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Six Tips to Light Up Your Kitchen

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Want to create an eye-catching kitchen that adds value to your home, too? Let there be light — but not too much, according to kitchen design and lighting experts. "Since the kitchen is such a draw these days, especially for the gourmet, you want to make sure that you have plenty of task lights to showcase the work spaces," says Frankie Cameron, national account manager for Bellacor Lighting based in Mendota Heights, Minn. "But people tend to over-light, using too much wattage or just one super bright light in the center of the kitchen that leaves you standing in shadows." Instead, both Cameron and Mark Lambert, a contractor and owner of DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen in Bellingham, Wash., recommend a combination of ambient, task and decorative lighting. Here are their tips for achieving that balance: 1. Start Underneath "The least expensive, easiest layer to add is under-cabinet lighting," says Cameron. "Manufacturers like Sea Gull and Kichler ...

Remember the 4-to-1 Rule for Ladder Safety to Avoid Home Improvement Injuries

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If you don't often have many occasions to get up on a ladder, you may not know that it can be dangerous if your ladder isn't angled properly for the distance you need to climb. When placing your ladder, remember the four-to-one rule: for every four feet of height you have to climb, move the base one foot away from the wall. This tip comes from This Old House, which has a number of other ladder safety tips. This one stood out, though: It's easy to remember, and perfect for home improvement novices who only get on a ladder once a year to clean the gutters or hang lights for the holidays. If you take our advice and get started now on those home improvement projects you may have let languish, stay safe and keep this rule in mind. Read more:  https://lifehacker.com/remember-the-4-to-1-rule-for-ladder-safety-to-avoid-hom-5845388

DIY Vs. Pro -- Who's Doing What At Home?

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ainting projects are greatly assisted by paint store and home center paint department staff helping consumers choose the right supplies for their job, and by Internet advice on color selection. Paint manufacturers are also facilitating DIY design by packaging color schemes that take the guesswork out of choosing the right hues. Landscaping projects can be supported in much the same way, with plants tagged for light and water needs, and with return-friendly policies. Pre-assembled container gardens at many retail outlets are also extremely DIY-friendly. Read More:  https://www.forbes.com/sites/jamiegold/2019/05/29/diy-vs-pro-whos-doing-what-at-home/

How to Soundproof a Room Using Home Decor

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If you live in an apartment or a noisy house you might find that you hear a lot of noise from your neighbors coming through the walls and ceilings. Or maybe they hear a lot of noise from you! While noise problems can often be dealt with by adding insulation or other noise dampening structural elements, they may not be options for you. But even if you can't get behind the walls to solve the problem there are still plenty of things you can do to help reduce the amount of noise in your home. Whether it's for your benefit or the benefit of those around you, try some of these techniques to soundproof a room using home decor. Thick Carpet / Underpad Sound bounces off hard surfaces and is absorbed by soft surfaces, so the first thing to do is invest in a thick carpet (or area rug) and make sure it has a good quality underpad underneath it. The carpet will absorb a little bit of sound, but it also helps because it will prevent furniture from making noise when it's moved around ...

Using Salvage Stores To Improve Your Home On The Cheap

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Fans of such TV home renovation shows as Windy City Rehab, Home Town, Fixer Upper and Salvage Dawgs are familiar with the term “architectural salvage.” But if you’re not, it’s the booming business of reclaiming, recovering, and reusing rich architectural building materials. And if you’re considering improving your home, you may want to make a stop at a salvage shop to do it. A salvage company goes into an old building, deconstructs it, saves the good pieces (and sometimes the not-quite-so-good), and repurposes them. Sometimes, the older objects — from fireplace mantels to chandeliers to mirrors— are turned into something decorative or functional or both. https://www.forbes.com/sites/nextavenue/2019/05/19/using-salvage-stores-to-improve-your-home-on-the-cheap/#48479a652bb6

30 Tips for Increasing Your Home's Value

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Tip 1: Spend an hour with a pro. Invite a realtor or interior designer over to check out your home. Many realtors will do this as a courtesy, but you will probably have to pay a consultation fee to a designer. Check with several designers in your area; a standard hourly fee is normally less than $100, and in an hour they can give you lots of ideas for needed improvements. Even small suggested improvements, such as paint colors or furniture placement, can go a long way toward improving the look and feel of your home. Tip 2: Inspect it.   Not every home improvement is cosmetic. Deteriorating roofs, termite infestation or outdated electrical systems — you can't fix it if you don't know it's broken. Hire an inspector to check out the areas of your home that you don't normally see.  Read More Here  https://www.diynetwork.com/how-to/maintenance-and-repair/repairing/30-tips-for-increasing-your-homes-value

The cheap fridge renovation trick Aussies are loving

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Aussies are getting creative in their kitchens with a DIY project that takes no time at all, and sets them back less than $20. Fridge wrapping has resurfaced as a popular and economical way to refurbish your fridge without hiring professionals that can leave you hundreds of dollars out of pocket. All you need is some vinyl contact — which comes in 2 metre rolls from Kmart for $3 — and a steady hand. Read More Here:  https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/home/interiors/the-cheap-fridge-renovation-trick-aussies-are-loving/news-story/883c39814a9fac1506cc5d189a21fad6