Home Improvement

While we all might have visions of our dream kitchen dancing in our head, or multiple images pinned to a Pinterest board—doing a full-scale renovation might not be in the budget at the moment. But that doesn’t mean that there’s nothing you can do. Here are a few easy ways to update your kitchen—no remodeling necessary.

Introduce Open Shelving

If you’ve got a massive blank wall to fill, you might want to consider adding some shelves. They’re a great way to show off your beautiful glassware, a collection of serveware, or gorgeous cookbooks—and they’ll give the room even more storage space. Add sculptural or minimal brackets for that extra touch of elegance.

Paint the Cabinets

Yes, painting your cabinets is quite a bit of work, but it’s incredibly affordable! It’s the cost of a can or two of paint (plus primer!) and some elbow grease if you’re doing it yourself. Whether you opt for a dramatic black or a soft dove gray, a couple coats of paint will completely transform the look of the entire space.

If you want to transform the entire look of your kitchen without starting from scratch, invest in a new backsplash. For a luxe
look, consider the Painted Marble series from Formica Corporation.
Install White Painted Marble or Black Painted Marble
throughout your kitchen, or even just behind the sink for an affordable statement backsplash.

Swap Out the Hardware

You won’t believe how quick and easy it is to give your old, outdated hardware a refresh. Warm up your finishes with a brass option in a sleek, modern shape. This will instantly make your kitchen look on-trend, but it won’t cost a fortune to achieve.

Add Under-Cabinet Lighting

Give this space some drama while showing off pretty display pieces. You can find a bunch of options, including LED battery-operated versions that just stick on. It’s a softer lighting option than overhead lighting—and it creates a warm ambience at night.

Paint the Walls

Maybe you love your cabinet color but the rest of the kitchen is feeling a little blah. Punch it up with a new color on the walls. Whether you opt for a bright white or a darker hue, just make sure to pick a color that complements your cabinets.

Rethink Your Cabinet Space

If the main reason you’re wishing for a reno is to gain more storage in your current space, reconsider the cabinets you currently have. Double your cabinet space by purchasing graduated shelving inserts, dividers, or a turntable. Just assess your storage needs before going nuts at The Container Store.

Cover Your Countertops

Unfortunately, we don’t all have the countertops of our dreams. A quick way to refresh is by covering a section of your counter with an oversized cutting board or a slab of marble. This idea works especially well if you’d like to camouflage a spot with damage until you’re ready to redo the countertop entirely.

Real Simple | By Caylin Harris Updated January 29, 2021

Filed under: Home Improvement, Home Tips by Olga Gilmore

And as we continue to spend more and more time indoors, bathroom paint trends are changing, too. “2020, more than any year before, really showed us how important it is to love our homes,” Sue Wadden, Director of Color Marketing at Sherwin-Williams, says. “While previously we may have thought of a bathroom as a quick, in-and-out type of space, we now think of the bathroom as our personal spa and salon.” Curious what paint colors will be trending in 2021? We asked a handful of paint experts to share their predictions.

Pale Blues

For a perennially popular bathroom paint color with a contemporary twist, consider a soothing shade of light blue. “Blue is a classic bathroom shade, but you can take it into the 21st century with what I like to call a dusty blue, which tends to be cooler and with a hint of gray,” Wadden says. “A color like Dew Drop SW 9641 is super modern but won’t go out of style as quickly as some trending hues.” For a brighter shade of pale blue that won’t overpower a small bathroom, Ashley Banbury, Senior Color Designer at Pratt & Lambert Paints, recommends a clean, crisp blue, such as Foamy Surf 112C. “It draws from the hues of water, so it feels calming and refreshing at the same time,” she explains.

Moody Greens

If you want to take the leap towards a statement bathroom in 2021, Wadden suggests a super-saturated moody green. “We’re drawn to hues inspired by nature, such as Rosemary SW 6187, so they’re pleasing to the eye while still being a bold design choice,” she explains. For a rich shade of green that doesn’t feel too dark, Patrick O’Donnell, International Brand Ambassador at Farrow & Ball, recommends Calke Green. “It has a deep, verdant beauty to it which is strong but not overwhelmingly dark, and looks both elegant and timeless,” he says.

