Homes - SkirtingBoards.com®

Sneaky Sustainability: 7 Ways to Design a More Efficient Home

January 29, 2019 by admin

We hope you like the products we recommend. Just so you are aware, Freshome may collect a share of sales from the links on this page.

If you’re interested in building a more sustainable, eco-friendly home, you probably already know most of the basics: installing solar panels for power, opting for water-saving fixtures in the bathroom, you know the drill. But while that takes care of some of the biggest uses of power and water, you might be overlooking some of the smaller factors. Fixtures, solar panels and sustainable landscaping can definitely reduce your environmental impact, but the very design of your home could help you shrink that impact even more. Some of the smartest ways to increase sustainability might actually be the sum of a few small changes to your home’s design. Consider these sneaky sustainability hacks for a more energy efficient home.

A two-story home is often more energy efficient. Image: Omni Customs

1. Size Matters

It’s no secret that a smaller home is typically more energy efficient than a larger one. But it might not be just the size of the home, but how you use it. Consider two homes of the same square footage: one is 2,000 square feet on one level and the other is two levels, with 1,000 square feet on each. Which is the more efficient home? Stacking your square footage is almost always more energy efficient than a sprawling space, which costs more to heat and power.

Think about how much space you need and how it can be configured for energy savings. If you can get everything you want in a smaller, more compact footprint, it’ll be more sustainable in the long run.

2. Think Passive

Your mother-in-law might be passive aggressive, but an energy efficient home should be just plain passive. Passive design means creating a home that can basically take care of itself. When your home is designed so that it takes in the most sunlight during the winter, you can spend less on heating. The same home can offer shades to draw against hot summer sun, or windows that are situated for a cool breeze. Think of the ways you can decrease your home’s energy expenditure simply by where it sits on your lot or its layout.

Think about shade trees to keep your home cool. Image: 186 Lighting Design

3. Smart Landscaping

When talking about landscaping for sustainability, you’re usually referring to plants and grass that naturally do well in your home’s climate. It’s definitely a great way to save money on water and energy, but you can also use landscaping for even more sneaky sustainability. Simply plantings trees so they provide your home with natural shade and coverage helps you save on energy costs. Choose a leafy deciduous for hotter climates and you won’t need to crank up your A/C. Just make sure you plant trees where they’ll block sun in the summer, yet allow the sun to keep your home warmer in the winter.

4. Reclaim and Recycle

Building a home isn’t always the most eco-friendly way to procure a place to live. Even if you’re designing for a sustainable space, having new materials manufactured and delivered to your building lot requires a lot of energy. Thinking about how you source various materials can help you lessen the environmental burden. Choosing materials that are recycled or reclaimed from other projects reduces your environmental impact while giving every inch of your home more character. You can check with local builders, scour online classifieds and even check out demo projects to see if you can find solid materials with life left in them. If not, choose materials created from recycled goods whenever your contractors offer the option. Your environmental footprint will thank you for it.

Opt for natural light whenever possible. Image: Art of Architecture

5. Let in the Light

Indoor lighting can definitely drain you when it comes to energy costs. Besides a hefty electric bill, you’re also left with the burden of buying and swapping out bulbs. Instead, ask your architect to design your home for optimal natural lighting. It’s not just a question of installing windows, but utilizing your home’s orientation to make sure you get more light without sacrificing heating or cooling.

You can also sneak in sustainability by opting for LED fixtures and bulbs. Don’t worry about sacrificing ambiance: new-school LED bulbs can cast a natural, warm light. They’ll be more expensive up front but last much longer than traditional bulbs. What’s more, they’re cheaper to use because they consume less electricity.

6. Home Automation

Making your home a smart home can seem like an unnecessary expense. If your goal is a more efficient space, however, you might want to rethink technology’s role. Home automation puts some of your home’s energy-wasting processes on autopilot. The result? A more efficient home that adjusts itself when necessary. A smart thermostat can adjust the temperature based on when you spend time at home. Smart blinds can close themselves to block out hot sun in the middle of the day. Home automation isn’t just about convenience. It can create a space that is hyper-efficient and easy on your wallet.

Utilize organization for smaller, smarter spaces. Image: Tim Moss

7. Organization Solutions

An organized home means everything has a place. And when everything has a place, you can use less space storing your stuff. Smart organization solutions allow you to reduce the size of your home and storage space so you make less of an environmental impact. Whether it’s installing outlets in some of your most-used cupboards and drawers or building shelves into tight corners, think about organization from a sustainability point of view. Shelving, cabinets, attic spaces and closets can be retooled so they take up less room and store more stuff for a more efficient home.

When designing a more sustainable home, it’s important to think about how you’ll live in the space. Solar panels and energy-efficient appliances are great, but day-to-day sustainability might come from a smaller master bedroom or better kitchen windows. By working with your architect, you can design a space that is beautiful, functional and energy efficient.

The post Sneaky Sustainability: 7 Ways to Design a More Efficient Home appeared first on Freshome.com.

Decorating Essentials for Your Airbnb Rental

January 18, 2019 by admin

A small, neutral sofa is perfect for a short-term rental. Image: Pottery Barn

We hope you like the products we recommend. Just so you are aware, Freshome may collect a share of sales from the links on this page.

