About Me

Creating A Beautiful Home and Garden

When I purchased a home a few years ago, I had no idea what kind of workload I would be faced with. In addition to trying to figure out how to keep the place clean, I was also left with the challenge of tidying up the yard and keeping things trimmed. It was a little overwhelming, but I knew that I could do it with a little hard work and dedication. I started reading a lot of books and blogs about creating gorgeous things for your home and yard, and it was a great creative outlet. This blog is all about exciting, fun ways to make your home and yard even more beautiful.

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Creating A Beautiful Home and Garden

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Essential Power Tools for the DIY Enthusiast
For any DIY enthusiast or handyman, power tools have become an essential part of their toolkit. They offer ease, precision, and power, making even the toughest jobs a breeze. From cordless drills to circular saws, these tools are specialized to tackle tasks that traditional hand tools cannot handle. Cordless Drill: A cordless drill is an indispensable tool that can make any DIY project simple. It enables you to drive screws and boreholes with ease, making it a versatile tool to have.

How To Prepare Your Deck For Staining: Key Steps To Follow
A well-maintained deck is aesthetically pleasing and is an important feature of your outdoor living space. To achieve that perfect deck, staining is a process that can enhance the natural beauty and protect it from elements. But to achieve a quality finish, proper preparation is essential. Take a look at a few key steps to follow to prepare your deck for staining. Clean Your Deck Thoroughly Over time, decks are subjected to various elements — from harsh weather conditions to dirt and grime buildup — that can affect their appearance and durability.

Things To Buy At A Garden Center To Get Started With Container Gardening
If you wish you could put out a garden, but you don't have enough space in your yard that gets enough sun, consider container gardening. You can set the pots where the sun is and move them during the day if needed. You can even grow a container garden if you live in a condo or apartment and have a patio. You can find everything you'll need at a garden center.

Butcher Block Countertops—Enhancements For Your Kitchen
Butcher block countertops will add a warm, homey vibe to your kitchen. Choose a wood variety that you would like your new countertops to be constructed out of. Then, determine the placement and design of the new counters.  Wood Types Butcher block countertops are constructed of many wood varieties. Hardwood, such as cherry, will be dark in color and will withstand a lot of wear and tear. Lighter-colored wood varieties can be equally as impressive.

Dress Up Your Home's Interior With Made-To-Order Indoor Shutters
If you want to dress up your home's interior, look no further than interior shutters. Both practical and attractive, interior shutters will look great with a variety of interior design styles. They also provide privacy and can make your home more energy efficient by giving you control over how much natural light you let into your home in any season. A perfect match Interior shutters are a perfect match for any decorating style.

Restoring Your Lawn With Grass Replacement Or Fresh Sod
If the grass in your yard has seen better days and needs some help, you may be looking for a way to restore it and create a fresh green lawn around your home. There are options to consider, from having a grass service replant the lawn to ordering sod and having a ready-to-use grass delivery that allows you to have grass without waiting for it to grow.  Evaluating The Existing Grass

Considering Gutter Installation: 4 Things You Need To Avoid
Gutters are an essential fixture in any home. They're responsible for collecting and directing rainwater from the roof to the ground. That said, you might think that gutter installation isn't complicated and attempt the task as a DIY project. However, gutters are a sensitive installation because they prevent water damage in your home. As such, it's advisable to seek professional help. This is because you might make mistakes that can compromise the proper functionality of your gutter.

5 Types of House Damages Caused by Dirty Gutters
The main job of gutters is to route roof runoff from rain and ice melt away from the house. This serves two purposes — it ensures water doesn't drip all over you when you're walking up to the door, and it prevents several different types of damage from affecting your home. 1. Eave Rot Your eaves are made up of two parts, the outward-facing fascia boards and the soffits underneath. In many homes, one or both of these are typically made of wood.

3 Benefits of Hiring a Residential Mold Removal Contractor
Residential mold infestations can cause a stuffy nose, sore throat, and even skin outbreaks. In addition, you can experience severe symptoms like migraines or brain fog if you have asthma. A musty odor is also a common indication of mold infestations. If you suspect a mold infestation, you need a mold remediation contractor to clean up your home when you notice signs of infestations. Discover other benefits of hiring a home mold removal contractor.

