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%…
I was looking to get more light in my life when I hired a professional house painter to paint the interior of our home. In the interest of full disclosure, I wanted to paint the whole interior of our house, but after the painter said we’d have to move out for five days, maybe a…
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…
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…
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…
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…
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…
A representative from one of the myriad vacation home rental properties keeps leaving attractive brochures by my front gate. They want to know if we’re interested in turning our home into a vacation rental, even occasionally. I have to admit the lure of additional income is tempting. Many moons ago I had a friend who…
I know I’m not alone when I say the prospect of hosting the holidays is a little anxiety-producing. Don’t get me wrong, I’m no Scrooge and I love having friends and family over if only to remind me how lucky we are, and that I should count my blessings. But every year, and it is…