There is an overwhelming amount of excellent options for outdoor decorations. Ideas for patio furniture, adding a fire pit or even a shaded gazebo are abundant, and it can be difficult to decide where to start. To help you get inspired, here are some of the best DIY outdoor decor ideas to enhance your yard or patio space: Install outdoor hanging curtains Curtains are no longer just for inside the home! The most stylish and useful curtains for outdoor living are available at a variety of home goods retailers and can withstand a wide range of weather conditions. Consider comfortable earth tone ..read more

Creating a great garden path doesn’t have to be a long and difficult process. With the right tools and techniques, DIY enthusiasts of all skill levels can build a classic and functional brick pathway. Here we’ll go over the materials and process for your next garden path DIY project. Materials Cobblestones Edging stakes Granite pavers Plastic landscaping edging Sand Spray paint (for marking) Equipment Rubber mallet Level Shovel Mason’s chisel Spade Wheelbarrow Safety Tips Before you dig, contact your utilities provider to make sure you are not in danger of breaking power, water or cable lines ..read more

Are you ready to renew your home search this spring? As I am sure you are aware, the housing market remains tight. Still, as the weather warms, there are increasingly more homes coming on the market in northwestern Vermont. I’d love to help you get ready to find your place and make a winning offer. Here are a couple of recommendations: First, if you are not pre-approved for a mortgage, do it now. A pre-approval requires submitting financial information to a lender that they use to verify that you can fund a purchase. It frequently takes a few days to process, there is no effect on your credit ..read more

Your HVAC system can break down or develop damage for various reasons. While some HVAC repairs are simple and can be done on your own, others should be left to the professionals. Knowing when to have professional HVAC repairs done is an important part of ensuring your HVAC system can heat or cool your home reliably. Here are a few tasks a professional HVAC company should contend with: Frequent Cycling Your HVAC system might run longer than usual if outdoor temperatures are unusually hot or cold. However, your HVAC shouldn’t be running through cycles frequently. When this happens, your HVAC sy ..read more

Terrariums are perfect for plant lovers who want to make their plants look like a work of art. While there are plenty of terrarium containers and kits available to buy, it’s very easy to make one yourself using other items. We’ll go over the steps to create your very own DIY terrarium for displaying plants in your home. What You’ll Need Terrariums leave lots of room for creativity, but require a few ingredients to be successful. You’ll need to have potting soil, your choice of plants and a small amount of activated charcoal. The charcoal will be crucial in soaking up extra moisture and preven ..read more

Photo by Skylar Kang from Pexels Your social feed is likely filled with plenty of inspiration for your next home improvement project. It’s easy to scroll past images of sparkling kitchens and sleek basements and decide that now is the best time to take on your next renovation project. The next step is figuring out how to pay for everything that you want. This guide will help you create a realistic budget that you can stick to for your next home improvement project. Outlining and adhering to a budget throughout the process will help your project move forward seamlessly. Here’s what you need to ..read more

Home automation can be a combination of different devices, or you can turn it into a central system that controls everything from your security to your lights. The question is, what’s the best way to keep all of your technology organized so it can all work together? Minimizing hiccups in your experience starts with having an idea of your options. We’ll look at what you need to know about home automation hubs and how they can help you keep track of your devices. ‘Hub’ Can Refer to Multiple Products A hub is essentially the center of your home automation system, connecting devices and ensurin ..read more

In the middle of buying a home? If so, you’ve probably already realized that there are many steps you’ll need to complete before you will officially take ownership. From scheduling inspections to going through the closing process, there are many items that need to be checked off your list. And one thing you won’t want to overlook in buying a home is completing a real estate appraisal. Why You Need a Home Appraisal The purpose of a real estate appraisal is to determine the current value of a property before a sale is finalized. Appraisals are important for several reasons. For starte ..read more

If you want to highlight high ceilings or just want to add some extra drama to a room, tall plants are an excellent option. Tall plants can make a bold design statement and provide other benefits like air purification and stress relief. Here are some of the best indoor trees and tall plants to consider adding to your home: Fiddle leaf fig Fiddle leaf figs are native to the jungle and therefore will thrive in your home if you give them enough humidity and filtered light. While these trees are somewhat notorious for being tricky plants to care for, they are low-maintenance once you find the rig ..read more

As soon as the weather cools down in the fall, I usually start the seasonal occupation of cooking hearty and warming foods. But this season, despite having a newly renovated kitchen to work in, I’ve felt uninspired. Perhaps it was just being busy with work, then the holidays, or maybe just that it hasn’t felt very winter-like. That changed this week. With a fresh layer of snow, my thoughts returned to the kitchen. There’s barely anything as warming as soup on a cold, snowy day. I wanted something hearty but filled with veggies. So, I turned to the family cookbook and found exactly what I was ..read more