Does Your Garage Floor Look Unattractive? See Why Revamping It With An Epoxy Coating Is A Valuable Investment
Repairing your garage floor regularly is the best way to improve its longevity and avoid costly repairs in the future. Therefore, it is advisable to hire a professional to undertake the necessary repairs when you notice any signs of wear and tear. You'll want professional services when the floor is dirty, stained, or looks unattractive. In all these situations, revamping the floor with an epoxy coating can give it a luxurious look and extend its life for several more years.

Why Roller Shades May Be the Perfect Window Coverings
If you want to block out bright sunlight or the stares of peeping neighbors from your home, you can get window coverings that will help create a barrier between your living space and the outside world. Roller shades often work well as coverings for different types of windows, and companies that provide roller shades services are always willing to install new shades for customers. These shades have certain advantages over other types of window coverings and can be great for almost any type of home environment.

How To Properly Connect Your Home To The Past
Everyone has a history of some kind, whether your parents told you stories of your great-great-grandparents making the trip to America or you researched your own ancestral background through one of the many online databases and genetic testing sites. To a lot of people, this connection to the past is very important, and they want to share it and let it shape their home so that future generations feel the same way.

3 Considerations When Choosing A New Fireplace For Your Home
It might seem daunting to look for a fireplace, especially when you have not had one before. The market has countless fireplace types, and you might feel confused about what will work for your home. However, if you take your time and study them well, you will get the best one for your needs. Here are features you should look for when investing in a fireplace for your home.  Think About the Fuel Type

What To Do If Your Sliding Glass Door Is Damaged
Sliding glass doors are extremely popular in homes that have a patio, deck, or pool outside. Opening these doors allows you to end the space from your home to the outside area and enjoy the yard and outdoor living space. Still, if the door gets damaged in some way, you may need to call a door company that offers residential sliding door replacement services to come and assess the situation.

Incorporating Stone Products Into Your Landscaping
There are many different stone products that can be used in your landscaping. However, individuals that are looking to undertake a major landscaping project may not understand all of the options that are available to them when choosing stone products. Gravel Gravel is one of the more common types of stone products that you can use in your landscaping. The gravel can be suitable for paving walkways and driveways and to protect the soil against erosion.

Using Motorized Shades For Your Windows
The shades that you install on your windows may be among the most important features as they will give you the ability to control the light coming into the house. While individuals often assume that they will always have to manually control their shades, this is not the case as there are motorized shade systems. Maximize Convenience Closing and opening the shades can be a surprising inconvenient task, and individuals with mobility issues may find that this is especially true.

Patio Heater Buying Tips
Individuals that live in areas with cool weather may find that it can be uncomfortable for them to be on their patios for much of the year. To counter this, you can invest in patio heaters that will be able to keep the patio space warm enough for you to comfortably spend time on it even when the weather is fairly chilly. Opt For A Propane Patio Heater Efficiency and heat output are among the most important factors to consider when choosing a new patio heater.

4 Factors To Consider When Choosing A Throw Pillow Cover
Throw pillow covers afford you a great deal of flexibility, and they are awesome for protecting your pillows. However, while the benefits of pillow covers might be universal, not all covers are the same. Learn about some of the areas you should focus on as you search for a pillow cover to purchase. 1. Fastener Style Pay attention to the faster on the cover. Zippers, buttons, and the fold-over method are the most common fastener options.

Great Advice When Choosing New Kitchen Cabinets
If you think it's time to make over the kitchen, consider changing out the cabinets. This renovation can drastically improve your kitchen's layout, performance, and aesthetics. Finding the right cabinets can be a smooth process too thanks to this guide. Decide Between Custom and Stock In terms of how kitchen cabinets are designed, you have two primary options. Either you can have the cabinets made from scratch or you can buy cabinets that have already been put together in a factory.

How To Choose Commercial Window Coverings
When you own a doctor's or dentist's office, you know that one of the most important things that you can do for your patients is to ensure that they are as comfortable as possible. If you have an office space that is out of date and needs some sprucing up, then some new paint, carpet, and furniture can typically do the trick. One area that people often forget about though is window coverings.

Why Every Home Buyer Needs A Home Inspection
Did you recently make an offer on a home that was accepted? If so, you'll have the option to move forward with a home inspection. Here is why every new buyer needs to have their home professionally inspected before moving forward with the sale. Major Flaw Discovery The main reason to have a home inspection is to discover potential major flaws in the home that you were not aware of when you made an offer on the home.

