5 Best Home Investments for Less than a New TV

by Jon Nunan

According to the Consumer Electronics Association in Arlington Virginia, in 2003, the average price of a flat screen TV was about $3,200. This year, similar sets are closer to $1,800, but hidden costs that come with home entertainment upgrades can be significant. Mounting that flat screen TV on the wall averages about $400. Add that to the cables you need, the Blu-Ray player you want, and the HD channels you pay for, and the total cost of watching TV can get pricey pretty quickly (even if you don't opt for the 55 inch, $3,000 monitor).

Though we can't help but love our TVs, the fact is, there are quite a few things you can do with your home for under $3,000 that will enhance its function, improve your living space, and may even increase your property value. ServiceMagic.com, an online resource matching homeowners to pre-screened contractors, has provided these 5 fantastic improvements you can have for around the price of a TV upgrade!

Install a Masonry Fireplace $2,937
There's no doubt that a TV can provide hours of enjoyment, but how many TVs have you seen that won't be obsolete after 100 years? Installing a masonry fireplace is an investment that will increase your property value, enhance your gatherings (or even your relaxing nights at home), and will last as long as you own your house!

Refinish Cabinets $2,722
Remodeling shows have Americans in a hurry to create the space they've always wanted. Unfortunately, many of the remodels you see on TV are too much for many budgets to handle. For those who want a new look in their kitchen without spending tens of thousands of dollars, cabinet refinishing can provide a dramatic aesthetic boost at a fraction of the cost!

Solar Water Heater $2,475
How does an investment that helps the environment and saves you money on monthly bills sound? At an average cost of under $2,500, installing a solar water heater is an investment in the future that will not only reduce your "footprint," but can eventually pay for itself!

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Build a Closet $2,121
How many of us couldn't use a little more storage space? For the price of HD and surround sound you can reduce clutter, add marketability, and increase property value with this small home addition!

Wood Floor Refinishing $1705
When properly maintained, wood floors aren't just beautiful, but durable, too! Your hardwood can last a lifetime, and refinishing it can eliminate the damage created by years of traffic and abuse. Because this process actually exposes fresh wood, the results can literally make your floor look brand new!

Speaking the Language of Home Accents

by Marcus Pickett

Home accents are furnishings, features, and installations that enhance your home's décor and are usually best when they mix decorative qualities and functionality. Home accents can be anything from a fireplace to a clock, from elaborate chandeliers to tiny candle holders. They are the backbone of any decorating style and the delicate skin of your home's interior. Home accents have become such an accepted category of interior design that individual items have become their own home accent category. Whether you're looking for a single item or an entire array of home accents, you can often benefit from the expertise of an interior decorator or a skilled artisan who can create custom-made accents.

Accent Chair
Accent chairs are great finishing touches for your living room. Upholstered, canvassed, and cushioned chairs are only a few of comfortable chair materials. Ottomans, chaise lounges, and unique armless chairs are great ideas for interesting chair designs. Naturally, an accent chair should be comfortable to sit in and match your home décor, but certain chairs may be skewed in one direction or another. Accent chairs in a finished basement, rec room, or game room should probably be geared more toward comfort, while chairs in the family room or sitting room, where they may not be used as often, may be geared more toward décor.

Accent Table
As many kinds of accent chairs that are available, there are probably even more kinds of accent tables. Custom-made coffee tables can be an amazing centerpiece to your living room. They can be made from all sorts of decorative materials or they can combine other home furnishing, such as a coffee table aquarium. What might be considered the original home accent (the hope chest) can also be used as a makeshift table. For the cerebrally inclined, a chess table might be the perfect accent table. An entryway bench is a great piece of furniture between an accent table and chair and is perfect for greeting people entering your home. Any number of table designs can be used to both display household items and provide extra storage.

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Hire an Interior Decorator
Interior decorators are great sources of home accent savvy. They can evaluate your pre-existing décor and style and make recommendations that would never have considered otherwise. Interior decorators have professional training in dealing with quirky home spaces, problem solving, and creating a cohesive decorating style from room to room. No matter how many examples of accent pieces we list, a personalized assessment of your specific home will yield the best results. Even a brief, on-site consultation will help you improve your home décor and find the right accent pieces to enhance your home

Chateaux Chic: French Country Decorating

by Jon Nunan

In the States, it's easy to get confused about what things France is really responsible for. We've got French fries and French toast to go with our French braids and French manicures. The origins of these and others are, at the very least, suspicious.

In the tradition of the real France comes French country decorating. As a look, it's gaining popularity; easy to understand once you've seen it. Characterized by natural materials and fine craftsmanship, it is as cozy as it is compelling. As long as it stays true to its roots, French country decorating is destined to join the ranks of champagne and the baguette as an authentic and wonderful import. French Country Decorating
When something goes onto a wall or is placed on a counter, it can have function as well as form. French country accentuates fine craftsmanship by letting functional items become decoration in themselves. In the kitchen, well worked, and often well worn, metal cookware hangs on the wall or from the ceiling. The sight and smell of dried herbs add old world charm. Fine glassware shimmers in soft sunlight. In the living room, furniture is fashioned of heavy wood. The coffee table with elegantly curved legs has been delicately carved with old world designs. The fireplace, (and there should be a fireplace) with the solid slab of wood for a mantle, is ready to be filled with crackling flames at a moment's notice. The bedroom, once again, leans toward rustic. A solid wood dresser compliments the oak head and baseboards. In the interest of comfort, the bedroom sports warm down and wool blankets; around the room are hints of lace. Well, you get the picture. Fine woodwork and metalwork can get expensive, though. Lucky for us, French country is best when things look weathered. Those interested in the style should check thrift stores or yard sales in addition to buying new furniture meant to look old.

