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Give the gift of interior design services - online or in person (LA area). A one hour interior design consultation for anyone, anywhere looking for interior design advice, feedback, remodeling questions, furniture layout ideas, home office design, paint colors, working with what you have, or any other design needs. $150 for 1 Hour, available in hourly increments. Gift cards can be used at anytime, no expiration. Please email for more info: JSInteriorDes@aol.com
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When you’re looking to renovate your home, you may consider handling as much of it as you can by yourself. It’s a good way to save on costs, but it’s also a way to ensure you maintain more control over the project and end up with a home that truly matches all of your needs. However, it’s important to also understand your limits, including the fact that there are some tasks that you possibly shouldn’t even begin to try to handle. Here, we’ll look at when you need the help of a true pro to complete the renovation.
Photo - CC0 License
Structural Changes
If you’re looking to make any structural changes to the home, such as taking down a wall or moving to a more open plan arrangement, then you should ensure that they’re handled by a professional. First of all, you want to make sure that your work isn’t touching any load-bearing walls, but also, you might want access to the tools and team size that can make tearing down a wall and removing the waste much more efficient.
Any Plumbing Changes
You might be able to handle some of the simplest plumbing tasks, such as changing faucets, by yourself. However, when it comes to tasks such as moving any pipes around, installing replacement showers or baths, or adding brand new fixtures to the home, you shouldn’t even begin without the help of a plumber. The potential water damage that could arise from a faulty installation can be way more costly than your entire renovation if you’re not careful, so go with the pros.
Electrical Work (Even Minor)
While you might be able to handle some basic plumbing tasks with the right guide, you shouldn’t try to do anything more complex than changing a lightbulb when it comes to your electrics. Anything beyond a fixture replacement requires the help of a professional electrician. Not only can they ensure that you don’t accidentally shock yourself or set your home on fire during your renovation, but they are certified to make sure that all your electrical work is up to code. If it’s not up to code, it can affect your home insurance and even your legal liability.
Interior Design (When You’re Stuck)
Getting your interiors wrong might not be quite as potentially severe in its consequences as any of the issues mentioned above, by any means. However, there’s nothing wrong with getting a little help to design spaces that meet all of your needs, both practical and aesthetic, in the home. If you have your own sense of style and you know what you want in each room, from top to bottom, then go ahead. However, working with an interior designer can help you fill in any gaps and source some pieces that go great with the ideas you already have.
Basically, when it comes to parts of the home that require expertise to remain safe, they can affect its long-term health and stability, or if you just want a little extra insight along the way, don’t be afraid to contact the pros.
Structural Changes
If you’re looking to make any structural changes to the home, such as taking down a wall or moving to a more open plan arrangement, then you should ensure that they’re handled by a professional. First of all, you want to make sure that your work isn’t touching any load-bearing walls, but also, you might want access to the tools and team size that can make tearing down a wall and removing the waste much more efficient.
Any Plumbing Changes
You might be able to handle some of the simplest plumbing tasks, such as changing faucets, by yourself. However, when it comes to tasks such as moving any pipes around, installing replacement showers or baths, or adding brand new fixtures to the home, you shouldn’t even begin without the help of a plumber. The potential water damage that could arise from a faulty installation can be way more costly than your entire renovation if you’re not careful, so go with the pros.
Electrical Work (Even Minor)
While you might be able to handle some basic plumbing tasks with the right guide, you shouldn’t try to do anything more complex than changing a lightbulb when it comes to your electrics. Anything beyond a fixture replacement requires the help of a professional electrician. Not only can they ensure that you don’t accidentally shock yourself or set your home on fire during your renovation, but they are certified to make sure that all your electrical work is up to code. If it’s not up to code, it can affect your home insurance and even your legal liability.
Interior Design (When You’re Stuck)
Getting your interiors wrong might not be quite as potentially severe in its consequences as any of the issues mentioned above, by any means. However, there’s nothing wrong with getting a little help to design spaces that meet all of your needs, both practical and aesthetic, in the home. If you have your own sense of style and you know what you want in each room, from top to bottom, then go ahead. However, working with an interior designer can help you fill in any gaps and source some pieces that go great with the ideas you already have.
