| Top 2014 home decor trend: Personalized design |
| Interior design is in a constant state of transformation, and this year homeowners are taking control. The "keeping up with the Joneses'' mentality is giving ground to the desire for personalized design that reflects the exact needs and design aesthetic of the residents. In 2014, more people will actively embrace the role of designer in order to create a home that is truly one of a kind. |
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| Go-anywhere upgrades that are great for kitchens and baths |
| Some upgrades look laughable in the wrong room: plush carpeting in the bathroom or custom drapes in a kitchen. A handful of go-anywhere upgrades work especially well in kitchens and baths - and can raise those rooms from merely functional to inspiringly fashionable. |
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| Hardwood flooring trends, a touch of the creative |
| The recovering U.S. housing market has led to increased demand for certain luxury items, including hardwood flooring. Exciting trends are influencing the marketplace and for today's consumers, there are more hardwood flooring options than ever before. |
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| Create a traditional kitchen full of personality and style |
| The kitchen is the heart of the home ... the place where memories are made while cooking, eating and sharing stories around the table. Since so much time is spent in this room, it's important to have a kitchen that fits your personality. There are many styles to choose; but traditional remains one of the most popular because of its timeless, classic look. If you're updating your kitchen, here are some tips to create a space that reflects your personal style. |
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| Planning a home improvement project? How to hire a quality contractor |
| Dreaming of home improvement projects in the New Year? You're not alone - many homeowners are deciding what improvement project to tackle next. As the housing market continues to strengthen, homeowners buying or selling homes are focused on curb appeal or updating new spaces, which makes now a perfect time for remodeling. In fact, a majority of U.S. Homeowners (75.5 percent) are planning one or more home improvement projects by early 2014, according to a recent HIRI Sentiment Tracking Study. |
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| Three weekend-friendly DIY bathroom upgrades |
| How much time do you spend in the bathroom each day? Whether it's where you prep the kids for bed or step away for some alone time, the bathroom is one of the most frequently used rooms in the home. It's also one of the best areas in which to invest; renovating or simply updating this space can lead to a 62 percent return on investment. |
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| Coming clean: tips to keep on top of your home's dirtiest rooms |
| Household chores are a never-ending reality of life. In fact, on average women spend more than two hours a day on household activities, which include housework and cooking, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Time Use Survey. Yet, keeping up with kids, pets and a hectic schedule make it seem like there's still always something to clean. Tackle your home's dirtiest rooms with these quick tips to make chores easier and more effective so you can have a tidy, sparkling home in no time. |
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| Bacteria lurking in your home plumbing |
| Many people are already familiar with the benefits of soft water for their skin and hair and how it significantly reduces energy consumption and increases the life of heaters, appliances and home plumbing. But what most people are totally unaware of is the ability for soft water to prevent microbial contamination in plumbing, thus minimizing the consumer's exposure to pathogenic bacteria such as Legionella, which can cause Legionnaire's disease. |
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| Planning ahead for holiday gatherings |
| No matter what time of year it is, the kitchen is always the busiest room in the home. That's especially the case during the holiday season. With the added stress of planning the perfect menu and creating the ideal holiday atmosphere for your guests, it's no surprise that many people feel overwhelmed with the planning process. |
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| Itchin' to update your kitchen? |
| Remodeling the kitchen. When you decide to tackle this daunting undertaking, you want to do it right. And, you're not alone. Forty-nine percent of homeowners plan to completely gut their existing kitchen and start with a clean state, according to a recent survey by Houzz.com. Regardless of the scope of your project, if you're itchin' to update your kitchen, follow these five steps to design the space you've been dreaming about. |
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| How to use texture, colors and accessories to bring emotion to your home |
| Home decor can convey many different emotions - from warmth and comfort on cold and dreary winter days to elegance and festiveness during the holiday season. The colors and materials you use set the stage; everything from the textures that appear in the accessories, the arrangement of the furniture and even how sound reverberates in a room. |
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| 2013 holiday gift guide: outrageous and outside-the-box ideas |
| With the holiday season quickly approaching, it's officially shopping crunch time. This year, consider some innovative and imaginative gift ideas sure to impress even the hardest to shop for on your list. You may want to gift yourself a holiday treat, too. |
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| Shopping for a better night's sleep |
| Mattress shopping isn't a matter to take lying down. The average American spends three full years sleeping on each mattress they buy. A mattress is the single most important factor in achieving the quality sleep that is crucial to a high quality of life. |
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| Top trends in kitchen cabinetry |