Vacation rentals like Airbnb offer home-like experiences that travelers crave. The most popular rentals have all the comforts of home, only better. Rental hosts try to create the ultimate retreat that brings guests back over and over again (after leaving fabulous reviews, of course). If you’re a vacation rental guest wondering what goes into an in-demand rental, or an Airbnb host looking for ideas to elevate your guest experience, we have your Airbnb decorating ideas here.

5 Basic Features Every Guest Craves:

Great Wifi: Today’s guests are often working while traveling, or at least looking to share photos of their trip. Slow internet can have a major impact on your reviews.
Comfy Beds: No matter how beautiful or trendy your Airbnb may be, an uncomfortable bed can quickly ruin the experience for your guests, and they will write about it online.
Info on How Things Work: The best hosts have put together a list of little quirks the house might have, like hot and cold water handles reversed in the bathroom. Having these details available also cuts down on panicked guest calls late at night. But don’t go overboard — a common complaint is finding notes everywhere, making guests feel like they may do something wrong at any moment.
Hangers and Closet Space: Guests who stay more than a night will want to hang clothes up, even if it’s in an armoire or on a rack.
Coffee: Even if your rental doesn’t have a kitchen, most travelers would like, or need, to have their coffee before venturing out for the day. A single-cup coffee maker is a nice touch.

Decorating a short-term rental is about more than just making your guests happy. Your online photos are a crucial part of your success as a host. When you’re starting with a new rental, or just adding fresh decor, your rental photos should be a consideration. Try thinking like a homeowner who stages their home for sale; your space will need that same level of attention to detail to attract new guests online. Here are our favorite decorating tips created especially for an Airbnb or short term rental.

Decorating Your Airbnb Living Room

A sleeper sofa like CB2’s Tandom Sleeper adds extra sleeping space in a stylish way. Image: CB2

Your Airbnb rental may have a dedicated living room or could be a studio with a seating area. Guests like to have a space where they can visit or watch TV without a hotel-bed vibe. A comfortable sofa is essential. Get it in a size as large as you can comfortably accommodate in the sitting area. If you’re only able to fit a love seat, an accent chair or ottoman can round out the seating. If your rental home sleeps more than one person, there should be enough seating for each person, even if that means a bench or dining chair pulled into the room.

Neutral colors are the best choice for sofas and other large furniture, especially in colors like brown and dark gray because they handle the wear and tear better than lighter colors. Your accent chairs and ottomans are where you can add color and pattern to give your space style and character.

Accent pillows and throw blankets are a design essential for vacation rentals. These are the decor items that not only express your home’s style, but add comfort for guests.

Airbnb Decorating Ideas for the Kitchen & Dining Areas

Pretty and colorful easy-care dinnerware is a no-hassle choice for short-term rental dining. Image: Joss & Main

You probably already know that the best Airbnb rental kitchen is stocked with essential cooking utensils appropriate for the type of facilities it offers, but choosing dinnerware is also important. Your choice of dinnerware can echo your color scheme and support your decorating theme. Kitchen accessories, like utensil holders and linens, matched to your dinnerware create a pulled-together look that guests remember.

Focus on Your Bedrooms – Because Your Guests Will

Colorful accents brighten up a neutral bedding set. Image: Wayfair

One of the smartest things you can do as an Airbnb rental owner is spend at least one night in your rental so you can experience it as your guests will. This is how you’ll know if the beds are comfortable, if your bedding is adequate for weather conditions and how everything works for a guest in your home. You could own the cutest Airbnb rental, but if your guests don’t get a good night’s sleep, it won’t matter.

Decorating your Airbnb sleeping spaces with complete bedding sets is easy and affordable. You can customize these pre-matched sets with extra accessories like pillows and throws. If you’re decorating more than one bedroom, buying two bedding sets in the same color scheme but different patterns lets you mix and match linens and accessories between the two rooms for a custom style.

Bathroom Essentials for Any Short Term Rental

A neutral chevron pattern gives a small bathroom a larger look. Image: Wayfair

Before you buy towels for your Airbnb rental, it’s a great idea to try them yourself at home. If you wouldn’t want to use them every day at home, you can assume neither would your guests. Soft and absorbent towels are must-haves for repeat rental guests. Plan to buy at least two sets of towels in your accent colors, matching your bed linens.

Bring the Indoors Outside With Decorated Outdoor Spaces

Set a colorful outdoor table to give guests more space to enjoy. Image: Pottery Barn

Your Airbnb decorating ideas shouldn’t end at the front door. If your vacation rental has outdoor space available to your guests, you’ll want to focus attention out there, too. In a small Airbnb rental, a comfortable outdoor area can give your guests additional space for relaxing.

When you think of your outdoor areas as an extra room and bring your style and color scheme outside, you can make your rental feel larger to guests. Adding an exterior dining area can really maximize your rental space, especially if there’s no room for one indoors. Colorful Adirondack chairs, outdoor pillows, rugs and fun tables can easily turn a patio into an outdoor living room. Look for low maintenance accessories that can be stored easily in bad weather.

If you’re thinking about listing your home on Airbnb, get started here.

The post Decorating Essentials for Your Airbnb Rental appeared first on Freshome.com.

Buying House Plans Online: Pros and Cons

January 16, 2019 by admin

No two homes are exactly alike because no two families are exactly alike. Still, buying house plans online can feel like a simple way to design a personalized home without the fuss. Sure, someone might have the same plan, but you make a house a home, right? Before you take the plunge and buy stock house plans from a website, make sure you have all of the facts. In some cases, it might actually be cheaper and easier to have custom plans drawn. Consider the pros and cons to decide if stock plans are right for you.

