Tricks To Dress Up Your Cabinets

Most people have cabinets strategically placed around their home to house things like knick knacks or for extra storage. Although they are utilitarian, there is no reason why your bookcase or cabinet can’t be an extension of a room's decor. If you have a bookcase, it is reasonable to dress it up to make it more like a piece of artwork than a series of shelves with stuff on it.

There are several ways that you can decorate a cabinet, but one critical thing to remember is that it has to have character and flow. Whether you decide to go with all white figures or you want to mix in some metal, the key is to have a pattern and a theme and stick to it. These are the best ways to dress up any cabinet in your home.

Mix it up

The first thing that a cabinet maker would tell you to consider when you are dressing up a cabinet is where it is located in your home, but don’t let that overtake its function. For example, if you have a cabinet that is in your pantry then you are going to want to put pantry items in it for function. But mixing in old advertising signs or  adding a mixer or other small appliances will break up the monotony and make it appealing to the eye.

In the same instance, if it is in a study, you are going to want to use it for books. But rows and rows of books are monotonous and unentertaining. Mix in some opera glasses, a mantle clock, or an old-fashioned radio to jazz it up and make it eye-catching. Otherwise, it is nothing but a sea of book titles without character.

Add some lighting

Every cabinet should have interesting pieces that “pop.” The way to make those things you treasure most meet someone’s eye is by spotlighting them -- literally. Using track lighting or lamps to showcase the most eye-catching things in your cabinet will add intrigue and depth. It will draw the viewer’s eye toward the essential components and then let them see the rest afterward.

Vary different heights and shapes

There is nothing more boring than a cabinet full of the same items. If you want to dress up a cabinet, make sure to vary the objects by height and shape. You would be surprised at how much moving things around and organizing them in varying patterns can make a difference on your cabinet decor.

Using vases, cylinders or even domes can add texture and make the eyes see more creativity in the cabinet. If you want to use it more functionally, then use different types of baskets and storage bins to hide those things that aren’t so magnificent. The key is to make it stylish, but you don’t want to lose its original purpose, which was to organize your home and give you extra space to store your things.

Add lighting

Nothing is outstanding or dressy about a cabinet that is so dark that it drowns out all the things contained within it. If you have a dark wood cabinet in an area of the house with very little light, illuminating the cabinet is an excellent way to add beauty to the things displayed.

Things like rope lights can adhere to the top of the shelves or even adhesive battery-powered lights can do the trick. The key is to dress it up and make sure that people can see it. Otherwise, it isn’t worth putting any time into something that no one can see anyway.

Vary colors

If you want your items to stand out, make sure to vary the color scheme. If you are going to use just one color, then stick to your resolve. But if you want to vary colors, then make sure not to set the same colors next to each other. Otherwise, it will look all blocky and disjointed.

Cabinets are very helpful  for storing your books, pantry items, or even your family heirlooms. But just because they are functional, that doesn’t mean they can’t be stylish too. Make sure that if a cabinet is taking up space in your house right out in the open, you take care to dress it up and make it part of the decor by hiding those things you don’t want people to see and showcasing the things that you do.

How Selling your Home Via an Online Estate Agent Can Save You Time and Money

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There are a lot of options available when it comes to selling your home. One particular method that’s becoming increasingly popular is the use of online estate agents. Their main selling point is their cost-saving benefits compared to traditional high-street estate agencies. So, how much could you save by going through an online agency and is it worthwhile?

Are online estate agents really cheaper?

When you sell your property, you obviously want to make sure you’re getting the best price. Traditional estate agents used to be the only option available and while they’ve always taken a cut of the final selling price, the costs used to be much more affordable than they are now.

The fees charged by estate agents have gradually increased over the years and now sellers face thousands of pounds’ worth of fees. So, it’s unsurprising sellers are looking for alternative, cheaper options and that’s where online estate agents come in.

Unlike offline agencies, online estate agents charge a set fee, rather than a percentage of the selling fee. This fee does usually need to be paid upfront, but it’s a fraction of the cost that offline estate agents charge.

There aren’t as many fees included with online estate agents either. So, if you’re looking to benefit from the expertise of an agent, without paying extortionate fees, an online agency is definitely recommended.

