Kids Begging for a Playhouse? Take a Look at These Ideas for One Under the Stairs!

Kids need places to play but depending upon the size of your home an actual playroom isn’t possible. One area you may not have considered for a playhouse is the space under the stairs. In order to help you out we found this article with 11 different ideas. We hope it helps you make your kids happy!

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From the article:

When I was a kid we would throw a blanket over a table and claim the space as a clubhouse or fort. And whenever some family on the block bought a new refrigerator ???oh, I can hardly breath thinking about it??? that baby was ours. We???d squish every kid in the neighborhood in. That is, if they had the right password.

Well, since my younger days, nothing much has changed. Um, I mean with kids. ??? I don???t play in boxes any more, well, most of the time. ??? But if you have kids, then you know that nothing has changed with how much they love their playhouses, clubhouses, and forts. So I???ve put together some really amazing kids playhouses and what???s unique about them is that they are built-in right under a home???s stairs.

It???s a great way to utilize that extra space while giving the kiddos their own slice of club house heaven. I would have totally died for one of these when I was a kid. I hope these wonderful playhouses spark your own inspiration to build something really special for the little ones.

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Looking for ideas on how to organize the play room Checkout this article about play room organization ideas that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://diyfunideas.com/incredible-kids-playhouses-under-the-stairs/

Need Bunk Beds but Want Something a Little Different? Take a Look at These Ideas

Bunk beds are a necessity for some families. If you’re looking for ideas on how to have a more modern bunk bed or you don’t have a very large room the bunk beds need to go into then you’ve come to the right place. We’ve found this article with 50 different ideas. We hope it helps!

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From the article:

Bunk beds are all about combining a fun, playful vibe with space-saving solutions that help maximize available room. With space becoming such an essential commodity in modern homes, it pays to think vertically! Part of many amazing kids??? rooms across the planet, bunk beds bring with them a multitude of advantages. Yet modern bunk beds need not be confined to the kids??? room alone.

Even adult bedrooms and guest rooms can benefit immensely from smart bunk bed designs. Combining brilliant ergonomics with pleasing aesthetics, they come in a wide range of styles and themes.

Designing a bunk bed or picking one for your home is not just about maximizing space. Form is an equally important factor, and when picking the right decor for kids??? bedrooms, it becomes even more vital. Here are some amazing bedrooms with bunk beds that you can draw inspiration from when planning for your own home???

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Looking for small bedroom design ideas? Checkout this article about small bedroom design ideas that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://www.decoist.com/2013-11-21/bunk-bed-design-ideas-small-bedrooms/

Looking to Create an Amazing Backyard? Try One of These Ideas!

Backyards can be an amazing place to relax and enjoy yourself and your family. Knowing how best to use your backyard space can be difficult. In order to help you out we found this article with 29 different ideas. We hope you find your dream backyard design!

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From the article:

The best part about owning your own home isn’t the satisfaction you get from knowing that you can provide for yourself and your loved ones… it’s knowing that you can do whatever you want to it. If you have room in the back yard, you should seriously consider building any of the things on this list. Your inner child will thank you when you’re spending time in your custom-built pirate ship and throwing water balloons at your neighbors.

A treehouse that tops most houses: The house Steve and Jeri Wakefield built for their grandsons has a zipline, climbing wall and slide. So jealous.

An above-ground, see through pool: This pool by Andres Remy Architects will show you how awkward your swimming really looks.

An in-ground trampoline: This takes trampolining to a whole new level.

An inflatable movie screen: Pool parties just got a lot more awesome.

An oversized hammock: This is for serious relaxation.

A sandy beach entry to a pool: Pretending you’re on vacation in the tropics just got a lot easier.

A special reading nook: Not only is it a playhouse, but it also encourages reading.

An oversized checkers set: Board games can be a physical activity, too.

A lazy river: Getting anything done is impossible at this house.

A giant pool table: Retired fighter Steve Wienecke built this oversized pool table in his backyard. His life is awesome.