Stock plans can save you time. Image: Kurt Baum Architects

Stock Plan Pros

If you’re looking for house plans that are quick and easy, stock plans are a no-brainer. Here are some clear benefits you score by choosing plans from an online store.

Cost. Stock plans are typically much cheaper than custom plans. You’re not paying for consultations and meetings where an architect painstakingly creates your vision. You’re paying for the rights to use plans an architect has already created. Expect to pay anywhere from a couple hundred bucks to around a thousand for stock plans. When compared to the $2 per square foot cost of custom plans, buying house plans online is a steal of a deal.
Choices. Buying house plans online allows you to choose from thousands of different layouts, styles and exteriors. You won’t get to customize your master bathroom, but you can choose from tons of different options so you get something you really love. Websites selling house plans curate the best styles and plans. That means you get to narrow your search and choose from the best work of hundreds of different designers.
Time. When designing plans from scratch, you’re making a pretty substantial time commitment. Combing through options, meeting with your architect and fine-tuning your plans can take weeks. This can really slow down an already-tight building schedule. If you’re pressed for time, stock plans help you sail through the design process and head straight to your build.
Jumping Off. Even if you don’t use stock plans, searching online options and even purchasing plans can serve as a starting point for custom designs. If you’re overwhelmed by all the choices, going through online options and bringing a few of your favorites to your architect can help you create a starting point. From there, you can tweak and change until you get the right design.

Customizations can add extra costs. Image: J Taylor Designs

Stock Plan Cons

Stock plans can be a good fit for some, but they’re not right for every building situation. Make sure you can live with a few of the drawbacks of buying plans online.

Lot Specification. When you buy stock house plans, you don’t get to specify the size and shape of your lot. In some cases, it can be like buying jeans without trying them on first. They just might not fit. While you can usually filter plans based on size, there’s no guarantee that the plan will work on your specific lot. You’ll still need to bring the plan to a qualified designer to make sure it’s a good fit for your lot. Most cities also require a site plan in order to gain a building permit, which means you’ll have an additional cost in having one drawn.
Codes and Permits. When you work with an architect, you know that your home is being designed to meet city codes. An architect will also take safety, sustainability and environment into consideration when coming up with the right design. Stock plans, however, aren’t designed to meet specific codes. There’s a chance you’ll still need plans redesigned to obtain permits. Without a design that meets code, your plan is just a picture.
Customization Costs. Buying house plans online can be a cheaper option, but customizations can rack up a pretty penny. When calculating the price of your plans, remember to add on any extra cost for having an architect modify plans. Whether you’re making big changes to the layout or you’re having an architect check to make sure your plans are up to code, you’ll have additional costs. Add those to the price of your stock plans and you may find that starting from scratch is close in price – or even cheaper.

If you’re a total design junkie, you’ve already browsed online plans. But before you put your dream plans in your online cart, think about your long-term plans. Buying house plans online can help save time and money, but it also means giving up some of your custom dreams. If you’re dead set on a personalized plan, it might be better to work with a local architect. Still, whether you go stock or start from scratch, you’ll be able to come up with perfect plans for your future home.

The post Buying House Plans Online: Pros and Cons appeared first on Freshome.com.

Shipping Container Homes: Cargotecture Pros and Cons

January 15, 2019 by admin

Shipping container homes might seem like a New Age option, but purchasing a DIY home isn’t as rare as you might think. In fact, Sears sold entire home kits to would-be homeowners in the early 1900s. Minimalist dwellings of the DIY variety might have a different appeal today, but the idea is the same: thinking outside of traditional construction can result in more affordable housing.

Shipping containers can be stacked for more space. Image: Yerigan Construction

This is especially true when talking about shipping container homes, or “cargotecture.” When shipping containers are re-purposed as the floor, walls and ceiling of a home, it reduces building costs. Still, there are some factors to think about before setting out to make a shipping container into home sweet home.

All About Cargotecture

“Cargotecture” refers to the practice of reusing shipping cargo containers to create dwellings. Because they’re made from strong metal and aluminum, shipping containers can form a nearly indestructible home. And, since they’re plentiful and cheap to buy, shipping containers can keep housing costs low. Although the homes built are far from ornate, the containers can create the basis for a sleek, modern abode that keeps costs low and limits environmental impact.

Cargo homes can be surprisingly cozy. Image: Les Collections Dubreuil

Shipping Container Homes: The Good

Shipping containers simplify the building process. With four strong walls already in place, you’re essentially fast-tracked to the design stage of your home. Here are some of the other benefits of using shipping containers:

They’re mobile. Without a foundation, there’s nothing holding a shipping container home down. They’re meant to be portable, which means you can ship and move them as you want. While you may need special equipment to get from point A to point B, shipping containers keep you mobile.
They’re custom designed. Even though they may seem simple, you can customize shipping containers to create the perfect layout for your home. Some owners even stack and splice several containers together so they aren’t limited by the size and shape of the initial space. Consulting a designer familiar with shipping container homes can help you decide on the size and layout of your home,
They’re easy to find. Shipping container homes are made from recycled shipping containers, which are easy to find. You can simply run a search for container brokers in your area or even find them on online classifieds. Just make sure to look for a container that is watertight and was never used to transport hazardous materials. You can find containers that have been very lightly used or never used at all.
They speak to a minimalist mindset. For homeowners who want to reduce their carbon footprint and environmental impact, cargotecture makes sense. Recycling the basic structure is inexpensive and keeps metal out of landfills. The size and shape of shipping containers also make for lower energy costs.

