Do You Prefer to Rent Rather Than Buy? Learn the Worst Cities to Live In Here!

Posted on July 27, 2015 by Jeremy Leake

Renting vs. buying is a personal choice. Sometimes renting is the best case scenario for where you are in life. In order to help you out we found this article with the most expensive cities to live in based on the income ratio. We hope it helps you make the right decision for you!

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From the article:

New York City and the surrounding area has seen the most dramatic increase, with rents up 50% over the past five years. However, household income in the area has risen just 8% in that period.

Overall, rents have increased faster than income in all but four of the 70 metro areas, according to a report Monday from the National Association of Realtors.

In some areas, rents may not have gone up astronomically, but income has actually declined, heightening the disparity. It is particularly glaring in Albuquerque, where rents have increased 10% in the past five years. But income in the metro area declined 12% in the period.

It’s a similar story in Providence, RI, Omaha, Tuscon and New Orleans, where income is falling even as rents rise (See full list below).

Nationwide, rents have increased 15% from 2009 to 2014. At the same time, the realtor group estimates that household income has gone up just 11%.

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Read the entire article here: http://money.cnn.com/2015/03/16/real_estate/cities-highest-rent/index.html?section=money_realestate

Looking to Design Your Kitchen? Learn What Key Measurements You Have to Take Here!

Posted on July 2, 2015 by Jeremy Leake

Designing a kitchen takes a lot of time and effort. Since it’s such a big expense to remodel or design a kitchen from scratch it’s important to get it right the first time. In order to help you out we found this article all about measuring out a kitchen. We hope it helps you design your dream kitchen!

From the article:

Whether you are moving into an existing kitchen, remodeling the one you have or building a new one, understanding a few key building measurements and organizational guidelines can help your culinary life run more smoothly.

Kitchens provide storage for your food and cookware, give you room for prep and cleanup, and of course also provide a place where you can cook and bake. When it???s thoughtfully arranged, these functions operate logically, making working in your kitchen a better experience. Here???s how to get the ideal setup.

Ideally, refrigeration and dry-goods storage should be located nearest to the kitchen???s entry point. The cooking area should be located toward the dining spaces, and the sink is best positioned between those two functions. This creates what???s called a work triangle. The best work triangle is less than 21 linear feet (6.4 meters). Work triangles that exceed 26 feet (7.9 meters) make moving from one function to another inefficient in most cases.

This cutaway plan illustrates arrangements and dimensions for a modest-size kitchen. Note that the preparation area is split between the island with the sink and the corner of the kitchen. The work triangle is compact. There will always be a few tradeoffs in any space.

Let???s take a look at the three main functions of a kitchen:

1. Storage
2. Preparation
3. Cooking

Everyone has personal preferences for what works best, so consider this a guide and not a rulebook.

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Looking for knockout kitchen ideas? Then checkout this article about knockout kitchen ideas that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/25228528/list/Key-Measurements-to-Help-You-Design-Your-Kitchen

Looking for Home Design Ideas? Take a Look at These!

Posted on June 8, 2015 by Jeremy Leake

When designing a home there are all sorts of things to take into consideration. In order to help you figure out what you like and what you don’t like we found this article for you that has the 25 most popular homes on Houzz. We hope it helps you design your dream home!

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From the article:

There are all kinds of homes out there. But the ones that really grab people???s attention have a lot in common. If the following most popular homes featured on Houzz are any indication, standout features include small footprints, energy efficiency, clever storage solutions and enough charm to blow out the top of a chimney. In case you missed them, here are 25 of the most popular homes ever featured on Houzz.

From Shocker to Stunner in Houston

You???d be hard-pressed to find a more hardworking homeowner than Brie Kelman, who personally chose everything that went into the incredible revitalization of her family???s dilapidated home, from the plumbing fixtures to the dressers. The result is nothing short of spectacular.

Location: Houston
Size: 3,000 square feet (279 square meters); 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms

Lively Color Animates a Traditional Aussie Home

Clever furniture arrangements and traditional charm fuel this modern, well-appointed family home.

Location: Southern Highlands, New South Wales, Australia
Size: About 3,660 square feet (340 square meters); 4 bedrooms, 2?? bathrooms

Lovingly Resurrecting a Historic Queen Anne

Carl Mattison and Rob Smith???s transformation of a neglected 1905 bungalow in Atlanta gives hope to homeowners facing the toughest remodeling projects out there.

