Tag Archives: landscaping

Jan13

Give Your Home A Face Lift With These Ideas

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Give Your Home A Face Lift With These Ideas

Just like everything in life, houses get old over time and it can really start to show from the exterior. It’s easy to understand why – years and years of hot, cold, snowy, and rainy days can definitely take its toll! If you are looking to sell your home soon or are ready to sink your teeth into a new project, giving a face lift to your home’s exterior is one of the best ways to boost your property value. Let’s explore a few ways to get your home looking as good as new again:

Painting:

Addressing peeling and chipping paint should be the first and most important order of business to refresh the exterior. This is also an opportunity to change things up! You can give your home the ultimate makeover by changing its color. This will instantly refresh your home once the dull paint has been removed with something shiny and new.

If repainting your home isn’t necessary or wanted and you’re still craving change, you can always paint your front door! Vibrant shades are so fun, eye-catching, and welcoming. For the full effect, adorn with a gorgeous wreath.

New Windows:

The windows are the eyes into the soul or something right?! Over time, windows can warp and become less functional at holding heat in the home. This can also be a culprit as to why your heating bills are higher than usual. Whether your new windows are for cosmetic purposes or necessity, it will give a huge boost to both your property value and the way your home looks. You can enlist the help of experienced window contractors in Ontario or local professionals in your area for a consultation. Just please be sure you paint the shutters after your new windows are installed!!

Landscaping:

You could have the most beautiful looking home on planet earth but no one will ever notice it if you have a dilapidated front yard. Dead grass, cracked soil, and overgrown trees are an eyesore and improving your green thumb is a cheap way to refresh your home’s exterior. Research which types of plants, grass, and flowers thrive in your climate. Just take into consideration what your limits are in maintaining it. Then, you can invite your friends to a literal garden party to help get everything planted. 😀

Beautify the exterior of your home with the ideas above and enjoy when your curb appeal goes through the roof!

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Oct3

Revamp Your Yard For Spooky Season

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Revamp Your Yard For Spooky Season

Spooky season is in full swing and what better way to pay homage to the best time of the year than in your own yard?! Sure, your house might be full of Halloween decor like mine but the outside is just as important to set all of the vibes come trick-or-treat night. At least, I sure think so, especially because I so wish that I had a yard to decorate! Let’s look at some fun projects to revamp your yard just in time for Halloween:

Decor Galore:

How cool would it be to have a front yard filled with twinkling orange lights, fake bats hanging from the trees, and zombies poking up from the ground? While you don’t have to go crazy with giant inflatables or twenty foot skeletons, a little decor goes a long way. Fake cobwebs, home made jack-o-lanterns, and makeshift ghosts in the trees works just as well!

Better yet, so many of the DIY aspects of Halloween decorating can be done as a family. You could make a bunch of creepy spiders by tracing your hands on cardboard or silly ghosts by sticking your feet in some paint. And, of course, there’s nothing better than a pumpkin carving night while watching all of your favorite scary flicks.

Autumnal Landscaping:

Mum is the word and you can purchase tons of glorious flowers to add some colorful cheer during the day. This is also another great activity to do as a family, perhaps by making a trip to your local pumpkin patch for some potted flowers? What’s more, you could paint jack-o-lantern faces on them for all of the fun of pumpkin carving without the pulpy mess!

Don’t forget to make the most of all of the fallen leaves adorning your yard too. They could easily be turned into garlands to hang around your door or porch railing. Add some fake cobwebs and you can’t go wrong. Or, just have a leaf jumping competition and warm up with some hot chocolate afterwards.

If you’re crunched for time or have no green thumb to be found (And, no, Frankenstein green paint on your hands doesn’t count!), then you could hire a reliable landscaping company that delivers great results. You can even consult with them to turn your yard into the ultimate autumn oasis.

Trick-Or-Treat Tips:

Arguably one of the most fun parts of Halloween is seeing all of the adorable costumes come trick-or-treat night. Rather than answering a ringing doorbell all evening, how about setting up shop outside? My husband and I plan on doing this in my parent’s neighborhood! We will have a crackling fire and the Monster Mash playing on repeat, obviously.

You don’t have to stop there, though! You could host a neighborhood costume contest or set up a scavenger hunt in your freshly decorated yard. Expertly placed pine cones, mini pumpkins, and fake spiders could all be things to find. The prize? Extra candy! If you don’t have a fire pit, be sure to place lots of twinkling or floodlights around your property so everyone can find their way!

One of my favorite things about spooky season is all of the great outdoor decorations. Turn your yard into one that would make me stop and stare and have the best time!

Dec14

Improve Your Front Yard With These Tips

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Improve Your Front Yard With These Tips

If there is one problem with most interior design projects, it’s that people forget to move to the outside of their home. Designing your home should be fun but you need to include the outside of the house for it to be worth it! You don’t want people coming up to the front door of the house and feeling put off by your front yard before they have a chance to get inside. All that does is give them incorrect ideas of your home and what it should be – and that’s not going to do!