A cargo kitchen reduces energy costs. Image: Fredman Design

Shipping Container Homes: The Bad

Environmentally friendly and cheap? What’s not to love? Before you decide to build a DIY shipping container home, however, there are few things to consider:

Insulation and condensation. Typical building materials like wood, stone and composites are extensively tested for strength and integrity. Metal shipping containers aren’t designed for living space. This means you could run into issues like a lack of insulation, wind resistance and even condensation buildup. Working with a builder can help you choose and prep the right container for your weather and location.
Tricky building codes. Shipping containers are highly portable, but that doesn’t mean you can just plop one anywhere. Local building codes could limit the use of smaller homes or homes built with nontraditional materials. You’ll need to research your county and town building codes before deciding to go with cargotecture. What’s more, you may need to hire a driver with a truck license to move your shipping container from place to place.
Contractor concerns. When it comes to shipping containers, not all contractors are created equally. Most contractors are unfamiliar with cargotecture and may not know how to navigate the terrain when it comes to planning and building. Make sure you choose a builder who has worked with shipping containers before to ensure the process goes smoothly and stays on budget.

A shipping container home simplifies the design and build process. That can mean a faster road to a move-in ready home. Still, it’s a new frontier as far as building goes. Building with an unfamiliar material can make the process unpredictable, but with the right planning and design, a shipping container home can make sense for a new homeowner.

The post Shipping Container Homes: Cargotecture Pros and Cons appeared first on Freshome.com.

The Top 5 Household Emergencies and How to Deal with Them

January 12, 2019 by admin

Unexpected household emergencies aren’t just inconvenient— they can be expensive, too. Whether it’s a problem in the middle of the night or you’re just looking for ways to stay prepared, there are steps you can take to prevent a small emergency from turning into a large— and costly— one. Here are our tips to help you prepare for and deal with the most common household emergencies.

Getting locked out

Taking the wrong steps to get back inside when you’re locked out can make a bad situation worse. Instead of trying to get in by yourself and potentially damaging your locks, try these two tips instead.

Look for a spare.

Who has your spare key? While it may inconvenient, it’s smarter to call a friend than to break your locks. If you don’t have a spare already, consider buying a key hider for future lock-outs.

Call a professional.

Call a local locksmith and wait for them to let you back inside, rather than damaging your door.

Losing power

The way you handle a power outage is important to both your safety and your wallet. Before you head to the breaker panel during this household emergency, take care of these things first.

Shut the fridge.

Leaving the refrigerator door closed seals in the cold air and minimizes the chance of your food spoiling. This can prevent you from getting sick and spending money on new groceries.

Unplug electronics.

Random power surges can damage or destroy anything still connected to an outlet. Avoid costly replacements by disconnecting sensitive electronics.

Pipes freezing

When the weather cools down, the last thing you want is the hot water to stop flowing. Frozen pipes are at a real risk of bursting during the winter season, but being prepared can save you thousands of dollars in flood damage and more household emergencies.

Turn off the faucet.

If the water in your faucet has slowed to a trickle or even a full stop, you might have a frozen pipe getting ready to burst. Turn off the faucet to prevent further damage and call a plumbing professional.

Turn up the heat.

If the blocked pipe is behind a wall, turn up the heating in your house and wait for the ice to thaw, or use a hair dryer to heat the area manually.

Toilet overflows

When your toilet is backed up and overflowing, you’ll need a combination of quick thinking and immediate action. Avoid water damage and expensive repairs by knowing what to do for this common emergency.

Take control of the water flow.

Don’t worry about towels for now — stop the flow of water. Take the lid off of the toilet, press down on the flapper valve, lift the float to cut off water supply, and wait until the water level drops back to normal.

Take matters into your own hands.

If you’ve got a plunger nearby, it’s time to take action. Make sure there’s enough water in the bowl to cover the plunger, and keep plunging until the suspected blockage is gone.

Air conditioning or heating goes out

In the heat of summer or cold of winter, it’s important that your heating and cooling system is up and running. Have a plan to stay comfortable in extreme weather and keep your HVAC unit in good shape.

Get out of the house.

Extreme heat or cold isn’t just uncomfortable, it can be dangerous to your health. When your HVAC system breaks down, don’t lose your cool. Take the family out for a pool day or matinee, grab a bite to eat, or visit some friends.

Maintain your system.

Don’t wait until your HVAC system is on its last legs to give it some TLC. Make sure you’re replacing your air filters when they get dirty, and take note of any strange noises coming from your HVAC unit. While it may cost a bit in the short-term to replace parts as they wear down, the money you save long-term by preventing household emergencies is worth the extra time and preparation.

Get help from a professional.

If your heating and cooling system breaks, don’t try to fix it yourself — leave it to the experts. Make sure you call a local professional to get HVAC equipment up and running again. It’s also important to schedule seasonal maintenance service to make sure you’re ready for whatever weather comes your way. Additionally, here’s our home maintenance checklist for fall with tips to make sure your home is ready for the cooler weather.

The post The Top 5 Household Emergencies and How to Deal with Them appeared first on Freshome.com.

