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Home Improvement & Decor

These Exterior Improvements Yield the Best Returns

Submitted by Joseph Pettinella on May 29, 2018 - 12:30pm

When considering whether to invest money into a home project, it's important to consider the context. For homeowners who plan on selling in the near future, the key thing to consider is the Return on Investment (ROI), or the proportion of money expected to be recouped by the project's resulting increase in home value. In contrast, owners who plan on staying put will want to focus on adding to their own happiness with the home. In this post, you can learn which outdoor improvements yield the best returns in both money and happiness! There are even some great options that can satisfy both owners and future buyers! 

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5 Hot Design Trends for the New Year

Submitted by Joseph Pettinella on December 28, 2017 - 1:40pm

A new year means new design trends! 2018 is expected to feature some major shifts in the popularity of previously obscure decor choices. As you will see, fixtures and surfaces seem to be at the epicenter of the new aesthetic. Keep reading to see 5 examples of the hottest trends in interior design as we start our next trip around the sun.

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21 Budget-Friendly Ideas for Sprucing Up Your Home - Part 2

Submitted by Joseph Pettinella on February 28, 2017 - 10:23am

HERE ARE IDEAS 13 THROUGH 21.  THE FIRST 12 WERE IN YESTERDAY'S BLOG POST.  Here's a link to our previous post.

You too can create a comfortable, stylish, and upscale environment in your home on a limited budget.  Let's start here with #13 of 21:

13.  Replace your old light fixtures with interesting designs that complement the style of your home.  You can find amazing values on quality fixtures at places like Lamps Plus Open Box , Lumens Open Box, and even shopping at moving sales and flea markets.  Lighting is one of the most important elements of home design, and upscale lighting at the right scale definitely adds value.

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21 Budget-Friendly Ideas for Sprucing Up Your Home - Part 1

Submitted by Joseph Pettinella on February 27, 2017 - 4:35pm

 HERE ARE THE FIRST 12 IDEAS.  THE OTHER 9 WILL BE INCLUDED IN TOMORROW'S BLOG POST.

You don't need to spend a bunch of money to have a beautiful and stylish home.  You can create a comfortable as well as upscale environment in your home on a limited budget. 

Here are the first 12 of the 21 ideas we think are just great to decorate, spruce up, or stage your home on a budget.

1.  If your fireplace is outdated, how about re-covering it with slate or marble-look 3x12 tiles in a herringbone pattern?  This is a great way to get a really high-end look for a very low cost.  Here is inspiration overload on Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/explore/herringbone-fireplace/.

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Painting Your House This Summer? Here's Some Help Deciding on Colors

Submitted by Joseph Pettinella on July 24, 2015 - 2:26pm

It's such a big decision . . . what color to paint your house!  It's a really hard decision to make.  It's difficult to imagine your home a different color than it is right now, so often people just paint it the same color.  At least you know what you're going to get, right?

To choose the right colors you need to take into consideration the color of your roof and other items that are part of your house that will not be painted as well as the style of your home and your personal tastes.  Do you want your home to stand out in the neighborhood, or blend in with the surrounding homes?  There are many things to consider.

Here's a link to a quick 'quiz' on Houzz that may help you decide what colors speak to you.  If that doesn't help you decide, most of the paint stores, as well as the big box stores, have online color pickers that allow you to upload a photo of your home and experiment with virtual colors.  Here's a link to Sherwin-Williams virtual house painter.

Happy house painting!

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