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French Country Materials
The hallmark of French country lies in the materials you use. Every piece of furniture and every decoration should be made of natural material that has been processed little or not at all. The same goes for the actual make up of the house. Stone and wood are the staples of a French country home. Rugs are preferable to carpet.

If you are in the process of building, rough stone and hardwood make a bold statement. A French country room doesn't shy away from showing a home's construction; beams in the walls and ceiling are often left uncovered. Colors should look natural and a bit muted, leaving room for the bright colors of individual items to shine. A French country home or room should feel cozy but solid. When purchasing furniture, quality is better than quantity in this case. Keeping it simple will assure that your room design will be beautiful, functional, and elegant for years to come.

The Nuances of Country Decor

by Marcus Pickett

Even if it occurs after the walls have gone up and the floors have gone down, home decorating should be a lot more than just an afterthought for creating the home that's ideal for you. Finding a decorating theme is a great jumping off point for your home decorating, and country décor is one of the more popular decorating choices. Like most decorating themes, country home décor is loosely defined and has several incarnations. By taking a look at the different kinds of country décor, you'll be able to better understand what this decorating style has to offer, and you can start brainstorming ideas for your home.

Rustic Country Home Décor
When most homeowners imagine country décor, rustic country is most likely what they imagine. Dominated by wood and stone installations, rustic country is a down-to-earth. Rustic country décor is still colorful, but the color schemes tend to be more subtle and muted. To picture it in even greater detail, imagine your bathroom with a clawfoot tub, your kitchen with open shelves, your living room furniture and walls with mottled finishes to create a worn, charmed look. It's a model home for people who like to dwell in a relaxing, slower-paced life. It's hard to imagine a young professional rushing off to work from such a home, but it also creates a classic, worry-free feel.

Contemporary Country Home Décor
Contemporary country may sound like a paradox or clashing styles, but it's far from it. These two decorating styles intersect in any number of places and have led to contemporary country becoming its own decorating style. One of the biggest elements of contemporary décor is lighting design. More than general overhead light fixtures, contemporary lighting uses wall lights and lamps to create more specific task and accent lighting. Wall sconces fashioned as candles and a decorative wood backing are a great example of contemporary country décor. Borrowing from contemporary's love for low maintenance metal and simplicity, a wrought iron chandelier is another great idea. Go to a decorating showroom and there's a good chance you'll find a contemporary country display.

Primitive Country Décor
Primitive country décor is a style of country decorating that emphasizes the worn look of country decorating. It's almost exactly synonymous with shabby chic or the trend of intentionally distressing materials and installations to give a timeless quality to the home. It's often achieved through a combination of custom-made furnishings from artisans and venturing out and sifting through the fare at flea markets. To up the ante even further, a recent trend has been to take high-end materials such as exotic woods and fine stone and alter their appearance with various sanding, painting, and finishing techniques. It may sound a little exorbitant, but if you've got the money there's almost no better way to create a one-of-a-kind effect throughout your home.

5 Interior Ideas for Outdoor-Types

by Jon Nunan
1. Add a Sunroom
According to ServiceMagic.com, an online resource linking homeowners and contractors, requests for sunroom additions has increased by 81% in the past year. The desirability of natural sunlight in the dead of winter is something that's easy to understand, and getting that sunlight without having to brave the cold weather is apparently appealing to a growing number of homeowners.
The Cheaper Version: If you don't think that the addition of an entire room devoted to natural light is your kind of investment, you can get a similar feeling in your living area by upgrading to a picture window, bay window, or skylight!
2. Plan an Indoor Garden
Houseplants are great and can really bring a taste of the outdoors inside, but for those who need more than just a nibble of nature, an indoor garden can really be a pick-me-up during the long winter months. As many gardeners already know, starting plants inside is a common technique to have a successful crop in the spring and summer. However, there's no reason why, with the proper equipment, you can't have a booming garden all year round!
Successful indoor gardens are, in some ways, even easier to produce than outdoor gardens because you have far better control over the amount of light and water your plants get. Indoor gardens are also less likely to be affected by disease and insect life!
3. Upgrade a Porch or Covered Deck
What better way is there to enjoy the outside than actually leaving the house? Porches and covered decks can be excellent areas to relax by yourself or entertain all year round if they are outfitted properly. The biggest reason why people don't spend time on their porches and decks during the winter is, of course, the cold weather. However, by enhancing an outdoor area with a wood stove or outdoor fireplace, you can make your outdoor space warm and comfortable.
If this seems like something you would be interested in, it is worth the time to compare traditional wood burners with newer pellet stoves, which produce no creosote (a major cause of chimney fires) and, according to the EPA, "?are some of the cleanest-burning heating appliances available today."

