Dreaming of upgrading your backyard space? You wouldn’t be alone. Recent data from realtors around the country shows that homeowners who added outdoor kitchens to their properties saw an increase of between 100% and 200% on their investments. Real estate professionals say even a simple addition, like an outdoor gas firepit, can yield a 67% return.*
Years ago I lived in a studio apartment in New York City on a super-quaint West Village street. I loved the location — the actual apartment not so much — and imagined, due to my love of the immediate neighborhood, I might live there, for maybe the rest of my life. A major drawback to my fantasy was the apartment, which boasted wonderful exposed brick walls (I was the one who exposed them) and attractively battered hardwood floors (they came to me pre-battered) was just too small, no matter how many times I arranged and rearranged the furniture. I spent an irrational amount of time daydreaming how the apartment could become larger, to the point where my daydreams infiltrated my sleeping dream life and I began dreaming about a secret room I hadn’t noticed before that could be accessed through the apartment’s only closet.
We’ve seen a surge of investments in home improvements over the last few years that is expected to continue in the future. We’ve seen people reimagine and rework their spaces during the covid era as they spent more time at home. And, as the housing market has provided its own challenges, more and more homeowners are opting to find a way to improve the space they have. For some, that may mean putting on an addition to find more square footage. For others, who don’t want to lose functionality of their existing kitchens, or need to move out, or live in a construction zone, tapping into already existing square footage in their basement can be a goldmine.
We’ve taken lots of photos to document the process of this Total Basement Renovation project over the last year. You may have even seen some videos on our social media! Here is the ultimate recap, from start to finish.
The house must have seemed too clean or quiet, so we got another dog. We already have one dog, a Miniature Pinscher, also known as a Min Pin; at seven, she is well-behaved and neat as a cat, not barky, and never chews things up. Not once in seven years has she ever soiled the carpet.
Unfortunately, in the past year, she went from being a lithe, lively spirit who enjoyed taking long walks to a prematurely aged couch potato who preferred to nap all day and snack on cheese and crackers. First, she gained weight, and then she became stiff. I decided she needed another dog and began combing my local shelter’s website for likely candidates. After a six-month-long search, I found the right one.
I’m always a fan of a home design refresh. We all know the tried and true ways to spice up your living space, like incorporating plants or pops of color. While those will never go out of style, other design trends do. Whether you are moving to a new home or renovating your current one choosing home design elements that complement your style and are timeless yet trendy is challenging. Finding home finishes that won’t look dated next year is key. Here are five home design trends on their way out and how you can update them now.
The leaves are changing color, the air is crisp, and I’m not the only one noticing the festive decor showing up left and right on store shelves. This can only mean one thing, the holidays are just around the corner!
Whether you’re strictly a no-twinkle lights-until-after-Thanksgiving person or already planning cocoa-fueled viewings of It’s a Wonderful Life, a little advanced home preparation and organizing can keep holiday stress to a minimum.
Time after time, neutral color palettes remain classic, timeless, and a homeowner’s go-to for home design, architecture, and decor. While it doesn’t seem to be slowing down, I think it’s time to add some color to our everyday lives- why not start with your home? Let’s get creative and check out how to add a pop of color to your home.
In the blink of an eye, back-to-school commercials have taken over television which can only mean we have to face the inevitable, summer is coming to an end. While I am certainly no fan of the cold weather, I believe fall is one of the most beautiful times of the year. So just like the seasons changing, it’s time to shift gears and start to say “sayonara!” to summer. That means now is when to consider cleaning up and preparing to start seasonal protection and maintenance around your home. Check out some of the following ideas to get you started.
I am, admittedly, a magazine addict. There are certain glossy magazines I just have to read. As a teen, I hungrily tore through friends’ copies of Seventeen and Glamour, but when I was in college and first laid eyes on Architectural Digest as a guest in a friend’s classy home, I immediately was hooked. My first subscription was to Vogue, swiftly followed by House Beautiful. Eventually I developed an affinity for the arty lifestyle and culture pieces but my principal interest in both publications was focused on fashion and home fashion.
Not too long ago I was in a stunning Colonial home in northern Westchester. I was there to interview the homeowner for a local magazine. Practically the moment I walked through the front door, I confessed what a huge fan I was of her home’s architectural era. She graciously offered a tour around the house. Additions had been made to the original structure over time, including a new wing recently built by the current homeowner. I anticipated the killer kitchen and the luxury baths, but it was the new clothes closet that really took my breath away. It was the size of a bedroom and opulently filled with fine wood cabinetry, Berber carpet, and a stunning chandelier.