Location: Grant Park neighborhood of Atlanta
Size: 2,650 square feet (246 square meters); 4 bedrooms, 3 bathrooms

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Looking for interior and remodeling design trends? Then checkout this article about interior design trends that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/42260477/list/25-of-the-most-popular-homes-on-houzz

Need Some Help With Interior Design? Start Here and Learn These Lessons!

Posted on May 14, 2015 by Jeremy Leake

Designing a new space can be extremely challenging especially if you aren’t a very creative person. In order to help you out we found this article with 10 different interior design lessons. We hope it helps you design a space you love!

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From the article:

Think of this as a little 101 in decorating. While we all cannot possess the eye for exquisite design and detail ??? we can decorate our homes as though we do. In some ways, interior decorating can be thought of as a formula with specific steps; building blocks that will help create your very own interior design.

On the other side, there is an art to decorating; a flair that doesn???t really follow any rules or formulas. While you may not have an artful flair, you can begin to learn how to develop one.

How? Well, there are some basics when it comes to pulling together the interior design of a room. By following these 10 steps you can begin to create a peaceful and functional interior space that takes your four walls and makes them feel like home.

Functional Layout
Interior design must begin with a functional layout of a room. To begin, we suggest looking online for the numerous free offerings of online tools for room layout and design. In these design programs you can input room measurements, furniture measurements and then play with room layout to see what is most optimal.

We learn a lot of our floor plan mistakes the hard way, so why not virtually design your room first, avoiding the drudgery of moving heavy furniture around, and failing repeatedly to get the proper layout.

Functionality of your home is very dependent on individual lifestyles. If you have an empty nest, then you may be more willing to invest in expensive pieces and room decor, while busy families may prefer an open floor plan that is unobstructed by numerous decorative objects. Consider your individual living needs and then choose the right design software that can help you achieve your ideal layout.

Splurge on Seating
Most designers will tell you that if you are going to splurge on one item, then let it be the sofa. Choosing the correct seating for a room is overwhelming! What color do you choose? What fabric? What size? How much should you spend? What is a good quality sofa? This New York Times article offers some insightful advice when it comes to choosing a high-quality sofa.

Visiting numerous design showrooms will also help you in the initial search of style options that suit your needs and tastes. But before venturing out to shop, MEASURE! It would be awful to fall in love with a piece only to discover that it is too large for your space.

We suggest you narrow down your choices to a few final options and then choose based on highest quality. A sofa can be a lifelong investment when the best quality is purchased, so buy the best that you can afford. Oh, and choose a fabric that you won???t grow tired of???who wants to live with a floral patterned couch or a dated ???it was hot when I bought it??? color the rest of their lives?

Take a Picture and Then Edit
This might be one of the most important steps. After all, a picture is worth one-thousand words. Standing back and taking a snap shot of your room allows you to peer through a new perspective. In a way, a photograph allows you to see the room for the first time, through a visitor???s eyes.

Suddenly it becomes glaringly obvious that a picture needs to be moved because it is hung too high, or that you have too many small objects cluttering the room, or that the pillows really don???t work.

Taking several snapshots of the room from different angles is the best way to edit a room of its clutter and items that simply don???t work in the space.

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Looking for more help in designing your space? Checkout this article with interior design priciples that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://freshome.com/2014/08/20/10-interior-design-lessons-that-everyone-should-know/

Have You Considered Pocket Doors in Your New Home? Look at These Ideas!

Posted on April 9, 2015 by Jeremy Leake

When it comes to doors most people most people only think of standard doors, sliding doors, and french doors. Another option that you may not have thought of is pocket doors. Pocket doors are a great option in tight spaces. In order to give you more information we found this article. We hope it helps introduce you to the wonders of pocket doors!

From the article:

Growing up in a century-old Craftsman home, I took it for granted that we had beautiful solid wood pocket doors. More like sliding walls, they divided the living room from the dining room, and my parents (or my older siblings) would slide them shut when having a party so I could sleep (or sneak out of bed to listen on the other side of the wall). And it???s not only old Craftsman and Victorian homes that have sliding doors ??? traditional Japanese homes also use a form of sliding room dividers known as shoji. Not many new builds include this useful feature, but if you are renovating or starting from scratch, why not give pocket doors and sliding walls a look?

You can find original pocket doors in many Craftsman and Victorian homes. These built-in features come in handy for separating two adjoining rooms when you need privacy or quiet. When not in use, the doors slide into the walls, leaving a wide (usually at least double-width) opening.

Since they???re made from solid wood, pocket doors are effective at blocking sound ??? perfect if you want to entertain without waking the little ones.

