Monthly Archives: April 2016

8 Budget-Friendly Ways to ‘Fun Up’ Your Patio

“Outdoor Living Spaces is something that we all love.  If you’re struggling for ideas on how to make yours more fun, take a look at these.”
Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team 
Is your outdoor space more drab than fab but you don’t have the inclination (or budget) for a big makeover? Whether your space is big or small, here are eight easy-on-the-wallet ways to make it more alluring and comfortable.
Originally Published by Karen Egly-Thompson on HOUZZ

10 Home Hacks for Every Room in Your House

“Everyone can use some ‘Home Hacks’ around the house.  It’s amazing all the little things we should have thought of before.”

Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team

Our list of top home hacks will help you organize your home and get the most out of each room.

Photo by: Shutterstock

Life is a lot less hectic when you find ways to keep your home organized, simplify storage and find DIY solutions that are affordable and easy. Here are some of our favorite clutch tips for your home.

Kitchen Home Hacksvia The Sweetest Occasion

1. Kitchen

Add personality to every meal with customized dishware that you can make yourself in minutes. You don’t need to be an artist or have special art supplies. Just grab a Sharpie® and draw your design freehand (or use a stencil for more intricate patterns) on your dishware or mug. Clean, white enamelware works well. You can personalize your creation with a name, signature monogram or even a favorite quote. To make it permanent, bake your finished design at 350 degrees for 30 minutes. Tip: Start with a cold oven to allow the dishware to gradually come up to temperature. Also, hand washing will help your artwork last.

Living Room Hacksvia Storage Talk

2. Family Room

Family rooms often have to do double duty as a playroom and entertainment hub. But finding room to store all your playthings without compromising your sophisticated style can be challenging. This hack meets that challenge head on: Simply store your puzzles, dice and other game pieces in decorative jars. They’re even fun to look at and provide a unique storage solution so you don’t have to make room for bulky game or puzzle boxes. Choose jars in different sizes, shapes and colors to add visual interest and to match your decor. Mason jars, apothecary jars, etched glass jars or pressed glass jars are all great options.

DIY Storagevia Buzzfeed

3. Bedroom

Seems you can never have enough storage, especially in the bedroom. This hack lets you add storage and a decorative wall detail at the same time. Just create instant shelves from old drawers. Vary shapes and sizes for an eclectic look. Line the bottom of the drawers with patterned paper or paint for added color. Look for dressers with unusual curved drawer fronts or undulating profiles. Tip: You can often find reasonably priced dressers/drawers at garage sales, resale shops, vintage stores or estate sales.

Closet Hacksvia Make Space

4. Clothes Closet

It can be frustrating fighting to find your favorite jeans in a cluttered closet. If you’re not ready to slim down your wardrobe, have no fear. This hack lets you retain all your perfectly worn-in pairs, but in a more organized manner: Hang your jeans on shower hooks. Saves a ton of closet space and makes finding your favorite pair a snap!

Hanger Home Hacksvia Buzzfeed

5. Bathroom

Sure bathroom hooks are essential for hanging wet towels or robes, but no one says you have to use standard hooks that are purely functional without any decorative appeal. Instead, use old doorknobs as hooks. This super simple hack adds a ton of character to your bathroom while it maximizes wall space. Tip: For a cool shabby-chic vibe, use a grouping of vintage doorknobs that have finishes with a little wear and tear.

Home Hacks for Every Roomvia Green Idea Reviews

6. Laundry Room

Bet you didn’t know that you could easily conquer dryer static with just some ingenuity and aluminum foil. It’s true! It turns out balled-up aluminum foil can minimize dryer static. Here’s how: When you’re ready to dry your washed laundry, just throw three aluminum foil balls (about 3 inches in diameter each) in your dryer and tumble dry your load as normal. These anti-static wonders are easy to make, economical, reusable for up to 6 months, recyclable and help you avoid toxic chemicals found in dryer sheets. Tip: Heavy-duty foil works best. Wrap a tennis ball in foil. This will help you use even less foil to make a sizable ball and the tumbling tennis ball helps fluff your laundry as it dries.

