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5 Tips To Ensure Your House Is As Beautiful On The Outside As It Is On The Inside

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home exteriorWith the property market stagnant many homeowners have opted to improve their existing homes rather than endure the stress and inconvenience of selling and buying. However it is often too easy to concentrate on improving the interior of your home and, if you are one of those seeking to sell your current home and to move, the importance of creating the right impression on the outside cannot be underestimated. Whether you are looking to sell your property or simply to give it a facelift, the warmer weather and longer daylight hours create the ideal time to concentrate on renovating the outside of your home for maximum kerbside appeal.

Smarten up the entrance

It’s the focal point of any home so it needs a little care. Front doors are unwelcoming if they are dirty, paint-peeling or faded so apply a coat or two of paint or varnish (and don’t be afraid to experiment with vibrant colours, unless you live in a street of period properties where a neutral black be more befitting). Polish the door furniture or better still replace it and ensure house numbers are visible, sparkling and straight.

Upgrade the windows

Window technology is improving all the time and if your existing windows suffer from rotting woodwork, leaking draughts or the unsightly aluminium frames of the 1980s, then now could be an ideal time to upgrade with modern uPVC replacements. New windows will not only offer improved sound and heat insulation but will also give your property an immediate facelift. Do take care to choose a style in keeping with the age of the house; the position of the glazing bars is crucial. With a wide range of windows at Wickes and expert advice on hand, you can be confident of choosing the perfect design to add a touch of class to your home.

Brickwork and Cladding

In older properties in particular the mortar between the bricks may need repointing to give your home improved protection against the elements and also a fresh appearance. Small areas can be completed by a competent DIYer but large expanses should be tackled by an expert who will also ensure the mortar is colour-matched to the brickwork.

Cladding was fashionable in properties from the middle of the last century and requires considerable and regular maintenance in the form of staining. One alternative is to replace them with a uPVC equivalent which will offer durability as well as being attractive to the eye. Cladding half of your home with horizontal cedar boards is a current fashion trend but consider whether your property would stick out like a sore thumb if your neighbours’ homes are more traditional.

Grow some plants

The modern trend for lawns to be uprooted and replaced with hard standing or ornamental stones can be sterile and unattractive. Simple borders or flowering beds can add a vital splash of colour, window boxes can add an instant homely touch and planters with leafy shrubs will help to enhance your home. Such improvements need not cost the earth but can transform a tired exterior quickly.

Clear up the clutter!

It may sound so simple that it’s almost daft but clutter around the outside of your property is unsightly. Find a new home for the bins and endless recycling boxes, put the kids’ toys and bikes in the garage and sweep the drive. It’ll make a world of difference!

Improving the exterior appearance of your home needn’t break the bank and with a little time, effort and well-planned budgeting your property can be as attractive on the outside as the rooms within.

For more inspiration visit http://www.channel4.com/4homes/build-renovate/building-renovating-advice/transform-your-homes-exterior or http://www.telegraph.co.uk/property/renovatinganddiy/6254848/Kerb-appeal-10-ways-to-improve-the-appearance-of-your-property.html

Attached Images:
  •  License: Royalty Free or iStock source: http://www.istockphoto.com/stock-photo-16674940-contemporary-colonial-home.php

John is a freelance feature writer based in London, England.

How to Create a Warm, Inviting Home

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Home may be where the heart is, but is your home a place those outside your family love to be? This is a question many forget to ask themselves regularly. Maybe you enjoy how your home is set up but is your current setup something that makes people want to stick around? Are your guests comfortable when they walk through the door? Are things organized? Do they have a place for their shoes and coats? Are there things to look at and keep them entertained during their visit? Today we are going to help you think of some of the things that are easy to drop the ball on when you see the same area day after day and are immune to your way of doing things.

Start Outside and Work Your Way in

08 Front Yard Garden

If you’ve ever heard the term ‘curb appeal’ and know a little about it, then you probably understand just how important it is to make your home look nice not only on the inside but on the outside as well. Even if you aren’t selling your home, this is something you should keep in mind. What people see first when they walk up to your house matters. Do you want them to notice the fact that your yard hasn’t been mowed in months or do you want them to get lost in your beautiful marble entryway? Would you prefer them to notice the paint chipping on the side of your house or the beautifully painted mailbox you worked so hard to decorate?

Even if we don’t mean to, as humans, it’s only natural to make assumptions and expect that what we see on the outside is going to be similar to what we see on the outside. Wouldn’t you be shocked to see a run-down looking home and yard with torn apart cars that have been used for scrap metal outside, only to find a fascinating home that is organized to perfection on the inside, with expensive pieces of unique art all over the walls and a spiral staircase drawing you towards the upper level? You see, setting the tone from the get-go really makes a difference.

Keeping Things ‘Old School’

By ‘old school’, we do not in any way, shape or form, mean ‘outdated’. Sometimes, it’s nice to get in touch with our roots and add something fresh and new that isn’t as commonly found in others’ homes. Many people these days are so focused on technology and having the ‘best of the best’ that they forget the ‘best’ isn’t necessarily what’s popular now. Fewer people have bookshelves nowadays, for example. If you love reading or know of people who do, this may be a great addition to your home; adding sophistication to your style.