If you are renovating or working on a new build, consider adding pocket doors to a room or two. Doors with glass panels, like the ones shown here, are a good choice if you want to let light through to the rest of the house even with the doors shut.

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Interested in universal design? Then checkout this article about universal design that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/32361135/list/pocket-doors-and-sliding-walls-for-a-more-flexible-space

Interested in What Experts Are Saying About the Hot Trends of 2015? Find Out Here!

Posted on March 16, 2015 by Jeremy Leake

If you’re going to be building or remodeling a home this year then more information is always a good thing. In order to help you out we found this article with the hot trends of 2015 as outlined by professionals. We hope it helps!

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From the article:

At the combined International Builders Show and the Kitchen & Bath Industry Show in Las Vegas last week, REALTOR?? Magazine picked up three key trends to watch for in the coming year and beyond.

Foodies Changing Mainstream Kitchen Design
Designers and builders are starting to realize this foodie thing isn???t just a passing phase, and many are thinking about how best to serve a growing niche in kitchen design.

???Think about different questions to ask home owners about their food acquisition,??? says Judith A. Neary, principal of Roadside Attraction Design Studio LLC in Vashon Island, Wash. ???Do you have a garden? Do you do canning? Where do you store that? I have to have these conversations with them. We???re trying to plan a kitchen solution for that.???

These changes are also reflected in appliances, with foodies demanding high-temperature cooking options???in excess of 700 F. There???s also been an increase in interest in induction cooking, which heats pots using strong magnets, according to chef and author Jan D???Atri.

???I don???t think the technology was there before. Now it is, and it???s a great option.???

D???Atri also predicts high-end consumers will soon expect newer cooking options, such as the combi ovens (a steam and convection oven rolled into one) instead of a traditional second oven.

But small changes can make a big difference in the foodie kitchen of tomorrow, too. ???It???s all about being really thoughtful about the things that are going to make a difference,??? says Karman Hotchkiss, executive editor for Better Homes and Gardens??? Special Interest Media. She notes that a niche within the larger foodie niche, the ???baker???s kitchen,??? often includes a surface with ???little divots for bringing eggs up to temperature. That???s really thoughtful.???

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Looking for some remodeling trends of 2015? Then checkout this article about remodeling trends 2015 that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://realtormag.realtor.org/home-and-design/feature/article/2015/01/designers-builders-reveal-hot-trends-for-2015

Looking to Design or Remodel Your Home? Checkout These Tips for Success!

Posted on February 19, 2015 by Jeremy Leake

Designing or remodeling a home is a big deal. It can cost a lot of money and no one wants to make a mistake on such a large scale. We found this article with 50 different tips for success. We hope they help!

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If you need Condo association 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:

New Home is a dream of everyone and no one wants to leave any stone unturned to decorate it with various decorating styles which are different, appealing and charming to everyone from design and decoration perspective. Home should have comfort, coziness and style which should stand out.

However, for folks who would be building or searching for the new ways or ideas for decoration, it is really very difficult to get everything right in the first step. We will try to lay down sequence of steps which should take you down the path of right decoration style. We will also try to explain the logic and methods of judging the different varieties available in the market. However, decoration style is a subjective matter as it depends on individuals??? choice, style and personality. This article should make your decision making rather more conscious, try to provide objective opinion to ease things a bit and help you decide better.

People usually decorate their homes according to their taste and style. They normally decorate based on a single theme and style, ranging from contemporary, ethnical, vaastu-compliant or a mix of one or two main themes. Think diligently over it and decide which could be the one that could suit your way of living, style and personality.

We will try to provide home decoration guide for first timers??? as to how to start from the stage where the building structure is already been built or is already in place but there is lot to do after that before it could take shape of your dream home.

Overall Color Theme: Now even the first step is dicey as often couple fight over the choice and ultimate selection of the primary color theme for the house. We suggest that the couple should somehow try and select a color that is of interest to both. Decorating the home with a single color is only advisable when it is adored by everybody. If not, then couples should avoid painting everything in one color. Each color has its own characteristic and a hidden message that speaks a lot about the person.

Flooring: Floors and Ceilings are the most important factors that influence the overall home decoration efforts and choosing them wisely will not only be the factor which you will cherish for long but will also have bearing on ways you can go forwards in your overall home decoration and theme selection. It is no secret that as you move toward white/lighter shades of color, the overall space in home looker bigger. Keeping that in mind, we recommend that light shades of flooring material for the flats where floor to height ratio is not that much in comparison to traditional house or villas. There are plenty of choices in this space both in unorganized as well as in branded space. Vitrified Tiles, Marble, Granite and Wooden flooring are ruling the heart these days. Vitrified Tiles have bending problems in larger sizes due to which the joints tend to catch dirt more often than marble flooring. Apart from that, aesthetically modern titles can complete with any world class Italian marbles any day and also remain lighter on pocket coming at price of 20 to 30% of the prices of good Italian marbles.