Warm Neutrals

For a versatile paint color that will work with an assortment of bathroom tiles and finishes, Magno says you can’t go wrong with a warm neutral. “Atrium White OC-145 is a timeless favorite that complements many bathroom materials and finishes,” she explains. “Likewise, Muslin OC-12 is a great alternative to a traditional off-white, that offers a flattering neutral backdrop.” For a creamy paint color with a bit more oomph, Banbury recommends a neutral with pale pink undertones. “Cotton & Flax 337B is a soft, warm neutral that is a great color option when you’re getting ready for your day,” she explains.

Earthy Yellows

If you thought yellow paint was too bright and bold for a bathroom, O’Donnell says you’re mistaken. “Although yellow has connotations of being an energetic color, if you move away from the softer, bluer tones and embrace the rich ochres, like India Yellow, you get warmth too,” he explains. “Keep it simple when decorating, and accessorize with natural products such as wooden bath brushes and bamboo floor mats, for a sleek, yet subdued look.”

Chalk White

A classic paint color for a reason, you can always count on a crisp coat of white paint to update a bathroom for the new year, O’Donnell says. “Although overtly clean in feel, a pure white bathroom, painted in a shade like All White, creates a very relaxing space,” he adds. “You can add some modern flourish by using a colored grout between the tiles such, as a soft gray.”

This article originally appeared on MarthaStewart.com.

By Caroline Biggs | Updated December 29, 2020

Filed under: Home Improvement by Olga Gilmore

Every year when January rolls around you vow to lose weight, save money or spend more time with family and friends. But what goals do you set for your home?

In the spirit of new beginnings, HGTV has consulted the experts and come up with some resolutions that will make your home a more beautiful, efficient, clean and green place in the coming year.

Here are their five picks for the best home improvement resolutions for the new year and how to achieve them:

1: Streamline the stuff

One of the best and least expensive ways to feel better about your home is to clear it of clutter.

Each year most of us acquire a mountain of stuff. Without some regular purging, cabinets and drawers get jam-packed and it becomes hard to find the things you use and enjoy the most. (All that clutter also makes your house look dated and dirty, designers say.)

This year resolve to go room-by-room periodically clearing anything that you don’t use, wear or love and donate it to charity. After that, think twice about what you bring in, says Antoinette Nue, an Atlanta consultant who specializes in helping people simplify and go green.

“Fill your home with the things that raise your energy level and make you feel good, and get rid of the things that drain your energy or are broken,” she says.

Stash useful (but not beautiful) items such as DVDs, remotes and those kicked-off shoes in simple woven baskets. Group similar items together on sleek trays, says Stuart McCormick, a designer with Liz Levin Interiors in Washington D.C.

Clear your counters of everything you don’t use on a daily basis. And get ready to breathe a little easier in your own home. 

2: Make it safe and sound

Your home may be beautiful, but is it safe? There are a few things that every homeowner should do to ensure that they’re not living with a potential health hazard or fire risk.

First, check your house for radon. This colorless, odorless gas causes about 21,000 lung cancer deaths each year from the radioactive particles it traps in your lungs as you breathe, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. One in every fifteen homes has elevated levels. And with test kits costing as little as $20 at your local hardware store, there’s no reason not to get right on that.

While we’re on the subject of deadly gas, make sure you install a carbon monoxide detector on every bedroom floor in addition to fire detectors. If a chimney flue or furnace vent gets blocked or leaks, carbon monoxide could back up in your house and kill you. Like a radon test, this is a small investment — $40 or more — for such an important safeguard.

Watch out for dryer lint. We know you clean the little trap inside the door, but most people neglect to clean the vents and ducts behind the dryer. Lint may seem innocent, but it’s highly combustible, according to the U.S. Fire Administration, accounting for more than 15,000 building fires a year.

Make sure your house can breathe. Hickory Hills, Ill. home inspector Jack McGraw is always surprised at how many people’s bathrooms and attics aren’t vented to the outside (or the vents are covered over with shingles.) This makes you a prime candidate for mold.

And if you’re considering a remodel — and your home was last built or remodeled before 1978 — consider testing for lead paint and asbestos flooring. It will have to handled properly during removal, or particles can be released into the air for you to ingest.

3: Shrink your bills (and your carbon footprint in the process)

When people think of going green, they often think it takes solar panels or a hybrid car to make a difference.

Not so, says Bob Schildgen, who wrote the “Hey Mr. Green” column for Sierra magazine. It just takes a little old-fashioned common sense.

The best place to start is by cutting your energy usage in your home:

– Remember your mom’s advice and switch off the lights when you leave a room.