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Looking for more backyard ideas? Checkout this article about backyard ideas that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://www.viralnova.com/most-amazing-backyards/

Looking for Storage Solutions for Around Your Home? Look at These 40+ Ideas!

Organizing an entire home is hard work. At least that’s what most people think. We found this article with more than 40 ideas. We hope you find some to help put your home in order!

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From the article:

Install an appliance lift that goes right into the cabinet.

Use a thin shelf to maximize pantry storage.

Use a picture ledge next to or behind your bed for phones and glasses.

Turn a chest or bench into an elaborate filing cabinet.

Keep your cords organized with this handy hub.

Keep your garbage bags on a roll for easy access.

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Looking for more storage solutions? Checkout this article about storage ideas that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://www.buzzfeed.com/jessicaprobus/store-it-good?utm_term=.ecmGvLVRo7#.cnYpvzEbeM

Want to Create a Secret Room In Your Home? Look at These Ideas!

Having a secret room in your home that no one knows about can serve a variety of purposes. It can be an escape for you to go enjoy some relaxing alone time, hide something valuable, or can be used as a safe room in the event of a break in. Regardless of your reasons we found this article with 15 different secret room ideas. We hope you find one you love!

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If you need Apartment complex dryer vent cleaning services, then Dryer Vents Plus is your #1 choice! Call Jeremy Leake today at 225-612-7752 to schedule your 100% Free, No Obligation Quote!
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From the article:

behind-bookcase

false-fireplace

reading-nook

gateway-to-narnia

secret-stairs-to-attic

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Looking for more secret room ideas? Checkout this article about secret room ideas that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://guff.com/15-of-the-coolest-houses-with-secret-rooms/quick-get-behind-the-mirror

Have a Problem Keeping Counters Clutter Free? Try These Ideas!

Counters and other surfaces are just hard to keep clean. You walk in the door and everything you were carrying just gets put down. It’s a daily struggle. In order to help you out we found this article with ten different strategies to keep you surfaces clutter free. We hope they help!

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If you need Apartment complex dryer vent cleaning services, then Dryer Vents Plus is your #1 choice! Call Jeremy Leake today at 225-612-7752 to schedule your 100% Free, No Obligation Quote!
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From the article:

The dining table, kitchen counters, coffee table, nightstands ??? flat surfaces certainly have a way of attracting clutter. But the piled-high stuff makes it a hassle to use those surfaces ??? to prepare a meal, eat a meal or kick up your feet for movie night. It also makes it harder to find things and just plain looks awful. Still, we keep on piling because it seems easier than putting things where they???re actually meant to go. To have long-term success in keeping the flat surfaces in your home clutter-free, you need to find places for your things that are just as easy and obvious to use as a table. If you???re tired of clearing off the surfaces in your house again and again, only to have them redisappear under piles of who knows what, these 10 strategies should help.

Have a not-flat place for each thing you come home with. When you walk in the door, the natural impulse is to drop everything you???re carrying on the nearest available flat surface. The next time you arrive home, pause and pay attention to what you???re holding: shopping bags, a coat, a bundle of mail, perhaps keys and a phone? Decide where you will put each of these items from now on. Hooks are faster to use than hangers, so if you tend to dump your coat on a chair, choose a hook.

Paper items can be a real problem, so be sure to have a recycling bin near the front door, as well as some sort of quick sorting system for handling important documents. (But keep the categories very broad, or you won???t be as likely to use the system.) If smaller, random items are a problem, consider hanging tote bags on hooks. They???re easy to dump things into and very flexible ??? you can change their contents as needed, from library books and school projects to dry cleaning.

Keep your dining table set. A neatly set table has a clear purpose, and that makes cluttering it up less of a temptation. In the evening after dinner, clean off the table and set out some breakfast things ??? this not only helps encourage a clutter-free table, it makes for a smoother routine in the morning. After breakfast, take a moment to set out a few fresh placemats and cutlery for dinner, and your table will be a much less tempting spot to toss your stuff when you get home in the evening. If you have curious cats who are likely to walk all over your lovely table setting while you???re out, you can set out candles or flowers and perhaps a stack of dishes with a napkin laid across the top to protect it from prying paws.

