by Jeff Pittman | Jun 22, 2015 | Homeowners
How To Transform Your Bathroom With A Touch Of Luxury Your home may not be a contestant to win for Most Beautiful House of the year, or be in the same class as those luxury homes in magazines, but what really sends the lux factor over the edge is an amazing bathroom. Even if you have a simple bathroom, there are tips you can follow to create a transformation. You can turn this practical room in the house into a posh living space with a spark of creativity. FLUFF IT UP Source: decozilla.com One of the simplest ways to add a touch of class to your bathroom is by giving your bath mat and towels a little attention. Pick up a bathroom rug, bath towels, and hand towels that complement each other with an assortment of neutral colors. Choose thick, fluffy items that will make you feel like you have stepped into a spa. It might be worth the extra cost of these items since they’ll usually last longer. Enhance the whole picture by updating your paint scheme to match your accessories. PICK UP A TOWEL WARMER Source: houseofturquoise.com You don’t have to spend a fortune to feel like you’ve fallen into the lap of luxury. Spend $100 or less and you can add the welcome feature of a towel warmer to your bathroom. Imagine how good it will feel to step out of the shower in the morning and have a toasty towel waiting for you. When you have guests, they will feel like they are at a resort. MOOD LIGHTING Source: architonic.com Think about the bathrooms you see...
by Jeff Pittman | Jun 17, 2015 | Homeowners
Planning The Perfect Kid’s Bedroom Remodel Whether your child’s bedroom remodel is a part of a full house rearrangement or the arrival of new family member, every parent knows it should be done carefully and with love. Although it seems like a kid’s bedroom is entertaining enough when it’s full of toys and different colours, when you take the time to plan it right, your designs become playthings too. Here are some tips to help you transform your kid’s space from ordinary to extraordinary. HAVING A BALL WITH THE BOYS Boy equals blue, right? Sure, but if you start with a blue room don’t be afraid to mix and match with several different shades, textures and looks. One solution is to paint the walls a bright blue and then choose an accent color like orange for the rest of your furniture and accessories like your desk, chairs, shelves or bedding. It’s important to keep your kid’s bedroom interesting and fun but not cluttered and claustrophobic. If your baby boy already has plenty of colorful toys and trinkets, use white or ivory shelves filled with colorful wicker baskets and boxes to add storage and order to an otherwise chaotic space. It’s also a good idea to keep the bed, wardrobe and cabinets in the same materials and colors and use accessories to bring in a few of your son’s favorite things and hobbies. Source: apartmenttherapy.com Whether your little one loves dinosaurs, Star Wars or sports, you can add personality in the details. It can be sculpture of cartoon or strip character, themed linens and carpet, paintings, or even completely customized furniture....
by Jeff Pittman | Jun 10, 2015 | Homeowners
7 Green Building Materials That Will Blow Your Mind When you think about greenhouse emissions, you probably imagine large factories, spewing enormous quantities of volatile gases. In reality, large part of the greenhouse footprint is generated by buildings themselves. While some of the emissions are a result of regular operational needs like electricity and heating, the production and transportation of building materials also adds up sufficiently to the negative impact on the environment. The manufacturing process is not the only issue. The extraction of enormous amount of raw materials causes the fast depletion of natural resources. However, you can build an eco – friendly home with minimal or no hazards for the environment by using reclaimed building materials or materials with recycled content. They include bricks, flooring, lumber or even fancy antique fixtures. Apart from the salvaged materials you can use alternative methods and options for your eco- friendly home. Check out some of the new building materials green minded architects and builders are using to cut down on our global footprint. STRAW Mediterranean Family Room by Takoma Park Architects & Building Designers Helicon Works Straw-bale building is a popular eco – friendly construction method. So if relocation is on the agenda, you will be able to find this type of home. The material is acquired by plants such as wheat, rice, barley oats, flax or rye. Then the bales are stacked on rebar or bamboo stakes. The primary advantage of this type of building is the great insulation it offers! CORDWOOD Source: kautzercraftsmanship.com This construction uses short, round lengths of wood, stacked into a wall. Cordwood looks like...