Avoid Pricey New Furniture With A Few Shopping Tips
Replacing some of the furniture in your home can be expensive, but it can be something you're interested in when you haven't redecorated in a long time. Since buying new furniture can be an expensive update that you'll want to be ready for, you need to see exactly what you can do to make sure that your new furniture fits right in and that you won't be spending too much money at a furniture store.

Kitchen Trends For 2020: Implement These In Your Remodel
The year 2020 is almost here. If you are planning to remodel your kitchen this upcoming year, then you need to take current trends into account. Here are a few recent kitchen trends to consider implementing as you remodel. Navy Blue Subdued tones have been stylish in the kitchen for years, but in 2020, navy blue is becoming the color of choice. You can choose navy cabinet doors, or just incorporate some navy accents in your tile backsplash.

3 Things To Know When Choosing Bathroom Cabinets
Whether you are remodeling your bathroom or building a new one, choosing the right bathroom cabinets is a must. Your cabinets offer valuable storage space and also have a big impact on the appearance of your bathroom. When choosing bathroom cabinets, it's important to make sure that you pick an option that works well with the style of your bathroom and your budget. There are various options to choose from, and finding the right cabinets for your bathroom is easier than ever.

How To Prepare Your Chimney For The Upcoming Winter
When the summer dwindles, this is the time to start thinking about any preparations you need to make for the winter. For households with a fireplace, having your chimney serviced will not only improve the efficiency of your heating, but it can also reduce the risk of chimney fires. Inspection You should anticipate having your chimney inspected before each upcoming season you plan to use the fireplace. A major part of the inspection is checking the integrity of the chimney.

Three Ways To Make Your Home More Delivery-Friendly
With more and more services being brought right to your front door, it's important to make sure your home is delivery-friendly. Whether you order groceries online or get takeout through different apps each week, making it easy for drivers to find your address can mean the difference between getting your packages and missing out. Here are a few ways you can make your home's setup ideal for deliveries. Backlit Address Numbers

How To Use Decorative Quarry Stone To Beautify Your Yard
If you're looking for an easy way to add instant curb appeal to your home, consider landscaping your front or backyard with decorative quarry stone. You can either purchase the rocks at a do-it-yourself home retailer or through a company that directly sources the stones from a decorative stone quarry.  When it comes to landscaping your home's outdoor areas with stones, you'll have a wide variety of sizes, colors, and styles from which to choose.

Safety Precautions To Take With Mold Removal
Mold removal can seem like an easy task you can do at home. While it is doable, you should know that mold and mildew can adversely affect your health. Even if you are not asthmatic and do not currently suffer from respiratory infections like pneumonia or sinusitis, the process of removing molds can increase your risk. Mold spores are the ones responsible for these health problems and you should avoid inhaling them.

Are You Thoroughly Cleaning Your Kitchen?
During the past holiday season did you focus on things like decorating your house, baking and going to holiday events? If so, you more than likely were exhausted after New Year's, maybe even taking time off from heavy house cleaning. Now that you're well into 2019, perhaps you have decided that you'll start with your kitchen, organizing and making it super clean. From arranging for home pest control services to buying air-tight storage containers, here are some ideas that might help you.

5 Renovation Tips For Adding Storage To A Small Bathroom
With a little creative planning, even the smallest corner or hallway can work as a bathroom when you need more space for a growing family. Use these five tips to work more space into your smallest bathrooms, whether it's during the original installation or during a timely renovation. 1. Recessed Shelves If there's no more space on the walls for more shelves and medicine cabinets, install storage space inside the wall cavities instead.

3 Tips To Maintain The Appearance Of Your Hardwood Floor
Installing a hardwood floor is a great way to increase the value of your home while adding an upscale look. But if you want your hardwood floor to continue looking great for years to come, you'll have to take proper care of it. Here are a few tips to keep in mind when it comes to hardwood maintenance. 1. Don't Let the Dust Get Comfortable Dust is eventually going to end up on your floor no matter how clean your house is.

4 Steps To Prepare Your Tropical Plants For Winter
As winter approaches, it will soon be time for most Americans to prepare their landscape for the harsh weather. If you have a tropically-inspired landscape, you need to be even more ready for the winter season. Here are a few things to put on your to-do list before the first frost comes. Decide What to Bring Inside If you have a lot of tropical plants that can't survive cold weather, you may not be able to save them all.