Designate a bin for your ???worn-once??? clothes. Flat surfaces in the bedroom (the bed, floor, dresser top and chair) tend to become receptacles for articles of clothing you???ve worn once but plan to wear again before laundering. (Sweaters often fall into this category.) Rather than dump these items onto the nearest surface, give them a home. An open-top basket or bin is a good solution because tossing the item there is just as easy as tossing it on a chair. If you have a closet system, clear out one basket or drawer to use for this purpose; otherwise, a second laundry basket can corral the items.

Avoid clutter catchalls. A tray or basket on the coffee table or counter to hold clutter might seem like a smart idea ??? until it???s full and overflowing onto the surface around it. Remember that clutter attracts more clutter, so when a group of random little items (hair ties, loose change, buttons, pens) ends up in one spot, you???re far more likely to add other (larger) random items (stack of mail, shopping bag, pile of dry cleaning) to it. A better practice is to create a spot for each type of item ??? for instance, a jar for coins, a cup for pens, a hook for keys, a tray for mail, and a drawer organizer with little slots for small items like hair ties and stamps. It then becomes easy and satisfying to drop things into their individual containers.

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Looking to declutter and organize? Checkout this article about declutter and organizing tips that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/55288753/list/10-strategies-for-keeping-surfaces-clutter-free

Love Lights at Christmastime? Take a Look at These!

Lights are one of the most beautiful sights of Christmas and just because it’s after Christmas doesn’t mean that the beauty can’t continue to the end of the year. We hope you enjoy these lights on a tree house!

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From the article:

???When I was 14 years old, I wrote myself a letter, which I still have,??? says Jeri Wakefield. ???It reads, ???No matter what happens in my life, I pray that I can be the best grandmother possible. I want my grandchildren to have happy memories of their childhood.??????

Jeri and her husband, Steve Wakefield, are now the proud grandparents of Lincoln and Sullivan Scott. Nine years ago the couple built a tree house for their grandsons. What began as a backyard construction project quickly bloomed into a whimsical, multigenerational creation.

The couple celebrates Christmas by decorating the tree house top to bottom in lights; the display is an annual tradition that coincides with their well-attended holiday open house. Tree house architect and family friend James Curvan returns every year to install the lights, a process in which he takes great pride. ???My favorite thing is watching the kids play and experience the tree house at this festive time of year,??? says Curvan. During this year???s Christmas party, the Wakefield grandchildren and scores of other giddy youngsters will ascend the tree house and make some unforgettable holiday memories.

The Houzz team met with Steve, Jeri and James just after they lit up the tree house for the holidays this year.

Tree House at a Glance
Owners: Steve and Jeri Wakefield
Location: Dallas, Texas
Architect: James Curvan
Size: 100 square feet; 2 exterior decks, 2 sleeping lofts and a crow???s nest

Installing the 56 strands of lights is a two-day process for Curvan. That???s a total of 5,600 individual white lights on the house. Curvan also put up miniature green lights to accent specific points of interest, such as the chimney top, peaked window and slide. Holly-shaped forms lined with green and red lights are attached to railing corners and other accent points to add interest.

Curvan says, ???I had to be careful to incorporate various outlet sources, so as not to overload the breaker system.??? He ran extension cords from the nearby guesthouse using four separate 15-amp breakers.

Every corner of the front-facing gable and window is lined with lights to define the architecture. Curvan built the tree house over a nine-year period with help from the Wakefields??? son, Jeremy. A U.S. Marine, Jeremy helped Curvan work on the project between multiple tours in Iraq.

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Looking to supercharge you health this holiday season? Checkout this article about healthy holiday season that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/20845319/list/a-magical-tree-house-lights-up-for-christmas

Looking to Supercharge Your Health This Holiday Season? Try These Tips!

The holidays are an extremely busy time. Time to gather with family and friends and also a time of eating and drinking. If you’re looking for ways to supercharge your health this holiday season then you’ve come to the right place. We hope it helps!