by Jeff Pittman | May 28, 2015 | Homeowners
7 Design Ideas For The Sunroom Of Your Dreams Summer is nearly here and the best way to welcome it into your home is with a gorgeous sunroom. Here in Southern California it’s been spring and summer weather for the past year so you might as well start taking advantage of it with a room built to enjoy the sun. Sunrooms can provide relaxation, an area to gather the family, or a place for people who have health trouble to enjoy the outdoors without having to deal with the problems that going outside might cause. There are virtually infinite ways to arrange a sunroom to your specific needs. It takes only a few considerations to create one perfect for your tastes. CHOOSING THE ROOM Source: homedit.com Perhaps the most important part of designing your sunroom is selecting the most suitable room in your house for it. Choose a room that will get light exposure at the times you expect to use it most often. BRING THE OUTSIDE IN Source: uniqueshomedesign Bringing plants into your sunroom is a wonderful way to enjoy nature without having to expose yourself to anything that might cause problems for you. You can handpick plants and flowers that won’t affect any allergies or other sensitivities you might have. You can also select plants that will suit your needs as far as care and watering, as well. FURNISHING YOUR SUNROOM Source: jennasuedesign.com When choosing furniture, decide what kind of atmosphere you want. Outdoor furniture such as wicker or wooden deck pieces provides a different aesthetic than traditional indoor furniture does. Whether you want a looser, more casual...
by Jeff Pittman | May 27, 2015 | Homeowners
5 Home Renovations That Rocket Your Home Value If you’re thinking of renovating your home, you might be wondering what upgrades and renovations are really worth it. Some just don’t add anything to the resale value of your home. Real estate experts across the country are in agreement on some points though. Here are five renovations that they agree will rocket your home value. KITCHEN Source: magnoliahomes.net The kitchen is the nerve center of the home. Contemporary appliances and stone or granite countertops are relatively easy changes. The same goes for a new faucet and knobs for the sink and new hardware for cabinets. They make the kitchen brighter and more pleasant. BATHROOMS Source: twothirtyfivedesigns.com New toilets and vanities aren’t particularly expensive or difficult to install. New faucets and knobs are also inexpensive and easy. Bathtub replacement can cost thousands. Think about re-glazing your tub. At a fraction of the cost, you get a shiny surface, with a deep gloss that looks and feels like porcelain. PAINT Source: apartmenttherapy.com Painting the interior or exterior of your home enhances value, particularly if you do it immediately before placing it on the market. A few companies like San Francisco’s Armstrong Installation Service certify each step of the painting process so the added value of the home is prolonged significantly. According to Consumer Reports, even just painting a few rooms can raise your home’s value $1,000 to $3,000. DECK Source: lizmarieblog.com For $1,500 and up, you can add a deck to your home. As opposed to curb appeal, making your back yard more appealing enhances value by giving your home outdoor living appeal with a nearly...
by Jeff Pittman | May 26, 2015 | Homeowners
When Should You Refinance Your Home Loan? Refinancing doesn’t pay off your debt but it can be a great way to restructure it and save money by securing a lower interest rate and a different loan term. As a homeowner, you may have opportunities to save money that you didn’t even realize! There are several things to think about and consider before reaching out to a banker about refinancing so let’s go over the basics now. Knowing when to refinance your home loan could impact your overall costs of refinancing. Here’s how to stalk out the best rate and pounce on the best home loan refinance for you. ABOUT REFINANCING A HOME MORTGAGE LOAN Being able to refinance a loan enables a borrower to replace an existing home loan with new terms. Ideally, the transaction needs to have financial benefits, as well as enough money to satisfy any liens that are attached to your home. A refinanced loan is considered a rated term transaction or a cash out transaction. Rate and term loans are purely used to pay off an existing mortgage balance and a modest amount of closing costs. However, if you intend to consolidate other bills or to receive monetary proceeds, a cash out refinance may be used to replace your existing mortgage loan. THE EQUATION FOR SMART TIMING LOAN REQUEST < 80% OF HOME’S APPRAISED VALUE Lenders will use an appraisal to determine the amount of equity within your home. It is a great time to refinance when your new loan request will represent less than 80 percent of the appraised value of your home. Securing a...