– Turn off your air conditioner when you leave the house and dial your heater down to 55 degrees at night.

– Install LED bulbs and low-flow showerheads.

– Try drying some of your clothes on the line and wait for the dishwasher or washing machine to be full before you run them.

– Turn off your power strips and/or set your home computer to revert to sleep mode when not in use.

– Water your yard less. Put in drought-tolerant landscaping if necessary.

– Give composting a try. Your garden will thank you.

4: Work out a weekly system for keeping your house clean

Here are a few tips for keeping the mess under control from Jeff Campbell, author of the book Speed Cleaning and owner of the Clean Team housekeeping service in San Francisco.

Daily: Dishes go in the dishwasher every night – no excuses! Dirty clothes go in the hamper and jackets or clean clothes are hung in the closet. Bring everything back to its assigned place.

Weekly: Clean your entire house, using these tips:

– Keep all of your cleaners, as well as rubber gloves and spare cleaning cloths – in a portable carryall that moves with you from room to room.

– Stash cleaning implements such as a toothbrush, scraper, sponge, a few cleaning cloths and plastic bags in a builder’s apron that you wear when you clean. Hook your glass cleaner and all-purpose cleaning spray on the loops to keep your hands free as you work around the room clockwise, cleaning from high (cabinets) to low (floors.)

– Focus on one type of cleaning at a time. It’s faster, Campbell says. Wipe down fingerprints on all of the cabinets, for instance, before moving on to spraying and wiping counters. Then move on to windows and mirrors and appliances. Once that’s done move on to sweeping and then mopping floors.

– For optimum efficiency, enlist the help of your family. If you can, divide the jobs among at least three parties: One of you can do the dusting/vacuuming and changing beds, the other can do the bathroom cleanup, leaving only the kitchen and trash emptying for you to handle. The upside? You can get the whole house done in 45 minutes, Campbell says, leaving more time on the weekends for the park or the movies.

5: Get your place ready for entertaining

Each year most of us vow to spend more time with family and friends. To make you feel like inviting people in, why not give the areas you entertain in a little update?

You don’t have go for broke here and invest in a new kitchen remodel. All it takes to get a fresh new look is a little bit of rearranging and a few updates, says designer McCormick.

One easy update that makes your home seem more “finished” is the addition of plants, she says.

“They bring in new energy and help clean the air,” she says. “And it’s a great way to decorate if you’re on a budget.”

A couple of dramatic presentations like a large flowering agapanthus or potted palm in a bright ceramic planter that complements your existing color scheme will do the trick.

Pulling out a new accent color from your existing decor can make the whole room seem fresh. Pick an underused color in the room and add more of it in the form of a new pillow or throw to update your look, McCormick advises. A colorful rug or runner can also help anchor your space.

Lastly, take some time to rearrange your furniture so it is oriented in conversation groups and not just facing the television. That just might up for chances for real conversation and connection in the New Year.

By: Melinda Fulmer | HGTV

Filed under: Home Improvement by Olga Gilmore

Color is one of the most relative means of expression, as the famed color theorist Josef Albers once said. It’s also one of the most evocative. From the Red Room in the Black Lodge to the pastel pink pastry boxes of Mendl’s Bakery, color conjures up strong psychological associations. Should we feel apprehensive—as is the case with David Lynch’s unsettling interiors—or revel in sweetness, as in Wes Anderson’s surreal dreamscape? Just as film directors reach for specific colors to create a mood, so too may we. During a hellaciously stressful and anxious time wrought by the novel coronavirus, color can become a coping mechanism.

Experts at the Pantone Color Institute, a global color consultancy, have been thinking a lot about the COVID-19 pandemic’s cultural effects, and how color fits into the picture.

“We look at things through the lens of color,” says Laurie Pressman, vice president of the Institute. “Of course, this is a public health crisis, and it’s not like a public health crisis is looked through a lens of color, but we’re thinking about: How is this going to affect what people need from color? How is this going to affect what people want from color? How can we help use color as an antidote to what’s going on?”

The Pantone Color Institute’s primary business is trend forecasting and advising brands on what colors they should consider for their products. This involves predicting what people might gravitate toward based on what’s happening in the world. Through initiatives like its popular Color of the Year program, now in its 20th year, Pantone also works to familiarize people with the language of color and color as a form of expression and communication. While Pressman says it’s too soon to speculate on how the pandemic will affect consumer marketing, she is thinking about the pervasiveness of uncertainty, stress, and anxiety right now and how that might lead us to seek out products and spaces that are soothing, relaxing, and comforting. And color can be a significant player in achieving those sensibilities.

