioration. Hairline cracks in the paint tend to occur when the paint is damaged. The good news is that it is easy to fix and less unsettling than a deep crack in the wall. The most likely causes for damaged paint relate to the paint itself and the job quality. It is a recurring issue when homeowners choose to paint their exterior walls themselves without preparing the surface or owning the appropriate tools. You might want to upgrade your exterior with the professional services of a local painter. Discolored crack in the ceiling or wall Are small discolored cracks appearing on your ceiling? These can have an unpleasant look as they resemble a stain. Sometimes, they are even wet to the touch. A discolored crack indicates a moisture issue. More often than not, this happens underneath plumbing zones inside your home. For instance, if the room above the ceiling is a bathroom, you might want to investigate your tub or shower for leaks. If the ceiling is underneath the roof, you should make sure to get your roof checked for water infiltration. Normal settling cracks Every property settles over time as the house ages. As part of normal wear and tear, you can expect minor hairline cracks around your windows or doors. This occurs as the ground shifts slightly with the weather or as the building materials dry out. These tiny cracks don’t cause structural damage. They only appear in the weakest spots of your walls. They will disappear under a fresh coat of paint! Is the crack on your wall normal? There is more than one type of crack, and consequently, more than one answer to the question. However, one thing is for you: As a homeowner, your priority is to understand your property. There is nothing to gain in painting over a crack if you don’t know its origin! |
Design Services
Looking for interior design help? Offering design consultations and online design for anyone, anywhere. Happy to help with any of your design needs! About
Archives
June 2021
Categories
All
Offering sponsored blog posts + social media campaigns, details here
Gift Cards E-Cards for Design Consultations, more info here.
Online Design: complete flat rate room design, for anyone, anywhere. More info here.
Book A Design Consultation On-Site or Online for anyone, anywhere! Details here
Window Treatment Consultations
Moving Day Services
Design Layouts, 2 for 1!
Color Consultation for Interior/Exterior
Flat Rate Kitchen & Bathroom Design Package. Details here.
Flat Rate Home Office Design, just $375 here.
Flat Rate Outdoor Design, $450. Details here.
Flat Rate Room Design for Kids! $500 per room, details here.
“Work with what you got!” - Room Makeovers. Details here.
|
RSS Feed