The Freshome Guide to Renovating an Older Home

January 8, 2019 by admin

Character often comes with the cumbersome side effect of careful renovations. Make sure to account for this important step to keep the character in your home. Source: Don Duffy Architecture

Historic homes are full of character, but sometimes they also need repairs and renovations. We may not all have an HGTV budget to work with, but there are multiple ways to brighten and update an older home. Here are a few tips you need to know before you start a home renovation project.

Renovating kitchens and bathrooms

Kitchen and bathroom updates are often first on the list for many homeowners to tackle. From knocking down walls to simply repainting your cabinets, you can update your kitchen to reflect a modern style while still maintaining the charm of your older home.

Bathroom remodeling may include updating the plumbing or replacing the shower and tub depending on the age of the home. You can start small with a coat of paint and a new vanity, or remodel the entire bathroom for a fresh, new look.

A huge upside to remodeling kitchens and bathrooms is that it will increase the value of your home and make it more appealing to potential buyers if you decide to sell. You can always focus on updating the fixtures, appliances and plumbing while keeping elements of the original design like tile floors and cabinets.

Updating windows, insulation and heating/cooling

Many homeowners are drawn to cosmetic updates, but maintaining a comfortable, efficient home should also be a priority. Depending on your budget, there are many heating and cooling options for older homes.

A home built some time ago may not have a whole-house air conditioning system installed. They may even rely on older, less efficient heat sources like radiators or wall heaters. There are several ways to approach this kind of upgrade, and a local HVAC specialist can help you find the best option for your home.

Consider starting with new windows and insulation to prevent drafts and keep cold air out in the winter and warm air out in the summer. This is a quick way to make a big difference. You may, ultimately, need to install a new HVAC unit in order to keep your home comfortable. This will also help to increase the value of your home.

Make quick, low-budget updates to an older home

Don’t have the budget for a major overhaul just yet? Start small. Replace the hardware in your kitchen and bathrooms for an instant, modern look without breaking the bank. New drawer pulls, cabinet handles and sink faucets can make a big impact in an older space.

You can also always reinvigorate a room with a fresh coat of paint in a favorite color. Painting a room yourself will save you on the cost of hiring a painter. Don’t forget to apply fresh paint to the ceilings, too. New curtains or blinds and colorful accent furniture can also brighten a room. Ultimately, the best way to update an older home is to make the space feel like your own.

Do you have any additional tips for renovating an older home? Let us know in the comments.

The post The Freshome Guide to Renovating an Older Home appeared first on Freshome.com.

Door Trends: From Ultra Stylish to Super Secretive

January 8, 2019 by admin

Doors provide privacy, protection and separation, and they can be stylish while providing these functions. A cool door can be a design statement and a conversation starter. Or it can be the entrance to a hidden passage or room. Below are several door trends, along with some practical information on materials and costs.

Exterior Doors

This is a standard timber/MDF external door coated with a metal finish. Image: Zeitgeist Photography

Exterior doors have to balance form and function. “The front door needs to be durable enough to withstand the weather and would-be intruders, yet attractive enough to enhance the overall look of your home,” says Dan DiClerico, home expert at Home Advisor.

He recommends taking your cues from the home’s architecture when selecting a door. “A simple steel door will suit a modern, minimalist home, while a carved wood door with sidelights and a transom will be appropriate for more traditional homes, such as craftsman or colonial,” DiClerico explains.

Pros and Cons of the Most Popular Types of Exterior Doors

This front door in San Francisco complements the concrete wall. Image: Elevation Architect

Exterior doors are available in a variety of materials. DiClerico lists the pros and cons of the three most popular types of exterior doors:

Fiberglass

Pros: The practical option, fiberglass doors combine value, performance and low maintenance. Many fiberglass doors can be painted or stained so you can change the look easily.
Cons: Though their embossed wood textures are convincing, visitors probably won’t mistake them for a real wood door up close. The synthetic material is also prone to cracking.

Steel

Pros: A very popular option nowadays, steel doors are durable, secure and affordable. Most are also extremely energy efficient, making them a good option in extreme climates, whether hot or cold.
Cons: Steel doors are prone to dents and scratches, which are difficult to repair.

Wood

Pros: The most beautiful doors tend to be wood. Solid-wood versions are also extremely durable and weather-resistant, plus dents and scratches can be easily repaired.
Cons: They’re expensive and require regular maintenance, including periodic painting or staining.

Cost/Security

Strength meets beauty in this Phoenix front door. Image: IMI Design

The average price for a new entry door ranges from $500 to $2,000. “This includes installation, though with high-end custom doors the project can quickly exceed $10,000,” DiClerico says. “The labor usually runs between $40 to $90 per hour, with an average of about $70 per hour for a licensed contractor.”

Regarding security, your entry door is only as good as its lock, explains DiClerico. “For best results, HomeAdvisor locksmiths recommend a lock with a 1 inch-long deadbolt and a reinforced metal box strike. For good measure, securely fasten the box strike to the jamb with 3 inch-long screws.”

Amira Johnson at Emerald Doors provides four tips for maintaining your doors. “Clean the doors on a regular basis, oil hinges when needed, replace weather stripping regularly and, when required, repaint them.”

Interior Doors

Check out the doors to this home theater in Salt Lake City. Image: Element Homes

When choosing an interior door, the choices are seemingly endless. “Traditional hinged doors can be either pre-hung or slabs,” DiClerico explains. “Pre-hung doors are mounted in a frame with the hinges already attached to the door jamb. A slab is the just the door itself.”