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If you need Apartment complex dryer vent cleaning services, then Dryer Vents Plus is your #1 choice! Call Jeremy Leake today at 225-612-7752 to schedule your 100% Free, No Obligation Quote!
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From the article:

To help you avoid gaining weight this season and reduce “food-related” stress, below I offer strategies that I’ve successfully used with clients in my talks and nutrition counseling practice. I invite you to try incorporating them into your daily routine.

Plan your day.
Part of the reason we overeat is that we do not pay much attention to what we are going to eat. We forget to eat, wait till we are famished and then overeat, or just grab whatever we can find when on the run. I suggest trying to map out your day in the morning and thinking about some of the healthy food choices you can make. For example, if you are going to a dinner party, plan for a healthy snack an hour or two before you go so that you are not starved when you arrive. If you are going out to lunch or dinner, view the menu in advance so you can get an idea of what you may want to order.

Eat healthy most of the time.
This is not a time to begin a diet. Or to ban your favorite foods. My suggestion for this holiday season is to pick a few foods that you absolutely love and legalize them, that is, allow yourself to include them, sans the guilt. The key is not eating them all at once. Plan for one treat a day and this way you will have something to look forward to.

Downsize your portions.
What I love about practicing portion control is that you can still eat what you love, just less of it, which will help you trim calories. You also do not have to say no entirely. For example, if your family is going to your favorite steakhouse, instead of not joining them, allow yourself to sharing a steak and order an extra portion of vegetables. Instead of saying to yourself “I need to cut out all alcohol,” allow yourself to include an occasional glass of wine with dinner. I offer additional portion-control tips here and here.

Swap and substitute.
I am a big fan of swapping out unhealthy foods for healthier ones. As a nutritionist, instead of telling clients not to eat this or that, providing them with healthy options helps to empower them to make smarter choices. Healthy substitutions allow you to give something up while including something else so that you do not feel deprived. Swap out refined grains for whole grains instead of cutting out grains entirely. For example, choose quinoa over white rice, if possible. You can also incorporate smart substitutions at home. Try using Greek yogurt or applesauce to cut some of the butter in your favorite recipe.

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Looking to promote healthy habits in your family? Checkout this article about healthy family habits that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/dr-lisa-young/10-tips-to-supercharge-your-health-this-holiday-season_b_8829222.html

Remodeling Your Home? Learn How to Live in It!

Remodeling your home is exciting. You’re getting something new and more functional. All of that is great. What also comes with it is dust, workmen, and stuff. None of that is fun. In order to help you live with your home being remodeled we found this article. We hope it helps!

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If you need Apartment complex dryer vent cleaning services, then Dryer Vents Plus is your #1 choice! Call Jeremy Leake today at 225-612-7752 to schedule your 100% Free, No Obligation Quote!
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From the article:

Remodeling your home is uniquely different from building a new one. With remodeling, your home becomes the worksite. You live side by side with the project from start to finish. Once construction begins, you’ll probably long for simple pleasures like a dust-free home or a fully functioning kitchen or bath. But the end result will be well worth these inconveniences.

Here are some tips to help minimize the stress involved with a remodeling project.

– Open the Lines of Communication
– Prepare for the Pre-Construction Meeting
– Prevent Remodeling Fever

Prepare for the Pre-Construction Meeting
One way to ensure the success of your project is to plan for and actively participate in a pre-construction meeting. This allows your remodeler to clarify procedures and explain how the job will progress. It also offers both you and your remodeler an opportunity to prepare for those issues that may arise later. You should think of this meeting as a forum for all participants to define their expectations and agree on the anticipated outcome.