Basically, when it comes to parts of the home that require expertise to remain safe, they can affect its long-term health and stability, or if you just want a little extra insight along the way, don’t be afraid to contact the pros.
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What comes to mind when you think about home repair and maintenance tasks? Is it the fresh coat of paint the downstairs hall needs? Or maybe it's the wooden floors that need a polish, or the walkways you should have jetwashed last week.
Image credit
All great aspects to focus on. But there are other, less Instagram-worthy tasks that need completing that, if they fail, can spell disaster for multiple reasons. And you're not alone, every home hides those jobs, they have secrets you only find if you explicitly go looking for them.
If you want to remove any hidden surprises from your property, these are some of the more overlooked parts of your home that could use a bit of TLC from time to time.
Fascia Trim, Soffit Panels, and Gutters
These are the prime examples of things you don't pay much attention to until they fail.
But when your gutters clog or crack and your soffits start to fail, what happens next isn't going to be fun.
A couple of times a year, especially during harsher weather periods, look up and give your fascias, soffits, and gutters a quick check to make sure there's nothing visibly wrong. Look for black streaks, water stains where there shouldn't be any, soggy ground around gutters, or anything hanging off. If there is any damage, you can call roofing or gutter companies like Elite Exteriors to help you rectify the damage and get everything back to full working order.
Flashing, Vent,s and Roof Seams
Again, parts of your home that fly so far under the radar they may as well be invisible. But after big winds or heavy rain and hail, take a walk around your house and look for damage to the chimney vents and shingles, as this is where water can sneak in. Lifted edges, rust marks, and tiles tilting higher than they should are also telltale signs you're experiencing damage that needs checking out. You don't need to be an expert; simply take pictures regularly to compare and alert you to problems before they cause too much damage.
Outdoor Spigot, Vents, and Lines
Every year is the same story; the first freeze catches people out. Split hose bibbs behind the siding, a burst pipe in the wall you don't notice till it's too late.
Before winter, shut off and drain outdoor spigots, add foam covers or short pipe sleeves - both quick and cheap fixes that can save you hundreds of dollars in remedial work.
Don't forget your dryer vents, too. Clean them in the summer, so lint doesn't build up.
The Ground
As well as looking up, you need to look down to the ground to see what's going on underneath. Especially after storms. Look for puddles or standing water; if it's pooling against the foundations, it's heading inside next.
Rake the soil back to help it slope away, and keep the mulch from stacking too high.
Check for obvious foundation cracks. If any are apparent, mark them and check regularly to see if they're worsening—if they are, it's time to call someone.
All great aspects to focus on. But there are other, less Instagram-worthy tasks that need completing that, if they fail, can spell disaster for multiple reasons. And you're not alone, every home hides those jobs, they have secrets you only find if you explicitly go looking for them.
If you want to remove any hidden surprises from your property, these are some of the more overlooked parts of your home that could use a bit of TLC from time to time.
Fascia Trim, Soffit Panels, and Gutters
These are the prime examples of things you don't pay much attention to until they fail.
But when your gutters clog or crack and your soffits start to fail, what happens next isn't going to be fun.
A couple of times a year, especially during harsher weather periods, look up and give your fascias, soffits, and gutters a quick check to make sure there's nothing visibly wrong. Look for black streaks, water stains where there shouldn't be any, soggy ground around gutters, or anything hanging off. If there is any damage, you can call roofing or gutter companies like Elite Exteriors to help you rectify the damage and get everything back to full working order.
Flashing, Vent,s and Roof Seams
Again, parts of your home that fly so far under the radar they may as well be invisible. But after big winds or heavy rain and hail, take a walk around your house and look for damage to the chimney vents and shingles, as this is where water can sneak in. Lifted edges, rust marks, and tiles tilting higher than they should are also telltale signs you're experiencing damage that needs checking out. You don't need to be an expert; simply take pictures regularly to compare and alert you to problems before they cause too much damage.