| "A kitchen provides physical and spiritual nourishment, and for many homes is now the heart and soul of family life." That's how Terence Conran opened his classic Kitchen Book 20 years ago, and it's probably even truer today. The kitchen's central importance in most households means that Americans are paying more attention than ever to the design and decoration of this vital space - a search for functionality, comfort and beauty that's reflected in current trends in hardwood kitchen cabinetry. |
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| Choose quality over quantity to create the bathroom of your dreams |
| While your dream bath may be a sprawling space, the reality is that the typical bathroom is 100 square feet or less. According to recent home builder statistics, the average home size has seen a 6 percent decline in recent years. That doesn't mean you need to give up on your dream bath. A large bathroom footprint isn't always the answer to a better bath. Focusing on quality products can create a luxurious look, even in a small space. |
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| Seven simple steps to a sensational and safe shower |
| You do it every day ... and sometimes more than once a day ... but, how often do you actually think about your shower routine? And, is it living up to its potential? Follow these seven simple steps and soon your daily shower escape can become sensational and safe - all with only a minimal investment. |
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| 10 tips for making a small bathroom feel larger |
| Is your tiny bathroom cramping your functionality and style, leaving you longing for the enormous bathrooms gracing the pages of design magazines? Even if your bathroom is a fraction of the size, all it takes is some design savvy to make the most of the space you have. Consider these 10 smart tips that will help your bathroom look, feel and function like those larger contenders. |
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| Seniors: Create an independent, restful and peaceful home setting |
| Senior living is a time for rest and relaxation, and the home is the first place to incorporate a comfortable and spa-like living quarters. The chaos of raising children has passed, and retirement has brought a sense of peace and quiet upon the home. Many upgrades can make your home more comfortable and restful and allow you to stay safe and independent in your home. |
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| Good looks or good sense? Home designs that don't make you choose |
| Increasingly savvy consumers aren't satisfied with the idea they must choose between practicality and good looks, and their rejection of the notion is fueling one of the hottest new design trends. Smart manufacturers are responding, creating innovations that are driven by how people truly use products, and not just by how those products look. |
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| Sink shopping 101: Is your sink ready for your next party? |
| From enjoying a nice cup of coffee in the morning to putting the final touches on a homemade pie, the kitchen is the center of the home any time of year, but especially when you're entertaining. The kitchen will be put to the test, filled to the brim with friends and loved ones, whipping up the family's secret recipes. In order to handle entertaining with ease, your sink needs to be in tip-top shape. Is yours up for the challenge? |
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| Tips to ensure your shower upgrade doesn't turn into a leaky mess |
| Bathrooms are certainly among the busiest rooms in any home. But a bathroom can be so much more than just the place where you get ready during your hurried morning routine. One of the hottest trends in home decorating and remodeling is creating a bathroom that serves as a spa-like retreat. |
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| Three easy tips to create a more natural bedroom |
| The formerly "fringe" back-to-nature movement has become mainstream in America and nowhere is the desire for a more natural approach to living more prevalent than in our homes. From organically grown fruits and vegetables to VOC-free paint choices, the trend is toward fewer additives, synthetics and chemicals. |
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| Embrace color trends in style this fall |
| From runway fashion to home decor, blue is definitely in the spotlight right now. Give your home a fresh boost of an on-trend color and make it through the fall season in style. |
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| Five ways to build a better shower |
| The shower is a place to unwind from a stressful day, where you can forget your worries and pamper yourself. Remodeling the shower is extremely popular because it allows homeowners to create a spa-like experience in their own home, not to mention it's a good investment and can increase resale value. Before you start your remodel, here are five ways to create a shower that will give you some well-deserved peace and quiet. |
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| Daring pairings: matching food and wine for the perfect Valentine's Day meal |
| Whether you're a trained chef or simply enjoy cooking at home, there's always a certain amount of trepidation at the thought of having guests for dinner. Do you go out on a culinary limb and serve something impressively daring, or do you play it safe with a tried and true menu? If you decide to take a chance, how daring are you? And, if your menu is an adventure for the taste buds, what wine do you pair with it? |
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| Beyond white: Hot color trends for the kitchen and bath |
| So many of us love the rich colors featured in kitchen and bath magazines, but when it comes to selecting colors for our own homes, we tend to play it safe. It's time to be bold and get out of the color comfort zone. Whether it's a vibrant backsplash, playful shade on the wall, or a new sink color that pops with personality, today's hot color trends are anything but boring. |
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