Posts by koakley
How to choose your kitchen backsplash
The kitchen backsplash used to be purely functional—protecting splatters, stains, and chips from damaging your wall. With kitchens getting more design attention than ever before, you have more choices for making a splash with your backsplash. In fact, you have more options in materials, color, and style in backsplashes than the countertops themselves. What will…
Read MoreChimney fire prevention in 3 easy steps
The growing chill in the air ignites the urge to cozy up in front of a crackling fire. Before you light that log in your fireplace, be sure you’re not sparking a chimney fire. Approximately 23,000 chimney fires occur every year, causing near a billion dollars in damage, and potentially the loss of lives. Chimney…
Read MoreMust-have new home features, by generation
Each person has a unique vision of the “dream home”. It could be spacious and luxurious or a country retreat. Maybe the house offers single-level living or has several stories. Everyone seems to agree that spacious island kitchens, and updated bathrooms with separate tub and shower are essential. Still, different age groups are looking for…
Read MoreRent or own? Weigh the cost benefit.
There continues to be an ongoing debate over the value of renting a home versus owning it. Renters know that they are spending money that they won’t recoup—it’s not easy writing that rent check every month and watching the funds fly away forever. Still, those who are financially capable of owning a home bide their…
Read MoreHow long does it take to close on a home?
After touring through one home after another in search of the “just right” Goldilocks moment, you found it. Then, your offer was accepted! Now what? How long before you have the keys in your hand and a mortgage to go with it? There are no hard and fast timelines, but there are some actions that…
Read MoreChecklist to winterize your home
Summer is over. The weather is going to get colder—much colder—before we see those pleasant temperatures again. Once you’ve stored your patio furniture and raked the fallen leaves, you will need to winterize your home, to protect it from all the hazards that a long, hard winter can bring. Not sure where to start? Here’s…
Read MoreHow to choose the right toilet
Admit it. The toilet isn’t high on your list when you’re thinking about your bathroom remodel. It’s not something you discuss excitedly with your friends as you talk about your bathroom makeover. A toilet has a function. Period. So does a faucet, but there are many different types of that plumbing fixture. Before you brush…
Read MoreLaundry room design ideas
Your laundry room isn’t one of those spaces in your home where you think, “Oh, I’ll just go there and relax.” It’s purely functional. But that doesn’t mean the room is prohibited from having style. Look at today’s bathroom designs. They’ve evolved from functional dullness to spa-like beauty. Every space in your home should reflect…
Read More7 sure signs that your bathroom needs an upgrade
Are you so used to your bathroom that you overlook certain features that might be outdated? Bathroom design has evolved dramatically over the past few years. If your bathroom has become a merely functional space, then it might be time to consider remodeling. Here are some sure signs that your bathroom needs an upgrade. The…
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