Posts from July 2024
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14
6 Ways to Divert Water
While most gardens need water, too much can cause grass to die, damage roots, and create overall unhealthy growing conditions. Excess water around the perimeter of your home may cause water damage in the crawl space, basement or foundation. This guide features six ways to divert water away from your home, lawn or garden.
Dig a Swale
14
Flip the Technicolor Switch on Your Neutral Living Room With These 5 Artist-Inspired Spaces
All-neutral color palettes might be out—or at least taking a long summer vacation right now.
Need more convincing? Just look at the way bold colors have been defining interior spaces lately, especially in this week's roundup of Instagram looks that feature eclectic living rooms inspired by famous artists.
The only snag in replicating these creative looks is that unless you're a natural-born color expert, it can be difficult to reimagine a space with the exact right palette. Read: You want a cohesive, bright color scheme that doesn't trigger migraines.
To help, we pulled five of our favorite art- and artist-inspired designs to help you get started. Keep scrolling for the burst of color you didn't know your living space needed.
1. Matisse-inspired space
When it comes to creating a fun and funky living room that still feels intentional, we love this Matisse-inspired look from @interioreccentric.
"This colorful style really speaks to our collective need for fun, joy, and liveliness," says Joyce Huston, co-founder and lead designer at Decorilla. "There's been an uptick trend toward more joyful rooms, especially living rooms, where we gather for festivities and celebrations."
Get the look: Give your space a boost of fun, and create a gallery wall inspired by the color maestro himself.
2. Impressionist vibes
For a softer—but no less colorful—take on an art-inspired living room, behold this Impressionist-esque design from @melaniejadedesign.
"Impressionism was all about subtle colors and brush strokes," says Huston. "And when I think about an Impressionistic living room, I envision a serene and calm space that's decorated with light colors. This painting and rug are exactly that, complementing the white backdrop."
Get the look: Plump up your couch with a few of these pastel linen pillows in a rainbow of calming shades.
3. Art gallery style
Sometimes it's less about the art movement and more about creating a space that's primed to display your favorite art. For that, we turn to this gallery-style design from @ninatakesh.
"Art gallery style is minimalist, with stark black trim and white walls, to ensure that art is the star attraction," says designer Peg Hemzacek, of FLOOR360. "To create the look in your space, use creamier whites and curvy furniture to strike the balance between living space and gallery."
Get the look: Give your space gallery vibes with upscale, cream-colored furniture like this Mara Hoffman Chair.
4. Graffiti art
If you want an even bolder, more colorful approach to living-room design, we think you'll like this graffiti-centric look from @bohome.plantry.
"A graffiti-inspired space incorporates an eclectic mix of bold splashes of colors that are strategically positioned in the room," says Hemzacek. "Think about what message you want to convey with your artwork—the look is all about being curated and unique."
Get the look: Find a colorful throw blanket to complement your graffiti-styled space by shopping this collection on Etsy.
5. Painter's palette
For a living room that needs no jumping off point and is a bona fide work of art, we turn to this adventurous painter's palette of a space from @baliol.house.
"People are experimenting with colors more than ever and realizing how easy and cost effective color can be," says Huston. "With paint, a couple throw pillows, and some pictures, you have a whole new space. The color contrast here also creates excitement and curiosity."
Get the look: Remake your walls in contrasting colors, then cast an even wider color net with this Noble House Velvet Ottoman.
https://www.realtor.com/advice/home-improvement/art-inspired-living-rooms-bursting-with-color/
11
Painting Projects to Do This Summer
Summer is the perfect time to embark on painting projects that can transform your home's appearance and increase its value. With the warm weather and longer days, it's an ideal season for home improvement. If you're considering selling your home or simply want to refresh your living space, here are some painting projects to tackle this summer.
- Refresh Your Front Door
Your front door is one of the first things people notice about your home. A fresh coat of paint can make a significant impact on your home's curb appeal. Choose a bold color that complements your house's exterior. Trendy paint colors like classic red, navy blue, or even a cheerful yellow can create a welcoming entrance. Not only does this add visual interest, but it can help signal to pot...
7
The Hidden Costs of Homeownership in Every State: How Much Are You Paying?
A home is an investment—and for many homeowners, it is their largest asset. But owning a house can also come with unexpected costs that are important to budget for.
The hidden costs of owning and maintaining a single-family home in the U.S. now average more than $18,000 each year, according to a recent study from Bankrate.
That's a 26% gain from four years ago, an increase driven by soaring home values, inflation for maintenance costs, and rising insurance premiums.
"A first-time homebuyer needs to think of a mortgage payment as a floor for monthly housing expenditures rather than a ceiling," says Realtor.com® senior economist Ralph McLaughlin. "Unexpected maintenance costs—such as a broken water heater, dead fridge, or leaky roof—can quickly snatch the Benjamins from your monthly budget, while changes in natural disaster profiles can cause insurance premiums to rise well above your existing rates."