Some interior door styles are quite popular with consumers. “Pocket doors are good space savers since they don’t swing into the room, sliding doors are common with closets, barn doors are in keeping with the farmhouse look that’s so popular and French doors are great for allowing light into an interior room that doesn’t have many windows.”

If you’re thinking about using an interior door outside, don’t do it, warns Johnson. “Exterior doors typically run 36″ wide, whereas interior doors are not as broad (30″), so cutting will be required.” In addition, she says that exterior doors are designed for rain, snow and UV rays. “So an interior door used outside could end up being warped from this type of abuse,” Johnson says.

Pros and Cons of the Most Popular Types of Interior Doors

There are two unique doors in this San Diego home: the lattice front door and the red barn door. Image: Dunn Carpentry

DiClerico lists the pros and cons of the most popular interior doors as follows:

Medium Density Fiberboard (MDF)

Pros: This engineered material is durable and stable, so it’s not likely to warp.
Cons: It doesn’t show grain the way real wood does.

Solid Wood

Pros: Solid wood doors tend to be the most attractive and they offer good durability, energy efficiency and sound insulation.
Cons: They’re also the most expensive.

Hollow Core

Pros: Made of plywood or molded composite around a hollow core, these doors are the least expensive.
Cons: They’re pretty flimsy and don’t do a good job containing noise or temperature.

Solid Core

Pros: These doors are also made of plywood or molded composite, but with a core that’s filled with wood fiber. They offer better durability and insulation as a result.
Cons: They’re pricier than hollow core doors, averaging about $50 to $200 more.

Costs

This Portland basement has sliding chalkboard doors. Image: Hammer & Hand

You can expect to pay anywhere from $75 to $125 to have a standard interior door installed. “Custom units can run a lot higher, especially if they require a new opening in the wall or the existing opening needs to be modified,” DiClerico explains. “For example, a set of French doors might cost as much as $5,800 to install, according to our True Cost Guide.”

So, what about barn doors? “They’re unique in that they open and close on track hardware that is mounted above the door’s opening. Depending on the size of the door, multiple tracks might be needed,” DiClerico says. “A basic sliding barn door with track hardware starts at $300 and goes up to around $1,000.”

Hidden Doors

Check out these hidden doors and hidden door bookshelves:

This Ottawa basement has the ultimate hidden door. Image: Just Basements

These wardrobe closet doors hide a secret room for the kids. Image: Roger Wade Studio

The bedside cabinet in this Denver master bedroom includes hidden storage. Image: Nehemiah General Contractors

These homeowners in Austin found a great way to hide the laundry room. Image: Jenkins Custom Homes

This door blends seamlessly into the wall. Image: Pursley Dixon Architecture

These doors, in a young girl’s bedroom in Miami, open to a large closet. Image: Phabrica

The post Door Trends: From Ultra Stylish to Super Secretive appeared first on Freshome.com.

Production Builders vs. Custom Builders: Which is Right for You?

January 7, 2019 by admin

Making the decision to build your own home means dedicating at least a few months to the process. Some builds seem to go perfectly, while others have a few bumps along the way. The type of builder you choose could make all the difference. You’ll need to choose a builder depending on your timeline, budget and level of customization. Custom builders and production builders might seem similar, but they offer different pros and cons. Consider each and compare them to your wishlist before making your final decision. Here are some of the factors to think about.

Production Builders

Production builders have semi-custom construction down to an art; they can build hundreds of homes a year. They know how much everything costs and structure the build for budget and efficiency. They’ll be able to offer your dream house – within reason, of course. Consider these factors to decide if a production builder makes sense for you.

A production builder uses a set catalog of plans. Image: BCD Homes

Pros:

They offer fixed prices. Because production builders build the same homes over and over, they have a better idea of prices. A production builder can give you a near-exact cost, which means you can choose a home and plan more effectively.
They negotiate the best deal with contractors. Production builders tend to use the same contractors for their homes. This allows them to negotiate stellar bulk deals on supplies and services, passing the savings onto you.
They’re faster. Managing tight schedules and multiple contractors is a science for production builders. Barring any major snafus, production builders are faster and operate on tighter timelines than custom builders.
They offer development amenities. Production builders usually create entire developments at one time. They typically develop amenities like parks, walking trails and even sports courts as a draw for potential homeowners. That means you’ll score major perks by choosing a builder’s development over buying your own lot.

Cons:

You’ll be restricted to existing plans. To keep costs low and predictable, production builders reuse a catalog of plans. Your home won’t be one-of-a-kind and there may be several others in your development with the same or a similar home.
Your customizations are limited. Some production builders allow a little customization inside the home. You may be able to have a larger master bathroom or opt for a breakfast nook. But you won’t be able to change the size of the home and may be restricted on things like window sizes or moving walls. You’ll need to choose a plan that’s close enough to what you want, which could put a damper on building your “dream” house.
Your fixture choices are limited. When choosing things like carpet, tile, counters and fixtures, you’ll pick from a set of pre-chosen options that the builder allows. Restricting choices keeps prices predictable but it could make you feel stuck with options you don’t really love.

A custom builder starts your plans from scratch. Image: McEwan Custom Homes

Custom Builders

Custom builders create your home, taking you all the way from a blank sheet of paper to a turnkey property. You’ll get exactly what you want, but it can also mean a less predictable process. Here are some of the major pros and cons of going custom.