4. Indoor Water Features
For some outdoor types, the sight and sound of running water is hard to go months at a time without. By installing any one of the many varieties of indoor water features in your home, the sight and sound of a babbling brook can be had right in your living room. Ranging in price from under $500 to over $5,000, there is literally an indoor fountain or fall for every budget!
5. Reinvent Old Equipment
For die-hard outdoor enthusiasts, a little cold weather is hardly a deterrent. Skiers, hikers, and campers who are bold enough to brave the cold weather, however, often end up amassing plenty of gear as the years go by. Instead of parting with well-used equipment, why not make it into something that can still be of use? With a little effort, skis, poles, chair lifts, and many other outdoor items can be made into durable, attractive furniture. You can purchase these pieces already made, hire someone to build them for you, or get the plans to construct them yourself. Not only does your old equipment get a new purpose, it avoids a trip to the landfill!

Bedroom Furniture for Looks and Function

by Matt Goering

 

Few additions to your bedroom define the space more than the bedroom furniture set you purchase. Bedroom furniture is something that, when chosen wisely, gives your bedroom character and compliments your personality and tastes. Of course, choosing the right furniture can also make a huge difference when it comes to maximizing space usage and storage, so it's important to take into account both your needs and desires before you purchase a new bedroom furniture set.
Basic Bedroom Design
The right bedroom design for you varies depending on what you use your bedroom for. Is just a place where you sleep away the night? In that case focus on the bed and little else. If you're like most homeowners, however, the bedroom has become a multi-purpose space. Avid readers probably will want to incorporate a nightstand and bookshelves into their design plan, while movie buffs and television addicts should explore television wall mounts or T.V. stands. Fashion devotees probably need to consider larger clothes storage needs, and purchase the appropriate wardrobes, dressers, and other storage solutions. Before you start shopping, sit down and make a list of what your bedroom is used for and look for furniture that compliments that.
What Bedroom Furniture Do You Need (And What Do You Not?)
Some homeowners have the luxury of spacious bedrooms that can accommodate just about any furniture choices they make. For the rest of us, it's important to be realistic about weighing needs and desires. Is a king sized bed the best choice, or would a queen sized bed allow for that much needed second dresser? Sure, two nightstands add a touch of symmetry to any bedroom, but would purchasing just one free up space and give your bedroom a more open and inviting feel? And that antique wardrobe is a stunning piece, but keep in mind it's going to take up most of an entire wall. If it's the perfect fit, go for it. But something a little smaller and compact might be a better choice if you're pressed for space.

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Think Space and Storage
By now you've probably noticed a theme coming through here: even the most beautiful bedroom furniture set can make a room feel cramped and uncomfortable if it's overdone. The best way to avoid this is to look for furniture solutions that provide both looks and storage. Platform beds, for example, offer ample storage space underneath either in open space or built in drawers. A shoulder height lingerie chest provides more storage space in the same area than a delicate Queen Anne style dresser. And a nightstand with drawers and cabinets is always a better choice than a small end table. Generally when it comes to bedroom design, more storage in less space is the way to go. It will mean you'll be able to enjoy the furniture you do have more, and because you'll have ample storage space for your needs, you won't be constantly fighting the clutter and inconvenience that is so common when you run out of space to put all your stuff.
Take Advantage of Expert Advice
When it comes to designing the perfect bedroom for you, there are two resources you'd be remiss not to look into. The first is a good interior decorator. They are more than skilled in optimizing space and beautifying rooms at the same time, and you'd be amazed how valuable their services can be. The second is a good custom furniture builder. If you have the means, you'll be getting exactly the look you want in your  bedroom furniture,  it will be built to last (unlike so much of the stock furniture available to customers at retail outlets), and it can be built specifically for your needs. Both professionals and their services are well worth the extra investment in the end.

MoMA Announces Winner of 2012 Young Architects Program

by Ian Volner 

The Young Architects Program, the Museum of Modern Art‘s annual homage to fresh talent, is entering its 13th year in 2012, and this time the mantle has settled on up-and-coming office HollwichKushner (HWKN). As in years past, the firm will erect its winning proposal for an outdoor installation in the front forecourt of P.S.1, MoMA’s contemporary cousin in Long Island City, Queens.

HWKN’s concept, titled “Wendy,” calls for a large steel frame supporting a jutting, angular canopy, around and under which visitors can sit on a raised dais. The canopy’s nylon fabric is sprayed with what’s being described as a “nano-particle spray” from a substance called titania, which actually captures and holds carbon monoxide and other emissions from the surrounding air. According to MoMA, over the course of the summer-long installation, Wendy’s air-cleansing magic will amount to some 260 cars being removed directly from the streets of Queens.

The win for HWKN is the latest coup for a firm that has already made waves for its innovative design-world social media site, Architizer. Barry Bergdoll, who heads up the museum’s Department of Architecture & Design, had this to say about their winning submission: “HollwichKushner’s design is at once based in emerging science of materials related to environmental cleansing [and] also on a zany quest for a space that is simply good fun.”