Three Reasons To Install Custom Cabinets
There are quite a lot of potential cabinet solutions for any residential project. There are cheaper modular systems that you can pick up over the counter at home improvement stores as well as custom craftsman systems that are meticulously built and designed by cabinetmakers. Obviously, the cost of these different products can vary substantially. Of course, most people start out by determining their budget and then deciding what their options are.

Possible Reasons Your Air Conditioner Has A Burning Odor
It's unsettling when you notice a burning odor coming from your air conditioner. You might smell a smoky odor, burning rubber, or burning plastic. While the odor might not be serious, in some cases, it can signal problems that need quick attention to prevent a fire. Here's a look at a few possible reasons why your AC has a burning odor. The Filter Might Be Clogged If you forgot all about cleaning or changing the air filter, then it might be so clogged up that airflow is restricted through the inside of the HVAC system.

What Should Be In Your Home Work Station?
If you plan to set up a business in your home. One of the best things you can do for yourself is to set up a good work station. If this will be your space of productivity, you want a space that puts you in the right frame of mind to be professional. It should be just as comfortable and well-equipped as a traditional office. Perhaps even more so, because you're in control of it.

3 Signs That It's Time For Metal Roof Maintenance
A metal roof can last a life time with minimal maintenance, but it does sometimes require a minor repair. Knowing what to watch for is key to catching small problems early before they develop into something more troublesome. The following are three signs of maintenance issues that any metal roof owner should check for annually. #1: Rust or discoloration A metal roof should not rust, but occasionally a problem with discoloration occurs.

Creating A Classic Gothic-Inspired Entrance For Your Home
A Gothic-inspired doorway can add vintage charm and style to the entrance of your home. With the right touches, you can create a stunning new look for your home while showing off a bit of your personality. Use the following ideas to create your own Gothic look. Stained Glass Sidelights Adding sidelights to your door can create the look of a grand entrance. Work with a contractor to create the space for sidelights if you don't already have them, and choose a stained glass design to add to the Gothic look.

Why Hiring A Cleaning Services Company Is Ideal For Homeowners
Is your home in need of a thorough cleaning? If so, you may have been procrastinating due to the task seeming to be overwhelming. When homeowners procrastinate about cleaning, it can result in more clutter and filth. Perhaps you have not gotten around to performing a thorough cleaning due to having a busy lifestyle. Having a cluttered or unclean home can cause multiple issues. It may contribute to stress. You may also isolate yourself or refuse to have friends and family visit.

Why It Is So Important To Not Overfeed Your Aquarium
You may believe that your fish will be thrilled when you give them more food. But too much food can actually be harmful to fish and pollute your fish tank. Too much food can lead to fish stress and can cause an excess accumulation of nutrients.  Fish Don't Need That Much Food Fish search for food all day and always appear hungry. However, your fish should only be fed what they can eat for 2 minutes.

Mold Growing Behind Your Fridge? Check Your Kitchen
Mold can grow inside a refrigerator if it has a moisture problem. But if you find mold growing behind your refrigerator, you may have a broken or damaged plumbing pipe beneath the flooring or behind the wall. Follow the tips below to locate the source of the mold behind your refrigerator. Inspect the Floor for Bubbled, Lifted, and Wet Tile The first thing you want to do is rule out the refrigerator as the reason behind the mold.

3 Reasons To Buy A Commercial Cutter
Even though you might have seen a lot of nice commercial cutters, you may have never really thought about buying one. However, a commercial lawn mower can be a good purchase. These are a few reasons why you may want to consider buying one of these mowers: 1. Get Your Lawn Cut More Quickly Even though you might enjoy the perks of a beautiful lawn, you might not like to spend a ton of time on yard work.

How to Clean Your Home's Siding & Spruce Up its Exterior This Spring
Spring can be a good time to tackle many of your home's exterior cleaning projects, such as cleaning your home's siding. Whether your home has vinyl or aluminum siding, it is important to clean it regularly and take care of it so it can look good and last as long as possible. Here are some tips to help you remove some of the most common residues that can end up on your home's exterior siding.

Pregnant? 4 Things To Look For In An Office Chair
Are you expecting a child? Will you be working at an office during your pregnancy, and are you looking for an office chair that will allow you maximum comfort as your body grows and changes to accommodate your soon-to-be-born baby? If so, here are 4 things to look for in an office chair when you hit the office furniture store. 1. Lumbar Support Pregnancy can wreak havoc on your back; it's thought that between 50 percent and 80 percent of pregnant women experience back pain during the course of their pregnancies, often in the lumbar regions, or lower backs.

