(This post is brought to you by Hestia Home Services.)

Is your home feeling drab and uninspiring? Before you get ready to hang up a sale sign, check out the ideas below for ways to give your space new life.

The Kitchen

There’s a reason upgrading the kitchen is one of the top ways to increase your home’s value. This room is often considered the heart of the home. So it makes sense that this is one of the top spots for renovating. To give your kitchen a facelift, consider getting in some new appliances if yours are on the older side. You can also replace the countertops or simply paint the cabinets. Finally, if you want to go big, you could do something dramatic like knocking out a wall, adding in an island, or redoing the floors.

The Bathroom

Another essential area in your home is the bathroom. It may seem like the room you spend the least amount of time in, but it’s also a significant contributor to your home’s value. Doing some simple things like adding in a new counter or bathtub can go a long way.

According to Houston remodeling contractors Hestia Home Services, when it comes to kitchen and bathroom renovations, “Simple things like choosing quartz counters over marble and quality fittings reduces our maintenance woes. Likewise, installing LED lights, opting for insulated windows cuts energy bills. Not to mention, brighter designs makes it look larger and more relaxing.”

Bedrooms

Next, you’ll want to consider the bedrooms in your home. Start with your own bedroom. When was the last time you replaced your mattress? Does the furniture go with the rest of the room? How do you feel about the paint color? Your bedroom is supposed to be your safe haven away from the stresses of the world, so make sure it’s a place you love to spend time in.

After that, move onto the other bedrooms. Perhaps your kids have grown out of their old furniture and need an upgrade. Or maybe you plan on having guests over more often and want to upgrade your spare bedroom. Again, small changes can go a long way, so you don’t have to spend a lot of money to transform a bedroom.

The Basement

If you have a basement, consider fixing it up a bit. When done right your basement can turn into a great place to entertain guests or simply spend time relaxing. Of course, many basements are dark and dank naturally, so you’ll have to do some work to make it homey. Consider adding an electric heater or fireplace, installing more lights, and getting some comfortable furniture. Add in a television and you’re good to go.

Your Yard

Finally, don’t forget about the outside of your home. Remodeling the inside is great, but if you want to improve your curb appeal, while also giving yourself a relaxing place to spend time outside, you’ll want to fix up the yard. This means doing some landscaping, maybe adding in some patio furniture, or installing a water feature. Here are some great yard ideas for inspiration.

How to Prepare for Your Remodel

To get started with your remodel, you’ll first want to decide on which room you’re tackling first. Is it your kitchen? One of the bedrooms? After you choose one, start coming up with a list of all the things you want to do. For now, don’t worry about the budget, just let your imagination run wild.

Once you have a pre-remodeling checklist, you can start pricing everything you want to do. As you go along, you’ll figure out which items are possible within your budget, and which ones will have to go by the wayside. No matter which methods you choose, you’ll have to find a way to pay for them. The best thing you can do is start saving up early, and make sure you know all the costs before you start any of the work.

Finally, if you’re planning a big job, get some help. Find a local remodeling service to help give you ideas and do the work for you. This will save you time and ensure the job gets done right. Hopefully this guide was able to get you started thinking about remodeling your home, and it won’t be long before you’ve transformed some problem areas into spaces you love.

(This post is brought to you by G&B Tile and Plaster.)

Let’s face it: it’s easy to get bored with your backyard. Unless you have a particular knack for gardening, you might stop taking care of your yard entirely. But it is possible to bring your backyard back to life and turn it into something special. Here are a few ways to revitalize the prime real estate behind your home.

Build a Pool

Imagine the perfect American home.

If you placed your abode in the West or the South, there’s a good chance it includes a pool. It’s a sign of luxury. Having a pool is also an easy way to connect with your friends and family during the hot summer months.

A pool is also a huge expense. Building a pool on your property will increase its value but you won’t see that money until you move out. You’ll have to take care of the initial cost upfront.

You need to search for pool plaster companies until you find one that can boast features like best replastering process available hydroblasting with a 40,000 PSI UHP Water Jetting Machine.

Add Rocks

A desert-style landscape not only looks amazing, it’s easy to maintain. (Leaving you with more time to lounge by that pricey pool.)

To complete your backyard style change, consider adding rocks. There will be an upfront cost, but you’ll save money and time over the years when you don’t have to mow your yard.

If you want to get the ultimate rock look, think about hiring a professional landscaper.

Get Social

To fall in love with your backyard, you need to create new memories. Make the most out of your space by hosting a BBQ or party. Invite your friends and family over and have a blast.