Pros:

You’ll get a truly unique product. Custom builders start every home from scratch. Whether you come with a plan you found online or you want to create something yourself, each home is unique and designed to your specifications.
You can choose your own architect. A custom builder might have a preferred architect or designer, but you can bring your own, too. You aren’t limited to any set of plans and if you love an architect’s work, you can have your plans drawn before you start working with your builder.
You’ll have more choices. Want all-gold fixtures? Done! Want a Game of Thrones mural in your game room? Go for it. Want an oversized deck and huge pantry? It’s yours. A custom builder isn’t restricted in any way, so you’ll get to make every choice to your tastes along the way.
You’ll have more input. Custom home builders love collaboration, so expect to have more input along the way. Visiting the construction site and having more control over your build is par for the course. It’s a better choice for control freaks or those who truly want the full build experience.

Cons:

Expect a longer build. Custom jobs take more time because there are more decisions to make and contractors are lined up on an as-needed basis. It takes time to send out for bids and hire contractors for your home. Expect a custom job to take longer than a production build.
Less predictable costs. Custom builders usually use a cost plus model, which means the cost of goods and services plus a percentage for managing the build. It’s much harder for a custom builder to predict costs because each build is different. Your cost will depend on all of your options, contractor pricing and industry prices that fluctuate.
No bulk pricing. Production builders negotiate bulk pricing from the same contractors, but it’s unlikely your custom builder gets the same preferential treatment as a production builder. Your end cost could be slightly higher based on that fact.
Too many choices. A custom build can seem like too much of a good thing. Picking all of your fixtures, colors and options can definitely become overwhelming, especially if the sky’s the limit and there’s no way to really narrow down your options.

Production and custom builders each have their pros and cons, so it’s a personal choice. Would you rather have the home of your dreams, even if it’s a little more expensive? Or is price your true bottom line? By deciding which factors are most important to you, you can choose the type of builder that makes the most sense for you, your family and your build.

The post Production Builders vs. Custom Builders: Which is Right for You? appeared first on Freshome.com.

7 Home Organization Resolutions To Start 2019 Strong

December 31, 2018 by admin

Kick 2019 off right with these home organization resolutions. Image: Rookery Design

The new year is right around the corner, and you know what that means. It’s resolution time. Maybe you’re the type of person who makes about a hundred resolutions, or maybe you’ve decided to eschew the whole thing altogether because who actually keeps their resolutions, anyway? And we agree, resolutions are hard. Our resolve to hit the gym or eat right usually dissolves by February. But we’ve found some home organization resolutions can transform your whole year.

Tap into that January motivation to get your house in order and you’ll reap the benefits throughout 2019. We rounded up seven different home organization resolutions to get you started. Whether you tackle the whole list or choose the one that most speaks to you (and your home’s problem area), you’ll thank yourself. Here are seven ways to get to a cleaner, more beautiful home next year.

Tackle your junk drawer to motivate yourself for additional organization projects. Image: Pedini PDX

#1: Deal with your junk drawer

Finally cleaning out that junk drawer should be the first resolution you tackle. It’s a fairly manageable task, but the results are almost always impressive. Seeing your streamlined, de-junked drawer will give you the motivation you need to take on bigger home organization resolutions.

So let’s get started. First things first, take everything out. Yes, we mean everything. If you can take the drawer out entirely and turn it over on the counter, all the better. Wipe out the inside of the drawer. There, doesn’t that feel better? Now think about which items in the drawer you used in 2018. If they didn’t get used, they don’t go back in. Say goodbye to old rubber bands, those miscellaneous paper clips and that punch card for the place you haven’t been since 2016. When you’re ready to put things back into the drawer, use small organizational bins to keep things neat.

#2: Implement a filing system

Where do all your papers go? If you’re like most of us, they get distributed to a number of places (er, piles) throughout the house where they can be forgotten. Prohibit the pile! Buy a small file box and some hanging file folders you can label. Make categories as they come to you (e.g. bills, receipts, school papers), but leave some blank so you can continue expanding your system throughout the year. With a single, streamlined home for all of your papers, you can 1. Find any document you need at a moment’s notice and 2. Eliminate a big source of visual stress throughout your home.

Eat your way through your pantry to create space for better organization. Image: NEAT Method

#3: Clear out your pantry

If one of your New Year’s Resolutions is to save money, we’ve got a two-for-one option for you. Pick a week in January where you’re not going to buy any groceries. You and your family will eat only what’s in your pantry. Yes, it will probably mean eating a lot of rice and soup. But at the end of the week, you’ll be amazed how much space you’ve cleared out, how much money you saved and how full everyone’s bellies got from those long-forgotten canned goods. And now that you’ve made some space in your pantry, you have room to try out some high-end organization options, like glass jars and multi-level racks. Get your inspiration for a gorgeous pantry with these tips.

#4: Organize cords and miscellaneous electronics

How many nests of cords do you have shoved behind pieces of furniture? These tangled messes trap dirt and lint. It’s time to finally deal with them. Prep with a pack of zip ties and washi tape. Untangle the mess, zip tie the cords in a neat bundle and add a piece of washi tape at the base where the cord plugs into the power strip. On that tape, write the device to which the cord connects. That way, if you ever need to cut power to something specific, it’s a snap.