4 Ideas For Backyard Pet Memorials That You Can Visit
When pets pass away, people do not typically use a large cemetery to bury them with other pets. Instead, many opt for burying a beloved pet in their own backyard. Not only can your animal be memorialized at your own home, but there are multiple ways you can set up a special memorial area. By purchasing a variety of home and garden accessories, you create a memorial that honors your animal and gives you a place to visit on a daily basis.

Do You Need A Water Softener For Your Lawn And Garden?
If you've grown tired of cleaning stubborn hard water stains from the inside of your shower, sinks, and dishwasher, you may be considering the installation of a whole-house water softener to help remove calcium and other scum-causing minerals from your water supply, improving taste and feel. However, switching from hard to soft water for your outdoor irrigation system or garden water supply could potentially impact the growth of your plants. Should you install your water softener in a way that maintains hard water for your outdoor supply?

Want To Save Money While Keeping Your Lawn Plush & Green? Switch From Sprinklers To Underground Lawn Irrigation
If you still water your lawn with sprinklers, then realize that lawn irrigation technology has come a long way in recent years, and you should look into a new system that doesn't waste as much water as your sprinkler system does. Underground lawn irrigation is gaining popularity among homeowners who want to water their lawns as efficiently and affordably as possible. Read on to find out why using sprinklers to water your lawn results in many gallons of wasted water every month and learn all about underground lawn irrigation systems.

Love Your Linen: The 411 On Cleaning And Maintaining Your Linen Drapes
From adding style and privacy to increasing your home's energy efficiency, it is easy to see the importance of installing window treatments. Unfortunately, choosing the best for your home can be overwhelming due to the various options available. While silk, velvet, and cotton drapes are popular options, investing in linen window treatments is a smart choice. With an appealing design and a durability that is 2 to 3 times stronger than cotton, the benefits of linen drapes are easy to see.

How To Easily Clean Your Glass Shower Doors
If you have glass shower doors that surround your bathtub, then you likely clean the doors incessantly. If you do not, then the door becomes an unsightly mess. Cleaning is likely not your favorite job around your home. Thankfully, there are many ways you can make the cleaning process easier. Keep reading to learn how. Use The Right Cleaning Products When you look for a product to clean your shower door, you need to find something that will get rid of the mineral deposits formed on the glass due to your hard water.

5 Considerations When Selecting Draperies For Your Conservatory
If your home has a conservatory, then you have a unique drapery challenge. A conservatory tends to be used somewhat as a greenhouse and also as a sun room, which means that your drapes need to serve many functions and still look great. Before you pick patterns and fabric, it is important that you consider the following five things.  What purpose will the drapes serve?  Some people choose to forgo draperies in the conservatory altogether, making the conservatory into a greenhouse.

Looking For Land? These Features Will Help Ensure A Sweet Deal
Buying a piece of land isn't typically as complicated as purchasing property with a home built on it because there are not building codes and insurance policies in question. But there are still a variety of factors that should be considered to help ensure that there aren't any regrets once you've purchased your piece of raw land. Look for the following features during your property hunt: Surveyed Terrain An effective way to make sure that you know exactly what you'll be getting with your land purchase is to focus on land options that have been surveyed by a professional.

3 Things You Can Do To Protect Yourself From the Zika Virus
The media is buzzing right now with coverage of South America's widespread Zika outbreak and the virus's apparent link to a birth defect know as microcephaly. The virus is transmitted primarily by Aedes aegypti mosquitos, and as travelers return to the United States from affected countries, it's possible that there will be some regions of the country that experience a localized spread of the illness. Read on to learn three things you can do to help protect yourself and your family from the Zika virus and the mosquitos that carry it.

From Floor To Wall: Which Fabrics Best Compliment Common Flooring Materials
When selecting drapes for a room, you should take into consideration the overall architecture of the room, the feeling you want to achieve, and the furniture that is already in the room. Perhaps the most important aspect of a room to consider when selecting drapery fabric is the flooring. Below are five common types of flooring, and the types of drapery fabric that work well with them.  Tile  Tile flooring generally gives a room an open, airy feeling.