When I went to my friend’s aunt’s house for a cookware party, it was the first time I had ever been there with her. Her aunt’s house is absolutely gorgeous, and it gave me some really great ideas on how to redecorate some parts of my own house. The thing that I liked the best about her house were the window treatments, and I asked her where she had gotten them. She told me orange county blinds is the company that sold them as well as installed them, and that I would be able to find them online.

I did end up buying a few things for my kitchen from her party, but I could not get those shutters out of my mind.…

Summarized below are 10 home improvement ideas that can make your place more productive and more fun filled than ever. Here are those:

1. Kitchen Remodelling

Kitchen update not only will increase your house’s purchasing value, but also its aesthetic appeal. One way to remodel your kitchen is to utilize tile backsplashes, which is a stylistic way of spicing up your kitchen interiors. A light green tile backsplash, for example, helps highlight your simple white wood cabinetry or white marble ledges. If there’s a contemporary feel to your rooms, then you can choose from clear natural colors to bold tiles, like red or orange. Colorful recycled glass tiles, on the other hand, can contribute to a vintage room’s pragmatic feel. In general, coupled with other remodelling ideas, the finished output is dazzling, yet not exaggerated, balancing the final design of your home.

2. Roof Replacement

Given the wide range of roof types and materials you can choose from, roof replacement can invariably alter the character and the vibe of your home. For example, if you want a natural feel to your roof, you can pick natural thin layers of slate. If, on the other hand, you want an energy efficient and a fire resistant roof that comes in designer colors, a metal roof is advisable. Actually, there are many other options other than these. But all in all, all roofing materials and types can add to your home’s appeal, aside from it protecting you from catastrophes.

3. Deck Addition

Deck addition can increase the value of your home, it can also make it a more desirable area to go home to, after school or after work. I mean, there’s nothing like relaxing on a deck, enjoying the view with a cool or hot drink in your hand, right?

4. Bathroom Remodelling

Bathrooms are more than merely a utilitarian area in your home, as you can put many twists on it. There are many available bathroom systems you can choose from. For example, you can install a bathroom system with a walk-in tub that will allow you to enter the tub with much ease, without the need to step over the awkward barrier of a traditional tub, which might cause you to slip or fall off. Aside from this, many other striking alternatives are available. You can also add faucets and mirrors, and then paint it to freshen it. In any case, building a better bathroom, to create an ideal at-home oasis, is legitimately necessary.

5. Reinventing a Room

You can reinvent your room by turning any unoccupied spaces in your home, like your attic and your basements, and convert it into a bedroom, a living room, or a game room instead. In that way, you can maximize your home’s space, and also its value.

6. Set Up a Backyard Patio

With a backyard patio, you can have intimate and cosy gatherings with your loved ones, without the need to go out and spend lavishly. All the more, you can have …

Water can be very damaging especially when it leaks or finds its way into unwanted places. Water can ruin your possessions and it can also reduce your home into nothing in terms of value. It is advisable that you act as promptly as you possibly can as soon as you suspect water leaks to minimize the damage. Usually the length of time the water has been around is what will determine the extent of damage hence it is very possible to salvage a few items before it is too late.

Whether you are dealing with water system leaks or you have been hit by floods, you need to find a way of handling the situations and put measures in place to ensure that such does not occur again. Remember that damp areas can be breeding ground for mold and it can ruin your flooring, carpets, furniture and even walls. When you clean out the water appropriately, you will have fewer damages to show. Below are a few things that you can do to restore water damage and get your home back in shape.

1. Remove all movable items immediately. This should be done after powering off and unplugging all electronics. Remove furniture and all electronics and any other movable item you have around the house to safer dry areas. Carpets should also be pulled out for cleaning and disinfecting to save them.

2. Find ways to get rid of the water in the house. You can use buckets, towels and mops to soak up the water. In case the sewer lines backed up, then consider pouring out the collected water onto the lawn or other surfaces that are permeable instead of pouring into the drain. If using a wet-dry vacuum, then be very careful to only plug it into outlets that are away from the areas that have water. Extension cords should not be used either and for flooded basements, think about renting a sump pump.

3. Dry out all affected areas. After you have mopped the water dry, you can use dehumidifiers and fans to dry out the affected areas. If there is no rain you can open windows and allow circulation and quick drying. You can then use a disinfectant to get rid of bacteria that may have come up, especially if the water leaks are from sewer lines or toilets. The disinfection should be done on walls, floors and furniture that is not upholstered.

4. Dispose damaged items. If the water sat for long them it is inevitable that you will have damaged items. The same will be the case for sewer water on some items. If possible, organize the damaged items so they can be recycled, especially electronics, furniture and toxic liquids.

5. Hire water damage restoration services. Apart from offering repair services for your leaky pipes, water and sewer systems and unblocking drains, the experts can also help in cleaning up the water, drying home structure and contents as well as sanitizing and deodorizing your …

When home owners think about updating their stairs and hallway, they tend to focus only on tasks such as replacing the stair balustrade, handrails, spindles and newels for a fresh new look. But there is so much more that can be done to improve this area, especially if you are short of storage.

One possible solution could be staring us right in the face – the space under the stairs. Here are a few suggestions for getting the most out of this all-too-often neglected resource:

Play den

How often have your kids complained that they have nowhere to play? Children love hidden nooks and crannies, so converting the cupboard under the stairs can be a great alternative to an outdoor play house – especially in winter.

If possible, cut windows and a doorway into the side panels of the staircase. This will allow light in and stop the den feeling claustrophobic. Strips of leftover curtain material stapled to the windows make a nice homely touch.

Use a beanbag or some large cushions to create a comfy seating area. Finally, encourage your little ones to personalise their new hideaway with some books, toys and, if there is room, a small desk for drawing or writing.

Cloakroom

If you’re tired of having to pick your way over discarded bags and coats in the hallway when you get home, think about converting the area under your staircase into a cloakroom.

Even if there’s only a shallow nook, it’s usually sufficient for a few cubby holes with hooks for hats, umbrellas and coats. Try adding some wicker baskets underneath for small items such as scarves, gloves and key rings – you’ll find it so much easier to keep everything tidy.

If the whole area under the stairs is accessible, consider turning it into a clothes cupboard. Just fit some shelves and hanging rails round the edge to provide useful storage for seasonal clothing, and free up space in your bedroom wardrobe at the same time. This is also a great place to store boots, trainers, gym kits, golf clubs, tennis racquets and ski equipment.

Office

As the modern trend for open plan living grows ever more popular, many people have removed the cupboard under the stairs and replaced it with an office or study area.

The neatest way of doing this is to have custom-made shelves and a desk unit fitted. However, if your budget is modest, or you don’t want to commit to a permanent office, you can simply install a free-standing desk and some shelving units.

Bathroom

Fitting an additional toilet or shower will ease pressure on the family bathroom and is particularly useful if you have small children or elderly relatives living with you. If done well, it should also increase the resale value of your property.

Headroom can be problem, so take accurate measurements to ensure people will have enough room to stand upright. You may also want to consider installing a special sanitary pump if the pipes cannot be …