And don’t wait until everything is “perfect” to enjoy your outdoor spaces—you can have people over at any stage of your backyard development. People who love you won’t care what your property looks like. They’ll want to hang out with you.

Hire a Professional

Sometimes, you need a professional touch to get the results you want. A professional landscaper or gardener can completely transform your outdoor space. There are a couple of different ways to go about this.

If your backyard needs a complete overhaul, your best bet is to hire a landscaper and plan for a big project. You may never work with this person again after the work is complete. You’re not looking for someone to maintain your yard, just to make changes that you can’t make on your own.

If you’re happy with the way your yard looks overall but you’re battling problems like creeping weeds and dead grass, you can hire a crew to come a few times a month to keep everything in line.

Decorate

Great lighting, patio furniture, decorations will liven up your backyard. You may find some treasures for a bargain at garage sales and online shops.

If you have kids, you can focus on things like swing sets, basketball hoops, and tree houses. Some of their favorite childhood memories may be made in your back yard.

Don’t let concerns about a lack of design skills keep you from making your backyard into one of the best parts of your home.

Trust and proven expertise should be the most important factors when choosing professionals to work in your home– and if you are facing a major remodel project finding the right general contractor can make all the difference.

Taking on a “Fixer Upper”

When my husband and I purchased a house on an acreage, about 50 minutes from Boise, Idaho, we knew there was a reason we got a great price: It needed to be fully renovated before we could call it home.

At the time we were living in Taiwan and preparing to move back to the US the next year. I immediately started doing my homework to figure out how much this was going to cost– and hoping I would manage to find the right people to do everything that needed to be done. One of my first moves was to price out kitchen cabinets and countertops at Ikea. (That’s a chain store you can find all over the world!) I was in the process of trying to get prices on installation when I decided to send Trudy Mallon, with Mallon Homes, a message asking about the average price of a kitchen installation in the Boise real estate market. Her estimate for the entire project was similar to what I had calculated materials alone would cost. We scheduled a meeting to go over the house to discuss our needs and wants during our next trip to the US.

Expertise Makes a Difference

We jumped at the chance to have Tim and Trudy Mallon take a look at our home for two reasons: 1) We’d met them through church years ago and know they are passionate about their work. 2) We’d enjoyed touring their homes during the annual “Parade of Homes” in the Boise area. What we didn’t realize is how quickly an expert could tell us what needed to happen– and what it would cost.

The house came with a 1,200 square foot attached garage– with a wooden floor. Because of the construction method used we weren’t convinced cars could safely drive into the garage. In his first walk through the house, Tim was able to tell us how that space could be turned into a master suite, laundry room, office, and oversized two-car garage with a cement floor.

We immediately saw the value in having a plan to make the house fit our needs (and wants), add value by improving the layout, and avoid having to build a separate garage.

Making Smart Customization Choices

When it was time to pick out interior finishing materials for our home, we took advantage of our builders’ expertise while selecting options that appealed to us. We started by looking at the standard finishes used by the builder and then picked a few special items we wanted to upgrade– and found other areas where we could select a less expensive option so we could stay on budget.

Shopping in December allowed us to get a deal on some materials– like travertine tiles for our master bathroom. We chose a granite our builder was able to get at a steep discount. We also cut costs with some of our lighting choices and splurged on decorative tile for backsplashes.

In the end we spent the same amount we expected originally (when we had intended to do some of the work ourselves) but got a home with nicer finishes than we originally expected.

Do you live in the Boise area or plan to move here soon? If so, be sure to check out the Boise Parade of Homes. And no matter where you live, please comment below let me know where you find your inspiration!

(A big thanks to our friends at Taylor Morrison for sponsoring this post!)

Making interior design decisions can be intimidating for the average homeowner. After all, you want something that looks great and fits in with the season’s best trends, but you also want a home design that will look equally great next year. While trends often change, some smart strategies will help you make choices that will stand the test of time. In this post, we’ll focus on how you can make intelligent home décor decisions in three important areas of your home.

Your Kitchen

Cupboards are one of the most expensive—and critical—components in your kitchen. You can stretch your interior design dollars by taking a cue from gorgeous residences like Sol Y Mar in Rancho Palos Verdes, shown above. You’ll notice that the home’s kitchen features contrasting light and dark cabinetry.