McLaughlin notes that homeowners might also be faced with unexpected increases to property taxes or special assessments from homeowners associations to address maintenance issues.
"Such one-time or ongoing increases in monthly home-related expenses can often bring sticker shock to new homeowners," he warns. "Caveat emptor!"
To determine costs for homeowners above and beyond monthly mortgage payments, the Bankrate study examined the average cost of property taxes and homeowners insurance, and calculated maintenance costs at 2% of the local median home sales price.
The study also estimates average utility costs, including energy, internet, and cable bills, adjusted for inflation.
Bankrate estimates that hidden costs for owners of a single-family home average $18,118 a year across the U.S., or an additional $1,510 per month on top of a mortgage payment.
Where are hidden costs the highest and lowest?
States with the highest home prices or hefty property taxes tended to have the highest ongoing costs for homeowners, according to the study.
Hawaii had the highest homeownership costs, averaging $29,015 per year. Ongoing maintenance costs, calculated at 2% of home values, contributed a whopping $19,860 to that sum.
Homeowners in Hawaii also face average annual property taxes of $3,724, an average homeowners insurance bill of $1,455 per year, and $3,976 in average annual energy and utility costs.
Following Hawaii for high ongoing costs were California, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Connecticut.
On the other end of the spectrum, Kentucky won out as the state with the lowest hidden homeownership costs.
Average annual costs for homeowners in the Bluegrass State totaled just $11,559.
That typical bill includes $5,116 for ongoing maintenance, $1,547 for property taxes, $2,216 for energy, and $1,300 for cable and internet.
https://www.realtor.com/news/trends/the-hidden-costs-of-homeownership-in-every-state-how-much-are-you-paying/
6
Radiant Retreats: 5 Bedroom Makeovers Inspired by Blooming Summer Gardens
If the summer season is about anything, it's this: lots and lots of beautiful, vibrant colors.
While neutrals will always have their charm, some interiors thrive on a bolder approach—think punchy pinks and sunny yellows or even dramatic contrasts like turquoise and gold.
Because we're just as ready as you are to take on some bold new color schemes as the season heats up, we rounded up five of our favorite bright bedroom looks from the design world of Instagram.
Whether your guest space needs new bedding, your kid's room is due for an update, or your own bedroom could use a redo, we've got you covered.
Here are five bedroom color motifs that are as radiant and fresh as your summer garden.
1. Lemonade
If you want to fully embrace the most eye-catching colors of the season, then you might consider remaking your bedroom in a lemonade-style motif like this one from @interiorsari.
"I love this bright and cheerful yellow. It is my favorite because it immediately brings joy and energy to any bedroom," says Joyce Huston, lead designer and co-founder of Decorilla.
"I usually include this color in spaces where I want to capture and reflect light, making it feel more spacious and inviting," adds Huston.
Get the look: Go all out with a lush lemonade theme with these Lovely Lemons sateen floral sheets.
2. Turquoise and gold
For a fun pop of seasonal color that still seems upscale—look no further than this royalty-inspired bedroom design from @designattractor.
"Turquoise and gold is a timeless combination that exudes a sense of luxury and tranquility," says Guillaume Drew, designer and founder of Or & Zon. "Its popularity lies in the balance between the calming effect of turquoise and the opulence of gold—perfect for anyone seeking an elegant retreat."
Get the look: Dress up your bedroom by painting it in this shade of turquoise, then pair it with this Spencer Catisha tufted bed.
3. Neon dreams
Another playful summer-approved bedroom color scheme we're loving right now? This neon design from @sansnovazuhause.
"Neon is having a major moment. It's all about embracing bold colors and creating a high-energy and playful space," says Huston. "I like to use them as accents, like with throw blankets and pillows to add pops of electric blue, hot pink, or lime green, or even a neon LED wall sign."
Get the look: Infuse your space with some neon vibes with a few of these hot pink and orange throw pillows and this sunburst wall light.
4. Lavender
If you're after a softer, more playful summer look, we think you'll love this lavender bedroom design from @owldesignlondon.
"Evoking feelings of serenity and warmth, lavender is a soft and romantic choice that works beautifully in a bedroom setting," says Drew. "It's popular for its calming properties and works particularly well for those who seek a peaceful and restful environment."
Get the look: Create a sweet lavender retreat in your bedroom with this Zora gauze throw and this French lavender candle.
5. Woodland green
For a darker bedroom motif that's still distinctly summery—we like to embrace different shades of woodland green, just like in this design from @ie.ame.
"This one is all about bringing the outdoors in," says Huston. "Woodland green creates a calming and grounding atmosphere, which is perfect for nature lovers. I like to include lots of plants to really bring the forest feel to the bedroom."
Get the look: Remake your bedroom into a woodsy wonderland with this Alsea duvet cover set and a few houseplants from Lively Root.
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