Tips - Real Estate, Updates, News & Tips

Lighting Design can Make or Break the Living Room

Interior designers and lighting experts aim to include at least this many light sources when designing a living room How many lights is enough for a living room to feel relaxing and cozy? You're not the only one wondering. It's a fine line to walk - while you don't want your space to be overly bright, neither do you want a space that is poorly lit. Building a richly layered lighting scheme gives you the options to get it right, whatever you'

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Low-Income Housing and Affordable Housing, What’s the Difference?

Lack of firm definitions creates confusion, VHA’s CEO says The terms low-income housing and affordable housing are often used interchangeably, causing confusion for many.So, what is the distinction? The answer is complicated.As defined by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, affordable housing is any housing that costs an owner or renter no more than 30 percent of gross household income, including utilities.Low-income, on

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How to Choose the Best Window Treatments for your Home

Accent the windows to bring extra design to a space. Find out what’s trending in window coverings. You’re looking at your room, and although furnished, it just feels bare. Your windows may be begging for some extra treatment. A room can be transformed with customized blinds, shades and drapery. But with growing options, how do you choose which one is right for your space?Design experts at Stoneside Blinds & Shades(link is external)&n

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13 Essentials to Protect your Most Important Investment

Moved in the last few years? Smart features and a few tried-and-true essentials provide the options you need to protect your new home. Your home is a major investment. If you are one of the many Americans who moved over the last several years or are planning to buy a new home soon, you might be wondering how you can protect your asset. Luckily, smart-home features offer many layers of protection for your home and your family.New Locks It doesn’

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Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen Reveals the Floor Colour to Avoid in Small Rooms

Trying to work out how to make a small room look calm and curated rather than cramped and cluttered can quickly bring on decorating fatigue, and it's all too tempting to throw in the towel. From small living rooms to narrow hallways and pokey downstairs loos, a lack of space brings many a design dilemma. So we asked Laurence Llewelyn-Bowen for his top tips, and the flamboyant interior designer surprised us with his response. LLB ex

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The Best Video Doorbells for your Smart Home

The tech behind the video doorbell is ever evolving, so this updated list includes the best options based on what’s available today, plus a few recommendations. Since this series first compared Ring and Nest in 2020, much has changed in the video doorbell realm. The technology has improved, new models have come out and options have expanded. We’ve been able to test eight popular new video doorbells to provide you with the most up-to

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7 Most Popular Bathroom Upgrades

Homeowners are spending a median of $9,000 on bathroom renovations, which is 13% higher than last year, a new study finds. These are their favorite trends. Homeowners are spending more money to spruce up their bathrooms as the pandemic-fueled home renovation boom continues. The national median spend for bathroom renovations jumped nearly 13% year over year to $9,000, according to the 2022 U.S. Houzz Bathroom Trends Study, a survey of more than 2

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5 Simple DIY Projects for a Fresh Home Update

Makeover a space without breaking the bank. Home improvement projects don’t have to include knocking down walls or high-priced upgrades. There are several simple, affordable DIY home improvement projects that can give a home an entirely new feeling, says Amber Shay, national vice president of Design Studios at Meritage Homes. Shay offers up her tips for giving a home a fresh update without breaking the bank.Create a Spa-Like Bathroom  Most

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Modern Hallway Ideas from Architects, Interior Designers, and Additional Experts

Our modern hallway ideas will help you create a slick, stylish entrance to your home. Plus, we also share great tips from design experts These modern hallway ideas look at how to create a space for your home that is elegant yet practical.Getting your hallway lighting right is a good starting point, according to award-winning architect Paul Weston. And there are several tricks you can try to eliminate shadows and illuminate every inch of your

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First-Time Gardener? Here is How to Prepare for Fall

Learn what to do before the season is over to protect plants and make improvements in anticipation for next spring. Before COVID-19, millions of Americans had never gardened. Now, many have the time at home to plant perennial beds and borders, vegetable and herb patches, and fruit trees to improve their yards’ aesthetics and provide food for their families. They also may construct outdoor spaces for lounging, cooking, dining, and to simply have

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