Posts from January 2024
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21
8 Energy Saving Tips to Cut Your Heating and Cooling Bills
Most energy-saving tips are designed to save you a few bucks throughout the year, but how do you know which tips to up your energy efficiency are going to offer the most bang for your buck?
Some tips cost you absolutely nothing, and yet you save money. Other tips will cost you a little, but can help you hold onto as much as 10% of the money you're currently paying out of pocket. Ready to dive in?
Energy saving tips that really save
Consider these eight energy-saving tips below, so you aren't sweating when your winter gas bills come, and as the weather warms, evaluate your winterizing measures to see which ones make sense to maintain through the spring and summer months.
1. Program your thermos...
11
In or Out? The Pandemic Trends That Are Here To Stay and the Ones That Are So Over
During the height of the COVID-19 era, there was a mad race for more space. Everyone seemed to want a larger house on more land where they could spread out, set up a home office and gym, and safely entertain friends and family on their terraces, decks, and patios.
Many of those home trends that took off are still going strong. Others, meanwhile, are going the way of social distancing.
"While the needs that arose during the pandemic may have shifted, many of the trends they inspired haven't been forgotten," says Mitchell Parker, a senior editor at Houzz, a home remodeling and design platform. "Homeowners are emerging from the last couple of trying years with renewed vigor for creating lively homes full of color, pattern, texture, and optimism...
9
Closing Costs for Sellers: Common Fees Associated With Selling Your Home
If you're monitoring the value of your home so you can sell it and reap a worthwhile profit, don't forget to factor in the closing costs for sellers into the sale price.
You may estimate that your sale price could be $350,000, which could pay off your $200,000 home loan and reap a $150,000 profit. But before you start counting your dollars and debating the size of the down payment for your next home, you need to calculate the closing costs for the seller.
While buyers also pay closing costs (here's more inf...
8
Clean-Slate Bathrooms: 5 Japandi-Inspired Looks for the New Year
The new year is all about clearing the decks so you can reset and say good riddance to that ridiculously long, holiday to-do list. Take a deep breath, and enjoy this January, when you hopefully have relatively little to do.
Wouldn't it be nice if that same clean canvas mindset applied to your home design?
Turns out, it can. This week's decor trend highlights the Japanese-meets-Scandinavian aesthetic known as Japandi, which blends minimalist, modern, and nature-inspired decor for an overall wow effect. And nowhere does this simple, elegant aesthetic seem to work its magic better than in your private escape room, the bathroom.
Keep reading if you're ready to create a fresh look that you won't tire of in the new year. Here are five Japandi must-haves from Instagram for your chicest powder room yet.
1. Floating vanity
Furniture that seems to hover midair screams modern (and possibly even implies actual magic). We're on board with how this floating vanity fits right into the Japandi feel of this bathroom from @japandi.interior. But that isn't the only thing to love about this dynamic design.
"Floating vanities immediately make a room look twice as big," says designer Devin Shaffer, of Decorilla. "They're also great for wheelchair-friendly bathrooms and low-maintenance spaces—mopping up the floor is easier than ever."
Get the look: Make your modern bathroom feel large and luxe with this midcentury floating double vanity.
2. Back-glow mirror
When it comes to lending your bathroom a modern hygge-esque vibe, nothing does it quite so well as a chic mirror that's illuminated from behind like this one from @aarman.decor.
"There's something spalike, Zen, and serene about a backlit mirror in a bathroom space," says Ana Cummings of ANA Interiors Ltd. "It imbues a sense of calm because the illumination isn't harsh, and also helps highlight special wall treatments typically found in Japandi interiors."
Get the look: Give your bathroom a sanctuary vibe with this contemporary lighted mirror.
3. Minimalist handcrafted sconces
Speaking of soft glow lights that contribute to an overall contemporary look—we also love the way these quiet luxury sconces create an understated glamour in this bathroom from @amandaevansinteriors.
"These elegantly thin, dark-metal sconces are reminiscent of simple candleholders, with a pared-down aesthetic and old-world appeal," says Cummings. "Minimalistic and hand-forged, they showcase the essence of Japandi in a bathroom."
Get the look: Add some timeless visual interest to your bathroom with a few of these Kempinski wrought-iron metal wallchieres.
4. Rattan lily pad pendant
A crucial part of Japandi design is using natural materials and organic forms. This rattan pendant in the shape of a lily pad from @stiljames.interiors does just that and more.
"Rattan is a tried and true material for wet environments," says Shaffer. "This pendant looks especially great in this space because of the contrast it has with the clean lines of the shower and floor tiles. It's important to get suspension length right—this one is perfect."
Get the look: Add some nature-inspired charm to get your bathroom glowing with this yellow cluster pendant.
5. Forest green tiling
Like other forms of Scandinavian-influenced design, Japandi also has an element of bringing the outdoors in. When striking that kind of balance in a space as small as your bathroom, it's helpful to be thoughtful with your color choices. Example? This look from @corey.lohmann.design.
"There's just something about jewel tones that always draws my eye—and this flawlessly tiled arched shower rendered in forest green is no exception," says designer Kathy Kuo, of Kathy Kuo Home. "The deep green color is luxurious and distinguished and pairs perfectly with the other elements to create a spa-esque oasis."
https://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/clean-slate-bathrooms-5-japandi-inspired-looks-for-the-new-year/
7
5 Mortgage Questions Home Buyers Always Ask—Answered
If you've got mortgage questions, you've come to the right place. Not exactly sure how a mortgage works? Don't feel bad—the average home buyer doesn't either.
The whole home buying process is filled with head-scratching questions, from how to find the right agent to figuring out which home is "the one." But things tend to get even more complicated when it's time to choose a home loan. You're now faced with everything from how big a down payment has to be to why your interest rate isn't as great as you'd hoped.
To help...
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