Outdoor Spigot, Vents, and Lines
Every year is the same story; the first freeze catches people out. Split hose bibbs behind the siding, a burst pipe in the wall you don't notice till it's too late.
Before winter, shut off and drain outdoor spigots, add foam covers or short pipe sleeves - both quick and cheap fixes that can save you hundreds of dollars in remedial work.
Don't forget your dryer vents, too. Clean them in the summer, so lint doesn't build up.
The Ground
As well as looking up, you need to look down to the ground to see what's going on underneath. Especially after storms. Look for puddles or standing water; if it's pooling against the foundations, it's heading inside next.
Rake the soil back to help it slope away, and keep the mulch from stacking too high.
Check for obvious foundation cracks. If any are apparent, mark them and check regularly to see if they're worsening—if they are, it's time to call someone.
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Current project feature: exterior design selections concept boards featuring two options for the exterior tiles (bottom right).
Which one do you prefer? Comment below!
Which one do you prefer? Comment below!
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Image Credit: Madison Oren from Unsplash
Nobody wants to go through life feeling sad or negative. Between mental health, stress, and more than a few other areas, however, countless people have ended up feeling that way. It could be a position you’re in, despite the fact that it’s not one you actually want to be in.
You’ll want to get out of the rut and live a happy life. But, this can be a tricky predicament to get out of, and you mightn’t be sure where to start with it.
Thankfully, this is far from impossible. Quite the opposite. Focusing on the right lifestyle tips and making a few changes could be more than enough to help with this. It’s just a matter of actually putting the time and effort into them and being willing to be consistent with them.
Some of these could end up being more than worth putting the work into.
Why You Should Live a Happy Life
You’ll already know you should live a happy life for more than a few reasons. Perhaps the most notable of these is that you deserve to. But, that doesn’t mean putting the effort into it doesn’t offer more than a few other benefits. You could see more than a few of these.
The most notable of these should be:
- You’ll end up living a longer life.
- You could end up looking younger than you are.
- You’ll have better relationships with friends and family.
- Your mental health will be noticeably better.
- You could end up feeling more confident.
- You might perform better at work and in other areas.
These are all more than enough to put the effort into it. While you could already be relatively happy, though, you could want to be happier.
That’s a natural position to be in, and you’re far from the only person to end up feeling that way. It doesn’t mean you have to struggle through it, though. Instead, it’s just a matter of knowing how to live a happier life.
More than a few tips and tricks can have an impact on this, with six of them being quite helpful.
Live a Happy Life: 6 Tips to Use
Image Credit: Helena Lopes from Unsplash.
1. Beat Any Addictions
There are countless substances you can be addicted to; cigarettes, alcohol, and even illicit (and prescription) drugs. None of these will have a positive impact on your life. Rather, they’re going to have more and more of a negative impact as time goes on.
If you’re experiencing any of these, beat your addiction as soon as you can. Alcohol and drug rehab centers can be great help with this, especially if there are any mental health issues alongside it. You’ll end up with a much happier life because of it.
2. Get Some Sunshine
Sunshine almost always has an impact on how people feel, which is why it’s worth getting as much of it as you can, whenever you can. Try to get out when the sun is out so you can soak it in as much as possible. Even a short walk in the sun can help you feel better.
The trick here is to actually soak in some sun as regularly as you can. While this mightn’t always be possible, you’ll notice the difference once you’ve been taking in the sun for a while. Just don’t forget the sunscreen while you’re at it.
3. Practice Gratitude
Many people don’t feel happy in life because they’re focused on the negatives and whatever’s going wrong. While it’s easy to see why that happens, it doesn’t mean it’s a position you should settle for or stay in for long. Overcome it as soon as possible.
One of the better ways to do this is to practice gratitude as much as you can. By looking around your daily life, you could find more than a few parts of it to be grateful for. Your partner, your family, work accomplishments, and more can all be part of this.