Repairing and refreshing the fencing and the pathway leading up to the front yard is just the start of your front yard makeover options. You need people to look at your house and think that your home looks smart. People can and do pre-judge before they walk into a new place. Let them be impressed by your beautiful front yard – use the tips below to get started:

Start with landscaping:

Greenery is one of the best things that you can add to your front yard to make it look enticing. You don’t have to have an entirely new lawn, but you could add some greenery in the form of bushes, planters, and flower borders. This will add a splash of color to an otherwise gray area, and while it’s time consuming, it will make a huge difference.

Consider the lighting:

Are you able to upgrade your fixtures outside the house? If so, you should start with your lighting. You don’t need to have one dreary light by the front door when you can choose between security lights that improve the security of your home, and warmer lights that offer your front yard a splash of ambience in the evenings.

Add some rockery:

If grass and plant management isn’t really your thing, why not use large rocks? A rockery with a small fountain or a pond can really add some ambience to your front yard, and it’s a low maintenance decorative item, too, so you’ll get what you need in an instant.

Redo the driveway:

If most of your front yard is made up by the driveway, then it’s time for an upgrade. New stones in a new color are going to brighten up the front of your home in an instant, and you’ll just need a pressure washer for regular maintenance. Don’t forget to head out and sweep the leaves and debris so your front yard continues to look great!

Repaint the fencing:

If you have fencing around the front yard already, why not make it more colorful with weather-wearing paint? You can either go with one pastel block color or you can have your own white picket fence. Alternatively, you can go with a rainbow color theme, and that in itself is going to help you to improve the look of your front yard and it doesn’t take long to do it.

Boost your curb appeal with the tips above to make your house the best on the block!

Featured Image By: Pexels

Sep21

Home Maintenance Chores To Tackle In The Fall 

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Home Maintenance Chores To Tackle In The Fall 

Taking great care of your home involves many different maintenance chores, some of them might be a little boring, but they are important! As the summer comes to a close, there are several essential tasks to complete around the house. To get your home ready for the fall, try tackling these chores:

Bleed your radiators:

If there is trapped air in your radiator, then you’ll find that you get random cold spots across the radiator. Before the weather turns cold, it’s a good idea to bleed your radiators. Look at the top of the radiator to locate the radiator valve. Next, you can use a radiator key, (turning the key counter-clockwise). Keep turning the key until water drips out, this process will release any trapped air.

Inspect your furnace:

The end of the summer is a great time to inspect your furnace. The first step is to look at the filter, if it’s dirty you should replace it. If the filter is dirty, this means that the airflow may be restricted. If the airflow is restricted, less heat can pass through the heat exchanger. The result is that your furnace may get hotter than normal. Over time, this can cause the furnace to fail and shut down.

If you suspect that there is a problem with your furnace you’ll need to call in the professionals. It’s especially important to do this if you notice a burning smell from furnace. Whether your furnace check is strictly maintenance or perhaps getting a new one, this is such an important task to complete come cold weather. Local professionals in your area or furnace installation in Denver will be able to assist in keeping your home nice and warm all winter long.

Protect your pipes:

During cold weather, it’s not uncommon for our water pipes to freeze and burst. To prevent this from happening, there are several things you can do to protect your pipes:

  • Use Insulation: To protect your pipes you can purchase pipe insulation, which is usually made from fiberglass, foam, or polyethylene. Some of the best eco-friendly insulation materials include aerogel, denim, or sheep’s wool.
  • Run the faucets: If you leave one tap trickling a small amount, this can ensure that your pipes don’t freeze.

Clean out your gutters:

Now is the perfect time to clean out your gutters. If there’s a build-up of debris, this could cause problems with drainage and cause your roof to leak. If you can’t get on the roof yourself, you can call gutter cleaning services to do this for you. Ensure that there are no cracks in your roof or any shingles that need replacing.

Fertilize your lawn:

If you want a beautiful lawn, then you should definitely fertilize it in the fall. Applying a fertilizer will give your lawn the nutrients it needs and the grassroots will multiply before going dormant. During the winter the roots will store food and you’ll find that you’ll have a lush lawn by the springtime.

Preparing your home for the fall will help you to stay safe, warm, and relaxed. Once you’ve got those chores out of the way you might like to work on your interior design. Fall time is the perfect season to paint in warm colors and add bright accessories. From home maintenance to DIY projects, there are so many ways to create a beautiful home.

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Aug2

Garden Tours

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Garden Tours

Hi! My dad is, hands down, the best gardener in the world and has a million green thumbs. Whenever I’m over at my parents, I always enjoy our “Garden Tours”. My dad and I will walk through the backyard together and check on the progress of his flowers and veggies. There is something new to see every time and it never gets old! Take a look at some pics from our backyard stroll and keep in mind that it was all done by a man who recently broke his dominant arm. Like I said, my dad is the best gardener in the world. ❤

My dad’s garden is home to many creatures both real and fake. There are bunnies, butterflies, bees, and bats as well as all of the decorative birds, lizards, frogs, and gnomes! My niece loves to play outside and my dad is always on the hunt for new lawn decorations to surprise her with as she is partial to the fake flamingo he has. It is also so much fun to look for bunnies and butterflies with her. 🙂

A few weeks ago, we had a family visit to the Kingwood Center Gardens in Mansfield. The botanical gardens were splendid, but I don’t think they have anything on my dad’s backyard and I live for our Garden Tours. What a guy!

