What Every Homeowner Needs to Know About Renovation

What Every Homeowner Needs to Know About Renovation

Home renovation is one of the most costly undertakings a home owner can do, but it brings tremendous value to a home when done properly. Renovating a kitchen can be very simple, until you start changing the structure of the home. Even adding a closet can present problems with permits and codes. Violating those permits can cause major challenges when you decide to sell your home. Here are the concepts to keep in mind before you begin a new renovation project. Permits One of the most commonly overlooked aspects of home construction is acquisition of permits. It might not seem like a big deal when you want to add on that balcony, or install a new sliding glass door, but building codes exist to keep you and occupants safe from potential harm. If you’re unsure, have...

What is a Duvet Cover?

A duvet cover is a cloth encasement designed to fit a very large quilt. The quilt, or duvet, is stuffed with a filler to keep you warm. A duvet may also be called a duvet insert, and covers for duvets usually come with a zipper, buttons, or snaps to prevent the insert from slipping out. Since a duvet is typically white, a colorful duvet cover is perfect for brightening up your bedroom and keeping your duvet clean and protected. A duvet is not meant to be placed on a bed without a case to protect it; attractive duvet covers can be purchased. Some may be embellished with embroidery while others may be adorned with elegant puckered fabric. You can also find plain covers, and covers that come in floral prints, stripes, or plaids. With the color of your bedroom walls...

A New Take on a Golden Oldie: Combining Frosted and Clear Glass

A New Take on a Golden Oldie: Combining Frosted and Clear Glass

If you scroll through home design blogs nowadays, there are all kinds of enviable and trendy changes that feel out-of-reach unless you happen to be a millionaire who is building a home from scratch. Even choosing new windows and doors for your current home can be costly and require substantial extra labor. While the natural, unfrosted glass installed in most or all of your windows may seem tame, recent aesthetic innovations have brought in new, lower-impact options that allow you to shape your home with ease. Frosted Glass Frosted Glass has a fantastical look that obscures the view from outside into the home. It is good for security, but should be used sparingly to keep the home from feeling like a bubble. Foyers are intended to bring light into the entryway of...

DIY Pointers: High-Tech, Low-Tech, and No-Tech Ways to Cut Foam

DIY Pointers: High-Tech, Low-Tech, and No-Tech Ways to Cut Foam

Unfortunately, DIY instructions often make up for in enthusiasm what they lack in specificity and this can result in frustrating setbacks and wasted materials. If you are stuck, here’s a quick cheat sheet about different ways to cut foam. High-Tech If you want to buy specialized machinery, foam cutting saws are balanced perfectly for cutting foam. They are the safest and most consistent option, and may be worth the somewhat hefty investment of $150-$400+ if you plan to do foam projects with regularity. If you are only planning to cut large foam once, such as a memory foam mattress, Canada Foam by Mail offers custom cutting that could prevent the need for such heavy-duty machinery. Low-Tech For a more low-tech solution that will be easier on your pocket book, try...

Mattress Pads 101

Mattress Pads 101

Written by BeddingStyle.com. If you want to take your comfort in bed to the next level, a mattress pad may be the right choice. A mattress pad helps to give additional padding and comfort when you sleep at night and can make your bed feel extra soft and relaxing. It’s a great choice for people at home or college students to add to their college dorm bedding to help improve their sleep on poor quality college dorm beds. So what should you be looking for in a mattress pad? Much like with a comforter set, you will have many different fabrics to choose from with your mattress pad. For basic needs, many people choose to go with a cotton pad. This option is light enough to not be overly warm during the summer but will also provide enough cushioning to be...

Current Home Improvement Trends

Current Home Improvement Trends

Written by Wicker Paradise Home improvement trends tend to vary from year to year. However, there are certain trends that are so aesthetically pleasing that they do not go out of fashion. Some of these trends are listed below. You might want to keep those in mind next time you are seeking creative ideas to revamp your interior. Black Kitchen The black kitchen trend has been going on for some years now. This involves accessorizing and even painting the whole kitchen in various shades of black. This might range from slate-colored walls to deep black kitchen tops. Even the sinks can be chosen in black. The black kitchen is often accessorized in vibrant colors such as red or yellow which contribute to enhancing the black color. White Wicker Wicker is an elegant...