Some of the issues you may wish to cover at this meeting include:
– Will you allow your remodeler to place a company sign on your property? Remember that in addition to being a marketing tool, signs help contractors and suppliers locate your home.
– What areas of your home will be off limits to workers?
– Does your house have an alarm system? Will workers need a key or will someone always be there?
– How will you ensure that your children and pets stay out of the work space?
– How will trash removal be handled? Where will the remodeler locate the dumpster on your property?
– Does the remodeler anticipate any interruptions of utilities during the project? If so, when and for how long? At certain stages of construction, the project may affect basic household necessities like water and electricity. Will you need to vacate the house at any time?
– What are your expectations regarding clean up? Will sweeping be sufficient for a daily cleaning, or will you need a more thorough cleaning in order to use the space?
– You should also use the pre-construction meeting to establish guidelines for the remodeling crew working on the project.
– What times will workers begin and end work at your home? Be sure to consider the neighbors as well as household members.
– Where can workers park near the jobsite?
– Will you allow workers to use your phone for local business calls?
– Will bathroom facilities in your home be available to workers?
– What is the remodeler’s policy on smoking on the jobsite?
– What is the remodeler’s policy on the use of profanity? If you are especially sensitive to this issue, you should let your remodeler know.
– Will you allow workers to play music at a reasonable volume? Is there any type of music that you do not want played?

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Looking to remodel your kitchen? Checkout this article about kitchen remodeling ideas that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://www.nahb.org/en/consumers/homeownership/homeownership-highlights/how-to-live-with-your-remodeling-project.aspx

Looking for Easy Garage Storage Solutions? Try These!

Garages are a catch-all. They are used for so many different purposes that they become very disorganized very fast. In order to help you get control back in your garage we found this article with easy garage storage ideas. We hope they help!

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If you need Apartment complex dryer vent cleaning services, then Dryer Vents Plus is your #1 choice! Call Jeremy Leake today at 225-612-7752 to schedule your 100% Free, No Obligation Quote!
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From the article:

Suspended Shelving
Tuck medium and lightweight stuff onto shelves suspended from the ceiling. The shelves are designed to fit into that unused space above the garage doors (you need 16 in. of clearance to fit a shelf and standard 12-1/2 in. high plastic bins). However, you can adjust the shelf height and put them anywhere. The only limitation is weight. We designed this 4 x 6-ft. shelf to hold about 160 lbs., a load that typical ceiling framing can safely support. It’s best to save the shelf for ???deep storage,??? using labeled bins with lids, because you’ll need a stepladder to reach stuff. First, find which way the joists run, then plan to hang one shelf support from three adjacent joists (Photo 2). Our joists are 24 in. apart; if yours are spaced at 16 in., skip one intermediate joist. We built ours to hold plastic bins, but if you put loose stuff up there, add 1×4 sides to keep things from falling off. Assemble the 2x4s as shown (Figure A), using 5-in. corner braces ($2 each) and 1/4-in. x 1-in. hex head lag screws (drill pilot holes first).

Now attach the corner braces on both ends of a shelf support to the center of a joist/truss by drilling pilot holes and using 1/4-in. x 2-in. hex head lag screws (Photo 2). The only challenge is finding the center of joists through a drywall ceiling (if your ceiling is finished) to attach the shelf supports. Tap a small nail through the drywall until you locate both edges of the joist. Measure to find the center of the adjacent joists, and measure to keep the three supports in alignment with one another. Finish the shelf unit by attaching a 3/8-in. x 4-ft. x 6-ft. plywood floor

Suspended extension ladder
It’s always most convenient to hang an extension ladder on brackets on a wall. But unfortunately that wipes out all other storage potential for that wall. To save that valuable wall space, we designed a pair of 2×4 suspended brackets so a ladder can be stored flat along the ceiling. Simply slide one end of the ladder into one bracket, then lift and slide the other end into the other bracket. Most people will need to stand on something solid to reach the second bracket. The 2×4 bracket sides are 16 in. long with 5-in. corner braces lag-screwed (like the shelf unit) into the top for attachment to the ceiling joist (Figure B). The bracket base is a 1/2-in. x 24-in. threaded steel rod that extends through 5/8-in. drilled holes on the bracket sides. It’s held in place with flat/lock washers and a nut on each side of both 2×4 uprights. A 3/4-in. x 18-in. long piece of PVC conduit pipe surrounds the rod for smooth rolling action when you slide the ladder in and out.

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Looking for more ideas to organize your garage? Checkout this article about organized garage that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://www.familyhandyman.com/garage/storage/easy-garage-storage-solutions/step-by-step