Helping you to sell your home quickly

Another advantage of choosing an online estate agent is they are typically more driven to sell the property quickly. So, if you’re looking to save time and want a quick sale, an online agent such as Hatched is the better option.

Traditional estate agencies aren’t concerned with selling the home quickly as the more they can get for the property, the more money they’ll make. This means they won’t necessarily get you the best price either and the home could be stuck on the market for months, if not years.

Overall, online estate agents do save time and money and sellers also have a lot more flexibility. For example, you can choose to do your own viewings if you’d prefer and you’re given a lot more control over the process than you are with a high-street agency. So, if you’re looking to sell your property, you might want to consider looking into an online estate agent.

Five Ways to Renovate Your Home on the Outside

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At first sight, your home might seem perfectly fine. It’s not perfect, but it keeps you warm and has enough room for the family and all your prized possessions. However, when looking at nearby homes and how well-kept they are, do you feel as though yours pales in comparison? If so, there are a few things you could do to change all that, turning a pile into a palace.

A Lick of Paint

To cover up tired brickwork or walls stained heavily by residue from passing traffic, it’s worth getting out that paint roller and making your home look just like new. To do that, wash the walls using a pressure washer. Then, cover the windows and doors and apply a first coat (in dry weather) using a large, telescopic roller whilst stood on a sturdy ladder. Leave a few days to dry afterwards.

Resplendent Roofs

Your roof does a lot more than keep the rest of your property dry. From an aesthetic point of view, it makes it look complete. To keep it looking sharp, check that all the tiles are in place and that no unsightly moss or mildew has built up. If it has, look at retiling, going to a supplier such as Burton Roofing for what you need.

Sowing Seeds

If your garden looks a little plain or is covered in weeds, tidying it up is useful. It will take getting the lawnmower out and removing some of the weeds, either by hand or with chemicals. Next, you should consider planting a few flowers, but this can take a bit of work. The easiest ones to plant are perennials, which just require planting once and occasional watering.

Not-so Crazy Paving

The paths that lead to the doors, garage and back lawn should, ideally, be even, straight and capable of standing up to all kinds of weather. If, however, some slabs are cracked or worn out, replacement isn’t too much of a problem. After buying some new paving, you need to make sure the ground underneath is even and that there’s enough room for each slab.

Keep it Clean

Before you perform any of the above tasks to completely revamp your home’s exterior, you must get cleaning. Working with dirty walls and weed-infested soil will make it difficult going on impossible to do all of that. We have already mentioned how to deal with walls, but for windows, a 50/50 solution of white vinegar and water will do the trick, making them appear as new!

How To Create The Perfect Country Feel Kitchen

If you’re looking to shake things up in your kitchen to make it feel less modern and more country chic, then here are a few simple ideas to get you started.

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Go natural
If your kitchen is fairly small, neutral/natural colours can really open up the space. Painting in natural colours also allows you to have an array of kitchen accessories out on surfaces without them clashing. From off whites to subtle greys, you still have a lot of colours to play with and never have the opinion that neutrals are boring!

You can also spruce up your flooring with some paint if you have engineered wood flooring. Interior designer Katie Scott told Elle Décor that she envisions 'bleached out, reclaimed, herringbone wood floors combined with kitchen cabinets painted in Plummet by Farrow & Ball'. The Plummet colour is a gritty, industrial and natural grey paint that will instantly give your kitchen that country chic edge.

Throw in something rustic
Even if you don’t have that much space in your kitchen, find somewhere for a farmhouse sink if you want that classic country feel. Not only do farmhouse sinks look stylish, they’re hard workers and extremely practical, too. Instead of having to keep up with water stains on your current metal sink you will find that the ceramic materials stay cleaner for longer.

Consider your furniture
A kitchen is never going to feel country chic if you’ve got a plastic table and chairs in there. You want something wooden and rustic; benches work really well instead of chairs or you can mix it up with a bench one side and chairs on the other.

