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Giving Your Bathroom a Facelift

July 22, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Bathroom 2

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The bathroom, a humble, small room often overlooked and saved for last when it comes to remodeling. The bathroom, necessity in the home that is often not a place of beauty.

Remodeling a whole bathroom will be costly. If you want to give your bathroom a new look without replacing all the fixtures there are a few things to consider.

Paint and/or paper can effect a big change in the bathroom. This option would be the easiest and cheapest way to change the look. Since bathrooms are on the smaller side, go for light and bright colors.

Consider putting in crown molding around the ceiling. Crown molding always seems to dress a room up. If you have opted to paper your bathroom crown molding will also cover any imperfections at the top of the wall.

Change out the old vanity for something new and stylish. Just by changing one fixture you can give the bathroom a new look and feel. Check out what is available on the Internet for designs, because there is more available than what you will find at your local store.

Change out the medicine cabinet for something smart. Look for something modern, with good lighting to brighten up the room.

Storage always is a problem in the bathroom, especially if yours does not come equipped with a closet. Consider putting in some sort of shelving.

Finally, new bathroom accessories will give you a new look without spending a lot of money. A new shower curtain with matching window curtains and bath mat should do the trick.

A little hard work and you can have a new bathroom.

 

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Filed Under: Decor, Design Tagged With: , ,

Bringing Your Parents to Your Home to Live

July 16, 2011 by Leave a Comment
Portrait of old woman sitting by a window.

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Many families these days are faced with the need to bring adult parents into their home to live. It may be for health reasons or even financial, but suddenly your home needs to expand to fit one or two more.

There are certain things to consider to prepare for their arrival. Basically, you need to make your home a safe place for them to live.

Most elderly do not handle stairs well, so try to accommodate them with a room on the first floor. If this is not possible you may need to make some modifications to your staircase, such as a stair lift. If your parent is wheelchair bound you will need to have a ramp installed to make access to the house possible.

Good lighting, preferrable overhead, is a must for the elderly, since many are not able to see well. You will want them to have easy access to any light switches. Consider putting in motion detection lights to avoid possible falls in the night.

Bathroom access is something to consider. Many home bathrooms are not elderly friendly. You may have to raise the toilet seat or place a bar near the toilet to help them sit or stand easily.

Be sure that the shower is assessable, easy to get in and out of. There are various types of walk in tubs that make bathing safe and easy.

Check the floors throughout the house. Any frayed carpet or vinyl flooring that could be a tripping hazard needs repairing. A cane or walker could easily become entangled in these and cause a nasty accident.

Take the time to fix and repair before your parent/parents arrive so that their move-in will be less stressful.

 

 

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Filed Under: Decor, Rentals Tagged With: , ,

The Importance of Homeowner’s Insurance

July 15, 2011 by Leave a Comment

Buying homeowner’s insurance is the most important thing you can do to protect your investment. Since purchasing your own home is likely to be the most costly item you ever buy, it makes good financial sense to protect it with a good homeowner’s insurance plan. If you set up your homeowner’s insurance payments to come out automatically from your Visa prepaid debit card, you will have the assurance of always knowing that it is paid.

Most lenders will not give you money for a mortgage if the house is not covered under a valid homeowner’s insurance policy. Like you, these lenders want to protect their investment. This type of insurance covers a variety of different scenarios that could put the livability and value of your house in jeopardy.

If you have damage from a storm or a fire, for example, your homeowner’s insurance will typically pay out a certain amount of money in order for you to get the damage repaired. In some cases, depending on how your policy is written, the insurance company might also pay for your housing while your home is being repaired. Having this type of insurance can offer you peace of mind in the event of an emergency.

Another instance from which homeowner’s insurance might protect you is if someone is injured while they are on your property. Instead of trying to get you to pay for their doctor bills, the injured party would collect through your homeowner’s insurance. This provides you with the assurance that your wages are safe.

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Filed Under: Design, Geography Tagged With: , ,

Hints for Landscaping Your Yard

July 5, 2011 by Leave a Comment
A garden with a lawn

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A yard is a wonderful thing, a place for you and your family to get out and enjoy the outside, fresh air, and each other. What you do with your yard is largely up to you. Towns may have ordinances about fence heights and borderlines, but when it comes to planning the sky is the limit.

It is always nice to plan a focal point in the yard, something that draws the eye to a point of beauty. Whether you use a statue, lamppost or even a rock, planning a garden around it will give the viewer something pleasing to look at.

A garden, even a small one, is a great way to dress up and beautify your lawn. Planting perennials (flowers that come up every year) will reduce some of the work that comes with the care of a garden.

Be sure to find out what plants grow well in your area. Certain plants do well in hot places, where others do well in cool. Access a growing map on the Internet or in any gardening book to find which plants will work for you.

Consider planting vegetables among your flowers. Fresh vegetables are delicious and very healthy. Planting a few lettuce plants or tomatoes in among the flowers will not draw away from the flower’s beauty, but will give you some wonderful healthy treats to add to the dinner table.

If your yard is small, you may consider planting in pots that are portable. The plus side of using pots is that when the season is over you can bring the plants in the house.

Get out and enjoy your yard.

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Filed Under: Decor, Real Estate Tagged With: , ,