4. Learn to Forgive
There are plenty of times in everyone’s lives when someone’s done them wrong, either in a minor or major way. This, naturally, breeds negative feelings and can eventually foster disdain or hatred for someone. These aren’t pleasant feelings to experience.
You’re much better off releasing these feelings so you can have a happier life. Practicing forgiveness can be one of the best ways to do this. While that could mean overcoming a few separate emotions, you’ll end up feeling all the happier because of it.
5. Spend Time With Friends
Nobody feels completely happy when they’re alone, which is why it’s worth spending time with friends and family regularly. This social activity has a significant impact on your mental health, preventing loneliness and the feelings of anxiety and depression that come with it.
Make spending time with friends a part of your weekly schedule. While you don’t have to spend time with them constantly, you’ll feel better about life every time you spend time with them. It’ll end up helping with your happiness levels quite a bit.
6. Celebrate Small Wins
Countless people feel like they haven’t accomplished much in life, especially when they compare their life to what it could’ve been. While you mightn’t be able to change that, you can change what you focus on and how you feel about your daily life.
By celebrating small wins, you reframe how you think about life while making yourself feel better. Even setting yourself goals to accomplish, even small ones, can give you something to work towards. When you complete them, you’ve another reason to feel happier.
Summing it Up
It’s natural to want to live a happy life; everyone wants it. But, that doesn’t mean it’s one that everyone’s guaranteed, and it’s natural to end up feeling a little negative in your life. This isn’t a position you’ve to settle for.
Focusing on the right tips and lifestyle changes could be more than enough to help with this. It’s just a matter of actually putting the time and effort into it.
1. Beat Any Addictions
There are countless substances you can be addicted to; cigarettes, alcohol, and even illicit (and prescription) drugs. None of these will have a positive impact on your life. Rather, they’re going to have more and more of a negative impact as time goes on.
If you’re experiencing any of these, beat your addiction as soon as you can. Alcohol and drug rehab centers can be great help with this, especially if there are any mental health issues alongside it. You’ll end up with a much happier life because of it.
2. Get Some Sunshine
Sunshine almost always has an impact on how people feel, which is why it’s worth getting as much of it as you can, whenever you can. Try to get out when the sun is out so you can soak it in as much as possible. Even a short walk in the sun can help you feel better.
The trick here is to actually soak in some sun as regularly as you can. While this mightn’t always be possible, you’ll notice the difference once you’ve been taking in the sun for a while. Just don’t forget the sunscreen while you’re at it.
3. Practice Gratitude
Many people don’t feel happy in life because they’re focused on the negatives and whatever’s going wrong. While it’s easy to see why that happens, it doesn’t mean it’s a position you should settle for or stay in for long. Overcome it as soon as possible.
One of the better ways to do this is to practice gratitude as much as you can. By looking around your daily life, you could find more than a few parts of it to be grateful for. Your partner, your family, work accomplishments, and more can all be part of this.
4. Learn to Forgive
There are plenty of times in everyone’s lives when someone’s done them wrong, either in a minor or major way. This, naturally, breeds negative feelings and can eventually foster disdain or hatred for someone. These aren’t pleasant feelings to experience.
You’re much better off releasing these feelings so you can have a happier life. Practicing forgiveness can be one of the best ways to do this. While that could mean overcoming a few separate emotions, you’ll end up feeling all the happier because of it.
5. Spend Time With Friends
Nobody feels completely happy when they’re alone, which is why it’s worth spending time with friends and family regularly. This social activity has a significant impact on your mental health, preventing loneliness and the feelings of anxiety and depression that come with it.
Make spending time with friends a part of your weekly schedule. While you don’t have to spend time with them constantly, you’ll feel better about life every time you spend time with them. It’ll end up helping with your happiness levels quite a bit.
6. Celebrate Small Wins
Countless people feel like they haven’t accomplished much in life, especially when they compare their life to what it could’ve been. While you mightn’t be able to change that, you can change what you focus on and how you feel about your daily life.
By celebrating small wins, you reframe how you think about life while making yourself feel better. Even setting yourself goals to accomplish, even small ones, can give you something to work towards. When you complete them, you’ve another reason to feel happier.