Offering Comfort for You and Your Guests

Staying comfortable is important and as we touched on a bit above, it is an important part of setting up your home. Lighting is one of those things many people simply forget about; this and the color you choose for each space truly do set the tone. Colors that help to relax and calm include: green, blue and purple. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to paint your entire wall one of these colors but finding ways to add accents of any of them here and there is always nice.

Another very important aspect of comfort is entertainment. Not many of us like to sit around without anything to do. Make sure you have things for your guests to take part in when they are staying over. A few ideas to get you started would be a gaming system in your spare bedroom, or board games that the whole family can enjoy.

Everything Should Have a Place to Call ‘Home’

The Rorschach Light

Clutter can be overwhelming for guests. It gives the eyes too many things to want to focus on. To create an inviting atmosphere, it’s important that you limit how much you display. This doesn’t necessarily mean you have to put everything away but choose wisely and don’t be afraid to alternate your favorite pieces from time to time. These ‘pieces’ can be simple objects such as lamps, flowers, family photos or awards. They don’t necessarily have to be paintings or anything fancy.

Attached Images:

Deborah Walker is a home improvement expert and has done interior designing for a lot of homes. She says that Marble Tiling & Flooring gives your house a very classy and elegant look.

You can tell it’s spring around here

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It’s that time of year again when people start working on their houses. Whether inside or outside, it seems spring is the time to either renovate or repair the house or yard or add something new.

I’ve noticed a lot of changes in my neighborhood as I walk around with my dog. Some houses are getting painted or having a new fence put in. Others are having some landscaping done. Still others must be having either some home repairs done or some renovations because I can hear hammering or sawing as I walk by or I see those big bins in their driveway for reno materials.

One house that I walk by regularly just got a new metal garage put up and it’s kind of cool looking. It has a sign on it that says – metal residential buildings and I guess they’re the makers of the building. No idea how much that would cost but it’s going to last for a long time I think.

Anyway you can definitely tell it’s Spring around here, there’s lots of work getting done! I’ve been working on my garden and getting some work done in the house – with more to come … How about you?

Good Bye heat wave

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I’m so glad this heat wave that we’ve been going through all week finally seems to be coming to an end.

I can’t wait to give not only the air conditioning but maybe our new Hunter ceiling fans a bit of a break this weekend.

Oh and it will be nice to have the doors and windows open – get some fresh air inside the house.

I love air conditioning when it’s hot outside. It’s a necessary evil … but the longer it’s on and the doors are sealed shut the staler the air inside the house seems. It’s so nice once we can open the doors and windows and I can feel a breeze on my skin.

Don’t you love it when the weather is nice enough that you can let some fresh air into the house?

How to Incorporate More Exercise in Your Daily Routine

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It’s no secret that most of us need to get more exercise on a daily basis. But if you think that this means scheduling time at the gym and spending all of your free hours on a treadmill, think again! Here are some simple ways to incorporate more movement into your daily activities. And if you are watching your weight you’ll be able to burn even more calories, just by taking a fresh approach to some of the active things you do each day.


The first technique is to walk whenever you can. Park farther away from your office or your destination than you normally would. You can get a lot of exercise by trekking across the parking lot. If the weather permits, park on the other side of the parking lot from where you are headed. You’ll not only have an easier time finding a parking space, but you get a great little workout that just takes a few minutes. When you make this a habit, you’ll hardly even notice the extra exercise. This step becomes a lot easier when you invest in some good walking shoes to wear everyday. You might be surprised at the chic styles that are great for your feet. (Here are some coupons and special offers for discount walking shoes.)

You might want to consider a negative heel shoe. Experts say you can actually burn more calories each day just by walking in these shoes. Many different brands of negative heel shoes are now available on the market. The oldest carrier of this type of shoe is the Earth shoe company.

Taking the stairs is also a simple way to increase your activity on your day-to-day travels. Avoid escalators and elevators, and take the stairs whenever possible. After the first few days of doing this, you might notice that your legs and knees are feeling worn out. Don’t worry too much about this. They’ll snap into shape pretty quickly.

If you spend your evenings catching up on your favorite TV shows, why not use that downtime to get more exercise? Position a stationery bike a rowing machine or a treadmill in the TV room, or simply strike a deal with yourself that you’ll do some form of exercise during the commercials. Pick a different activity for each commercial break. Do sit-ups, push-ups and jumping jacks during the commercials, and you’ll be able to enjoy your favorite programs and still get a bit of activity in.

Better yet, substitute your evening television with a bit of exercise. Take the whole family for a stroll after dinner. Use this as a chance to catch up with the day’s events and to get moving. It will help your children wind down after a busy day and give you a chance to connect with your spouse. Plus, you’ll be setting a great example for your kids to follow. If you show them that staying active is important, they’ll carry on the habit as they grow older.

Housework and gardening can actually help increase your heart rate. Regularly mop the floor and vacuum, along with your other more active parts of housekeeping. Group them together in one brisk cleaning session so you can really get your heart rate going. Also, make a point to work outdoors a little each day. Even something as simple as pulling weeds from your garden counts as activity.

Take time for two to three short walks throughout your day. Take a walk around during your lunch break and then another during your afternoon break. By incorporating these little walks throughout your day, you will increase your activity level, and you won’t give up a lot of time.

With these simple changes, you’ll be able to raise your heart rate without spending a lot of time working out. Within just a matter of time it will become second nature and you won’t even realize you’re exercising. And, chances are, you will start to feel more fit over the long term, which might make more vigorous forms of exercise look appealing.

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