Lights: Lighting is an ingredient part of home d??cor and varies according to different sections of the home. Kitchen should be well lit, drawing room can have fluorescent or bright lights and bedroom should be lit dim. Few of the lighting accessories that lighten up the room and look amazing include light shades, chandeliers, candles, and pendant lights, among many others. Dimmers to control the lighting of the above mentioned light sources are advised.

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Looking for design ideas? Then checkout this article about design ideas that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://www.artsnyou.com/blog/home-decor-paintings-vases-statues/

Want to Stay Active as a Family? Try These Ideas!

Posted on January 26, 2015 by Jeremy Leake

When children are growing up it’s important to do things together as a family to promote family unity and reinforce what’s important. In order to help you reinforce that fitness is important we found this article with 5 tips for staying active. We hope it helps you and your family!

From the article:

If you???ve got kids, of course you want to make sure they grow up fit and healthy. But you also know it???s hard to juggle work, family, and physical activity. Still, setting a healthy example is a good start. So if you???re looking for ways to get your kids involved, check out these tips.

When it comes to heart health, it???s important that we think not only of our own cardiovascular health but also that of future generations. A study last year found that obese children and teens have as much plaque in their arteries as a 45-year-old adult, setting them up for heart disease and other serious health conditions much earlier than their parents.

If you???ve got kids, of course you want to make sure they grow up fit and healthy. But you also know it???s hard to juggle work, family, and physical activity. Still, setting a healthy example is a good start; research shows that parents who are physically active increase the likelihood that their kids will be active as well. So if you???re looking for ways to get your kids involved, check out these tips.

Plan outdoor activities
Set aside one day a weekend to do something active as a family: swimming in the summer, sledding or hiking in the winter, or biking in the spring and fall. Taking along a picnic lunch???and splurging on some healthy snacks after a good workout???will help the day go by without a complaint.

Make chores fun
Instead of relegating each member of the family to doing separate chores by themselves, turn chores into a game you can all do together. Race to see how fast you can get the house cleaned, and then try to beat your old time the next week. Play music while you???re doing laundry, and enlist the kids to sing and dance while helping to fold and put clothes away. Take the dog for walks together, and squeeze in some running, roller-skating, or jump rope while you???re at it.

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Looking to travel as a family? Then checkout this article about family vacation ideas that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://www.health.com/health/gallery/0,,20406655,00.html

Have You Fallen for Giuliana Rancic’s Closet? Learn It’s Secret Here!

Posted on January 1, 2015 by Jeremy Leake

Have a dream closet is something that most people dream of. With enough space to properly organize everything. Some people know about Giuliana Rancic’s closet and have fallen in love with it. If you’re one of those people then you’ve come to the right place. Learn the secret of her closet here!

From the article:

If an OCD organizer fell in love with a fashionista, the result would be Giuliana Rancic’s highly organized closet filled with gorgeous pieces. Get a peek inside her droolworthy space as LA Closet Design owner Lisa Adams breaks down her secrets for organizing success.
Giuliana Rancic’s Closet: Designer Lisa Adams

As a co-anchor on E! News and co-host of Fashion Police, Giuliana Rancic is repeatedly on the front line of celebrity fashion and style. As someone who constantly critiques other’s fashion decisions, you better believe Rancic has her ducks in a row when it comes to her own style sense.

Her closet ??? which is really more like a small boutique ??? is the perfect setting for Rancic to quickly pull together a Hollywood-worthy look.

Strategic accessory zones
With a Bachelor of Arts in chemistry and an MBA under her belt, Adams is known for being super strategic with her organizing solutions.

She thoughtfully created different “zones” throughout Rancic’s closet.

“I wanted clothing to be at the back of the closet, then purses, shoes and jewelry as you are leaving the closet,” Adams explains. “This coincides with the way Giuliana dresses and flows through the closet, so when she’s in a hurry or needs to change a few times in a day, it’s that much easier for her.”

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Looking to improve closet? Then checkout this article about closet ideas that could be of interest to you.
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Read the entire article here: http://www.sheknows.com/home-and-gardening/articles/1053175/inside-giuliana-rancics-closet