While you’re at it, deal with all those unused mystery cords that seem to accumulate. If you don’t know what the cord originally powered, tag it (your washi tape can work here, too) and set a calendar reminder to revisit the pile in June. Ditch anything that hasn’t revealed its use. Wrap up cords that do have a use – but that you don’t need at the moment – and put them in a cardboard toilet paper roll. Write the cord’s use on the outside of the roll. File the rolls upright in a box and – voilà – you’ve dealt with a major organization headache.

home organization resolutions - medicine cabinet

A cleared-out medicine cabinet leaves space for prettier accent pieces. Image: Daniel Contelmo Architects

#6: Toss expired medications

This one’s simple. Go into your medicine cabinet and throw out every medication that’s expired or no longer useful. Oh, half of your medicine cabinet is now cleared out? It just got that much easier to organize.

#7: Switch your hanger orientation

Look, we now that it can feel daunting to organize so many of the home’s problem areas in one go. So we won’t ask you to add your closet into the mix. But do yourself a simple favor and switch the orientation of your hangers so the necks face to the back of your closet. When you are ready to clean out your closet (hello, spring cleaning!), you’ll have a clear idea of what items of clothing you never wear because the hangers will still be the wrong way.

2019’s best home organization resolutions

Do you have a resolution you set every year to keep your home streamlined and beautiful? We’d love to hear your best home organization resolutions so we can whip our houses and apartments into shape in 2019. Let us know in the comments!

The post 7 Home Organization Resolutions To Start 2019 Strong appeared first on Freshome.com.

2018 Design Trend Recap: The Year’s Most Daring Home Design Trends

December 30, 2018 by admin

It may be hard to believe, but it’s almost 2019. That’s why we’re taking this opportunity to pause and look back at the last year at Freshome. We explored a lot in 2018. But what really made its mark? Which daring trends reshaped our homes – and maybe even our lives? Which have enough staying power to survive into 2019 and beyond? Let’s find out as we walk through a brief 2018 design trend recap.

A black accent wall? Why not! In 2018, there were no limits when it came to color. Image: AMR Design

With color, anything goes

Yes, neutrals are still – and will always be – important. But 2018 invited us to blow the lid off our preconceived notions about color theory and have some fun. Jewel tones started making their mark on the scene, inviting us to amp up the saturation and give our spaces a feel of richness. Previously off-limits colors were welcomed into our homes. Black even set itself apart as a decidedly trendy and luxurious color for walls, flooring and cabinetry. And as we expanded our color palettes, we also expanded the way we use color. Gone are the days of a single accent color. In 2018, layering multiple different accent hues helped a room shine.

And beyond simply choosing which colors to implement in your home, 2018 was a year to explore where you use those colors, too. Often forgotten spaces like the foyer, ceiling and front door got new leases on life thanks to the drive to add vibrant and interesting hues everywhere in the home.

Feeling overwhelmed by the overload of color options? Don’t worry. We have a guide on how to balance bold colors to help you out.

When putting together rooms this year, designers started agreeing that more is more. Image: Jonathan Adler

Maximalism starts making its mark

No 2018 design trend recap would be complete without taking a dip into maximalism. If you’ve been paying attention, you’ve probably noticed that home design seems to be trending in the direction of more. We just talked about how we started making our foray into more color. We also went for more pattern and texture, like eye-catching or moody floral wallpapers, interesting kitchen backsplashes and colorful grout. Maximalism is all about filling a space with things you love and that bring you joy, and we jumped on that opportunity in 2018.

Out of all the different home changes we’re exploring in this 2018 design trend recap, we think maximalism is the one with the most staying power.

Your lighting fixture could be the most interesting part of your room. Image: Poliform Australia

Eye-catching lighting sets the stage

Sure, our parents told us not to stare at the sun. But in 2018, it’s been hard not to stare at the light – at least, the lighting we brought into our homes. Gone are the days of boring, basic lighting that just gets the job done. This year, we took pendant lights from simple to really something. Suddenly, you could find them in architectural shapes and mixed textures hung in new and exciting configurations.

And we didn’t stop with pendants, either. This year, lots of designers and decorators took risks with unique and funky lighting. Even the humble string light got a major upgrade and expanded usage this year. Some of the trends might not survive past this 2018 design trend recap, but some – like abstract metal chandeliers – are surely just starting to enjoy their time in the, ahem, light.

This year, we blended the clean lines of industrial style with the softness of nature for more comfortable spaces. Image: ALL & NXTHING

Natural and industrial blend

In 2018, we finally started finding ways to marry our innate craving for nature with our love of the sleek simplicity of industrial design. That was thanks, in large part, to the concrete craze. All of a sudden, we were pouring cement for our countertops, floors, mantels and more. As a key element in industrial design, concrete lends an inherent sleekness even as it mimics natural stone. With concrete in place, we had our canvas to bring other natural textures into our homes, like greenery walls and roughly-hewn wood.

We also looked to plant life to soften the edges of industrial and minimalist spaces. Potted plants are having a moment, but you’re not limited by open floor space. Hanging and wall mounted plants trended in a major way in 2018. We even added greenery to our roofs. This year, we blended natural and industrial. Looks like we finally figured out how to have our cake and eat it, too.

What trends were you surprised to see Freshome cover in 2018? Which ones would you have liked to learn more about? Which ones did we skip in this 2018 design trend recap? Let us know! We’re coming up on a new year and are excited to explore 2019’s design trends with you!

The post 2018 Design Trend Recap: The Year’s Most Daring Home Design Trends appeared first on Freshome.com.