It wouldn’t be the first time hues were used to soothe. For hundreds of years, color theorists have ascribed psychological characteristics to hues based on intuition. Warm colors—like reds, yellows, and oranges—are associated with active feelings, while cool colors—like blues and greens—are widely believed to be calming and healing.

Chromotherapy (considered alternative medicine to some and pseudoscience to others) has been hawked as a remedy for illness since Ancient Egypt. In the early 1900s, a New York City psychiatric hospital even had a “color ward” to treat patients: a black room to soothe “manic” patients, a red room to treat “melancholia,” violet for “insanity,” blue and green rooms for the “boisterous,” and a white room for someone who is “practically well,” as a 1902 New York Times story stated. “[S]o completely is a patient surrounded by an atmosphere of a particular color, deemed best by physicians for his particular mania, that the vibrations must act on him,” the reporter wrote. Rudolf Steiner, who founded Waldorf education, believed that classrooms should be painted in specific colors based on the developmental age of students.

The interest in how color affects mood, and maybe even mental health, hasn’t waned since the early 1900s. Recently, researchers interested in the effects of interior design on stress and anxiety have studied the body’s response to color, hoping to find some scientific backing to anecdotal assumptions. In a small experiment, researchers at the Aalborg University of Copenhagen blindfolded subjects, connected them to EEG machines (which register brain activity), and exposed them to different colors of light. Their brains were more active when their bodies were exposed to red and blue light. Green light yielded calmness and relaxation. Another study found that blue light helps people relax more than if they were using white light.

Science is still trying to prove how color affects our bodies and minds in a quantifiable way, but Pantone’s decades of experience in the area have led to an intuitiveness about what color can accomplish for our moods. Pressman believes that color can serve as an antidote to today’s trying times in three ways: by calming us, by soothing us, and by offering some much-needed positive energy.

“Now is not the time for grays,” Pressman says, the color many people gravitated toward after the 2008 financial crisis, to which the COVID-19 pandemic is drawing comparisons. Instead, she recommends meditative nature shades like blues, greens, and browns as calming options. To soothe us, she suggests colors that gently warm us, like pastel pinks, burnt oranges, and terra-cotta shades. To brighten moods, she looks to reds and yellows.

“I need to feel positive because of all the uncertainty in the air and am trying to summon up the energy,” Pressman says. “So to put on that red shirt, to put on that yellow pillow, or something that sparks optimism and energy.”

Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2020 is Classic Blue, which was chosen for its association with feelings of calm, confidence, and connection. Classic Blue was finalized in the summer of 2019, well before the pandemic, but it feels especially relevant now.

“We just knew going forward, people needed confidence, they needed stability, they needed strength, they needed dependability,” Pressman says of picking the color of the year, which is more about a cultural statement than trend forecasting. “We’re looking forward, but at the same time we are fearful and we need that solid foundation so we can comfortably and confidently cross that bridge into this new era. This kind of color—with its ability to elicit feelings of calm, with its feelings of sincerity, and a feeling of anchoring and continuity—fosters resilience and can be protective.”

When it comes to applying these colors to our homes, Pressman suggests thinking about how you want to feel when you step inside the door, how you want to feel in specific rooms, and using color to create those moods. For example, a very bright optic white could look beautiful, but feel stark. A creamier white or a white with brown undertones could make the color more warming. Using yellow in an entry hall, she says, can add sunniness. Meanwhile, something like a terra cotta could add instant warmth. Pastel hues, she says, are very popular right now and very livable.

“I think a lot of people are living in really open spaces, so you have to find ways to inject color,” Pressman says. “It may not be that a room has only this one color, so even if you are in a warm room, it doesn’t mean you can’t bring in some energizing reds. … It’s all about the balance here of warm and cool. It’s not just one or the other. That balance is really important.”

For as many colors that exist in the world, there as many theories about how they make us feel. “Color deceives continually,” Albers wrote, referring to how adjacent colors change the way we see the same hue. When it comes to using color to make you feel happier and more comfortable in your home, go with the combination that makes you feel good, however you define it.

Curbed; By Diana Budds  Apr 27, 2020, 1:00pm EDT

Filed under: Home Improvement by Olga Gilmore