Mismatched chairs can also be really effective; you could paint them in different pastel shades to lighten things up. Now, depending on your budget you may want to start thinking about saving for an old fashioned stove instead of an oven and hobs. Aga have really upped their game lately and the colours available are incredible, similarly Smeg and Rangemaster are creating more authentic looking cookers than the black glossy ranges that have previously been on the market. It’s a huge investment though and you’ll probably want to take it with you if you move house!

Accessorise your kitchen 
Without making any drastic changes, a simple but very effective change you can make is upgrading the knobs and handles on your cabinets. Bronzes and coppers can transform a room or there are some lovely alternative rustic hand-painted knobs and hooks available. Similarly with lights, most people will stick to the same ceiling lights in their kitchen for their entire life. Switch things up. Pendant lights are a must have for kitchens and you could even find some copper shades to match your new nobs. It’s less pricey than you might think to call the electrician out to make the changes, especially considering the sense of satisfaction you’ll get when you see how pretty your kitchen can be!

Tips for Increasing Your Home’s Value

Considering selling your home? Perhaps you’re just looking for ways to build on your investment. Whatever the reason, making a commitment to increasing your home’s value can be daunting. However, with the right strategies and additions, you can drastically improve the look and value of your property in one fell swoop. From kitchen upgrades to landscaping efforts and everything in between, you’ll find it’s easier than you ever imagined to boost your home’s value and make a more comfortable living space for you and any future owner.

A Fresh Coat of Paint
Revamping your home’s interior and exterior walls with a fresh coat of paint can pay dividends when it comes time to sell. Hire a professional painter to give your home the facelift it needs. For just a few hundred dollars, you can fetch thousands more during the sale. Whether you decide to paint yourself or hire a professional, be sure to use paint products that don’t contain VOCs, as these harmful compounds can result in serious medical issues.

Focus on the Kitchen
The kitchen is the heart of the home, and making improvements in this area could greatly contribute to increased home value. You don’t have to completely remodel your cooking space. Enhance the look of the room by refinishing or painting the cabinets, add a new backsplash that serves as a focal point, or purchase a rolling island that provides extra counter space but can be easily stowed away for more room. You may also consider replacing your hardware. Switching out stained and rusted handles and pulls on your cabinets will make a significant impact on the overall look of the space, and adding chrome or stainless steel faucets can give the room an injection of upscale design.

Step Up Your Curb Appeal
Your home’s curb appeal matters. Increasing your home’s value by thousands of dollars could be as simple as adding landscaping features. Landscaping can add up to 20 percent more value to a given property, and one of the most effective ways to do so is adding a tree. The value of a tree in your front yard will continue to increase as the tree grows; not only does it heighten your chances of a better sell, but it can also affect energy efficiency—you’d be surprised how much natural shade can save you when it comes to cooling costs. Browse the available trees at TheTreeCenter.com. Looking for a low cost way to boost your yard’s aesthetic appeal? Create flowerbeds, create a DIY garden box, and use native plants to save water and effort.

Enhance Your Lighting
Buyers want bright spaces, and doing all you can to enhance both the natural and artificial lighting in your home can make a big difference in appearance of space. Simple ways to achieve better lighting? Install dimmers. These can help set the mood, perfect for those eventual walkthroughs with prospective buyers. You may also install lighting that only turns on when motion is detected. When it comes to emphasizing natural light, start small. Change your curtains or window treatments and prune back bushes that may be blocking the sun’s rays. If you’re looking to spend a bit more, consider installing a skylight or adding more windows to your space.

Going Green
The push towards sustainability and eco-friendly features has forever transformed the landscape of real estate. Buyers are looking for green features, and energy efficient upgrades can definitely work in your favor when it comes to fetching a higher price at resale. From solar panels to energy efficient appliances, added insulation to eco-friendly irrigation systems, there’s no limit to the ways you can make your home greener. While upgrades like solar water heaters and new windows can be costly, investments like these are now affordable through organizations like Renovate America. This company offers a Los Angeles PACE program—one that can be found in many other California communities, as well—that helps homeowners finance energy efficient projects, meaning you can make those vital upgrades to your home. These investments can help you save on your current living expenses, and allow you to demand a higher price when you put your home on the market.

Boosting the value of your property doesn’t need to break the bank. With simple fixes and strategic additions, you can improve your own comfort and expect a much better selling price in the future.