What are you growing in your garden? What is your favorite flower? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Jun26

Perfect Your Home Exterior With These 5 Tips

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Perfect Your Home Exterior With These 5 Tips

As a proud homeowner, you’re going to want your home to not only look the best it possibly can but function the best, too. Whether you’re working on your home on a budget or have lots to spend, you’re going to be someone who takes real pride in their abode.

One of the most significant aspects of a home is the entryway and how you feel when walking up to the property for the first time. While it may not seem like a big deal initially, it’s actually something that your brain works on unconsciously. Have you ever been to a new friend or acquaintance’s house and felt a little nervous? You become a lot less so when you see a wonderful exterior and a welcoming entryway, don’t you?

If you’re hoping to possess a wonderful outside, then the work will have to be put in. Here are five aspects that you should definitely do a little work on:

The Driveway:

The first thing you encounter when you enter a home is the driveway. Plenty of people leave this alone for years and it really shows. It looks as though it’s about fifty years old! A simple blast with a pressure washer can take decades off of its looks. Think about adding a few borders and maybe some lights for a pleasant aesthetic.

If you have a flag as part of your decor near the driveway, make sure that you have the proper flagpole hardware to keep it flying high. You will want it to be secure and polished well to keep your welcome banner looking its best for your guests and neighbors.

The Roof:

The roof is a part of the home that doesn’t seem like it needs work. This is, until you see what it looks like after the work has taken place. If you bring in insurance roofers for any problems you might have or you do a little work on it yourself, you’ll be pleasantly surprised with how fresh you can make the top of your house look.

Front Door:

The front door is a significant part of the welcoming vibes you’re going to experience. It’s, again, not something that people initially think of, but it can have a huge impact on the aesthetics. If your home has a beautiful door, then those who walk up to your place will be in awe of the looks. There are plenty of front door ideas online and you can find so much inspiration from home improvement blogs such as this one!

The Bricks And Mortar:

Very much like the driveway, the actual house itself can look weathered very easily. This is, again, a case of spraying the dirt and age off the side if you have a few minutes. Painting the windows and guttering will also do so much for the looks. It can go from being an old, tattered home to a loved and cherished one with a bit of elbow grease!

Any Greenery You Might Have:

Whenever a home has lots of grass, plants, flowers, trees, and anything relating to vegetation, things always look and feel a little brighter. If you have a front yard to work on, then do it to the best of your ability. The effect a lovely garden can have is astonishing – it can make the entire place look brighter and more beautiful. Even those with little gardening knowledge can appreciate a pretty garden.

Give your guests and neighbors a great first impression of your home by improving its exterior!

Featured Image By: Unsplash

Feb14

Making Your House Pop From The Outside

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Making Your House Pop From The Outside

If you are planning on selling house, it is not only important for the inside to be perfect but the outside too. The outside of your home is what your curb appeal is based on, after all, and you want it in its best condition because it will be the first impression potential buyers have of your home. An unsightly outdoor property can turn off potential future owners instantly as they will want a home that is move in ready in all aspects. Moving is expensive and the last thing a buyer wants is to take on another big project, like getting the landscaping in order.

Raising your property’s curb appeal is all about adding visual interest with expertly placed splashes of color as well as tending to any outdoor care or maintenance to keep your home looking in tip top shape. To make your house pop before anyone even steps inside, try the following:

A Bold Front Door:

The entrance into your home should make a statement, which means no boring front doors allowed! A bold front door whether it be painted brightly or has interesting glass shapes will set your house apart from all of the others on the block. It is a simple fix that will definitely make a big difference. You can get inspiration from Pinterest and home decor blogs for the right door for your property and the experts at NorthShield Windows and Doors will take care of the rest! Don’t forget that your front door should be reflective of what the inside of your house looks like. A huge wooden door doesn’t exactly mesh well with a sleek modern interior.

Pops Of Color:

If you don’t want to go with a colorful front door in turquoise or buttercup yellow, give the exterior of your home some pops of color with lovely landscaping. A well manicured lawn with lush green grass paired with bright, beautiful flowers will do the job just fine! You can also think about painting your mailbox or, perhaps, the shed in your backyard to a shade that will stand out. As mentioned before, curb appeal is about making your house different than the rest and pops of color in the right places are sure to do that as well as make potential buyers smile.

A Smooth Driveway:

A driveway that is cracked or has potholes can be a massive eyesore on an, otherwise, well kept outdoor property. Potential owners want a driveway that they can park their car with pride in so tending to cracks and bumps is a must. And, speaking of cars, extending your garage to fit two cars instead of one will not only boost your curb appeal but property value too!

When selling house, it’s all about looking at the big picture of your property and its exterior is a part of that. Tend to your front and back yard as well as you do to the inside and your house will have the best curb appeal on the block!