Summing it Up
It’s natural to want to live a happy life; everyone wants it. But, that doesn’t mean it’s one that everyone’s guaranteed, and it’s natural to end up feeling a little negative in your life. This isn’t a position you’ve to settle for.
Focusing on the right tips and lifestyle changes could be more than enough to help with this. It’s just a matter of actually putting the time and effort into it.
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Do you feel as though you have an inefficient business process? If so, then now is a good time for you to try and take action against that. This guide will help you make the right changes, so you can not only make your business more efficient but also make sure that you are not compromising your company by not looking at the bigger picture in regards to energy efficiency and environmental impact.
Source: Pexels
Look at your Property
One of the first things you need to do is look at your property. If you operate a business premises, then you need to make sure that you are being sustainable in your approach. Small steps are still important here, so make sure that you change your lightbulbs out for ones that are energy-efficient, and also make sure that you give thought to any grants you might be able to get as well. If you are a tenant, then you can probably talk to your landlord to discuss whether there is anything you can do to make more changes. Things like this can help you to position yourself as an energy-efficient leader within your sector.
Evaluate your Processes
Another thing you need to do is look at your processes. Is there a way you can make them more efficient? What can you do to try and reduce your energy consumption? It may be that you turn off the lights and any computer equipment you have when not in use. You need to keep your equipment maintained, and you also need to try and keep it in good condition as well. If you have a lot of meetings, then now could be the time for you to try and move some of them online. When you do, you will find it easier to not only get the result you want but also make substantial improvements. Using software is also a good way for you to make sure that you are managing your business efficiently. If you run a recycling company, then using roll-off dumpster rental software can be a good idea, as it allows you to track your deliveries, as well as giving you the chance to streamline your systems more efficiently.
Evaluate your Deliveries
If you happen to deliver your own products, then it may be that you assess if your deliveries are as sustainable as they could be. Could you try and purchase an electric vehicle to make your deliveries? Can you choose a courier and find someone who commits to environmental sustainability? Things like this can help you reduce your carbon footprint while improving your processes for efficiency. It also allows you to appeal more to customers who may put a focus on being more sustainable, which is a good thing. If you need some help with making your business more efficient or if you want to make it greener for the environment, then one thing you can do is try and get an audit done. This will allow you to pinpoint inefficiencies with ease.
Look at your Property
One of the first things you need to do is look at your property. If you operate a business premises, then you need to make sure that you are being sustainable in your approach. Small steps are still important here, so make sure that you change your lightbulbs out for ones that are energy-efficient, and also make sure that you give thought to any grants you might be able to get as well. If you are a tenant, then you can probably talk to your landlord to discuss whether there is anything you can do to make more changes. Things like this can help you to position yourself as an energy-efficient leader within your sector.
Evaluate your Processes
Another thing you need to do is look at your processes. Is there a way you can make them more efficient? What can you do to try and reduce your energy consumption? It may be that you turn off the lights and any computer equipment you have when not in use. You need to keep your equipment maintained, and you also need to try and keep it in good condition as well. If you have a lot of meetings, then now could be the time for you to try and move some of them online. When you do, you will find it easier to not only get the result you want but also make substantial improvements. Using software is also a good way for you to make sure that you are managing your business efficiently. If you run a recycling company, then using roll-off dumpster rental software can be a good idea, as it allows you to track your deliveries, as well as giving you the chance to streamline your systems more efficiently.
Evaluate your Deliveries
If you happen to deliver your own products, then it may be that you assess if your deliveries are as sustainable as they could be. Could you try and purchase an electric vehicle to make your deliveries? Can you choose a courier and find someone who commits to environmental sustainability? Things like this can help you reduce your carbon footprint while improving your processes for efficiency. It also allows you to appeal more to customers who may put a focus on being more sustainable, which is a good thing. If you need some help with making your business more efficient or if you want to make it greener for the environment, then one thing you can do is try and get an audit done. This will allow you to pinpoint inefficiencies with ease.