Phone Hacksvia Mashable

7. Home Office

Smartphone accessories, like a phone stand, can be kind of pricey…unless, of course, you know how to make it yourself with inexpensive office supplies. This hack makes good use of binder clips, which you probably already have at home. When positioned in just that right way, your binder clips can make a quick and functional phone stand. When you’re done using your ingenious phone stand, just slip the clips back in your desk drawer. Job well done!

DIY Garagevia House Logic

8. Garage

Rusty tools are the bane of any true handyman or handywoman. Here’s a great way to make sure you won’t have to worry about that: Use blackboard chalk to prevent your tools from rusting. Just place several pieces in your toolbox. The chalk traps dampness, which helps keep your tools rust-free, giving you one fewer excuse to not be handy around the house.

Space Saving Hacks for the Homevia Childhood 101

9. Playroom

Playrooms can be a messy prospect, but they don’t have to be with this awesome household hack. Just use an over-the-door shoe organizer for toys or art supplies. The clear compartments make for easy access and easy clean up. So simple, it’s like child’s play.

Kitchenware Home Hacksvia Olives ‘n’ Wine

10. Dining Room:

Chances are if you’re hosting and elegant party in your dining room, you’ll want to break out the good china and silver. That means making sure your silver sparkles and shines. Here’s how with just some baking soda and hot water. Line a pot or your kitchen sink with foil. Fill it with very hot water and mix in about 1 cup of baking soda. Add your tarnished items and let soak for about 30 minutes or until you see the black residue lifting off the surface. Then just rinse and dry (or first clean with a mild dish detergent) to use right away! Et voilà, dinner is served!

Originally published on AHS.com (American Home Shield)

10 Tips for Creating a Welcoming Entryway

“Been wondering how you could dress up your foyer or entryway?  Lighting, colors and light decor may just do the trick.”
Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team
You have only one chance to make a first impression. So it’s important that the entry to your house is welcoming to guests, reflects your personal style and makes you feel happy and comfortable as soon as you walk through the door. This space sets the tone for the rest of your home.
Originally published on HOUZZ, by Becky Harris

Make Sure You Read This Before Buying New Plants

“Knowing what to buy can make all the difference in how your yard looks, and how hard you have to work on it.”
Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team
Spring and fall are the best planting times, but it can be all too easy to end up with an empty wallet and a garden filled with struggling, diseased or even dead plants. Thankfully, visits to the nursery can be enjoyable, and successful, as long as you arm yourself with the knowledge to ensure you will come home with beautiful, healthy plants that will increase the curb appeal of your home and garden.

To-Dos: Your April Home Checklist

‘Springtime is here and with it an opportunity for a fresh start around your home.  Time to take stock of what Winter has done to your home, and see what needs some attention.”
Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team
With lengthening days and milder temperatures in many parts of the country, April is a wonderful time to freshen up the home inside and out. From windows that sparkle to a clutter-free garage, here are 13 tasks to make the most of the first full month of spring.
Originally published on HOUZZ by Laura Gaskill

What to Know About Adding a Deck

“Been thinking about adding a Deck.  Have you really thought about all the things that go into a project like this.  Do you homework and plan everything out properly first.”
Denise Buck & Ed Johnson – DC Metro Realty Team
Good weather should be enjoyed to its fullest extent. To do that you have to actually go outside. But if your home lacks an enticing outdoor living space, there’s little incentive to venture out.

Outdoor living is seeing a bit of an explosion lately: Adding a deck is one of the most requested home projects today, and demand is steadily rising.

New durable outdoor materials, furniture and accessories plus unique shade options and smart tech that lets us watch movies and have full kitchens have no doubt fueled the interest. So if you’re hoping to make the most of good weather in your area, a new deck has likely crossed your mind. Here’s what you’ll need to know about finally getting one.

Originally published on HOUZZ by Mitchell Parker