Most homeowners opt for a single color scheme, but if you take a look at high-end homes (check for a “Parade of Homes” event in your local area) you are likely to find some design elements with sharp contrasts. These seemingly risky design choices are exactly what can make the difference between an average home and amazing home design that will stun your friends.

To make your own design decisions study as many beautiful homes as you can. Before long you will be able to choose two shades that perfectly complement each other and your family’s tastes. You can also make use of a color palette to help you choose the shades.

Great design also has a practical component. When renovating the entire kitchen, try to add more drawers. Deep drawers are great, and they can be easily added practically everywhere. Consider other storage challenges you currently face and see if you can incorporate some great solutions into your new kitchen design.

Your Living Room

When designing your living room, it is important to make sure it’s an inviting space where family and friends will enjoy spending quality time.

While you may want to opt for a clean look, make sure the overall effect of your living room décor scheme is inviting. Warm paint colors, comfortable furniture, and interesting wall art will help make the space attractive and relaxing. You can also add magazines, books, and attractive editions of favorite board games. Most importantly, keep your family’s taste and style in mind to make sure it’s not only beautiful but also decorated in a way that will make it a center for family entertainment.

Your Bathrooms

Bathrooms are a great place to make a huge impact in your home. If you have space, consider adding a vanity, open shelving, or a larger bathroom mirror that will create a great focal point. This can make a huge difference if the bathroom is small since the mirror makes everything seem larger. To make the space seem even larger, paint the walls white or a light neutral shade. This is especially effective if you have a good source of outdoor light through windows. If you have a dark bathroom, consider whether a new light fixture would transform the space.

Also, take a critical look to see if new finishes would improve the overall feel of the room or make it easier to clean. Deep cleaning with products like Bon Ami and Bar Keeper’s Friend can help you determine whether you actually need to replace counters, flooring, and fixtures. You may discover that simply replacing the sealant around sinks and bathtubs will give your bathroom a fresh new appearance. (This will also help prevent dangerous mold from developing when water seeps into walls and floorboards.)

Are you facing a design challenge? Experienced a recent success? We’d love to hear from you! Comment  below.

Simple Ways to Turn Your Bathroom Into a Spa

(A big “thank you” to our friends at TheBathOutlet.com for sponsoring this post!)

Here are a few simple tips and ideas to give your bathroom the relaxing atmosphere of a day spa.

• Declutter and simplify. It’s easy to let excess products and grooming tools take over your vanity, shower, and tub. Toss anything you no longer use, store anything only used occasionally, and find attractive storage containers for daily essentials.
• Utilize the right storage. If you have a medicine cabinet, use it to store everyday items like toothpaste, floss, mouthwash, toiletries, and other essentials. If your bathroom lacks storage try incorporating jars for small items and baskets for larger things, like towels.
  
• Choose calming colors. Light shades have a soothing effect. When choosing colors for décor and paint try shades of white, light blue, and neutral tones such as tan and beige. Also, see if you can incorporate natural elements including potted plants, flowers, and fragrance.
• Luxurious Final Touches. Finish off the transformation with luxury bathroom accessories such as soft towels and aromatherapy.

With a bit of work and creativity you can experience a spa-like setting on a daily basis—and likely for less than the cost of a single visit to your favorite day spa.

When Your Bathroom Needs More Help

Are you struggling to image a spa-like atmosphere in your outdated bathroom? Even if you’re not ready for a serious renovation project, it may be worthwhile to budget for a mini-facelift.

• Remove all clutter and clean the bathroom.
• Identify eyesores. Are there stains? Damaged paint, worn countertops, or chipped sinks? How about outdated faucets, hardware, or colors you can’t stand?
• Try cleaning things that look like they need to be replaced. Barkeepers Friend is an amazing inexpensive product that can remove hard-water buildup and stains on counters that look like they need to be replaced. (Be sure to follow all product instructions, including using gloves.) Even a chipped porcelain sink may look like new when thoroughly cleaned.
• Make a list of priorities and budget for minor repairs. A new faucet and cabinet hardware can make a huge difference. Also, don’t forget about the little things. A classy toilet bowl brush holder or a container to store extra rolls of toilet paper can also help.

Investing in a Bathroom Facelift

Choosing to spend some time, creativity, and a little money on an inexpensive bathroom facelift can be a great investment. After all, you’ll get an opportunity to enjoy that part of your home on a daily basis. And if you ever decide to sell your home having a great looking, well-staged, bathroom will be a huge asset.

Garage Organization: Tips to Start off the New Year

Figure out how much space you have

The first step is to find out how much space you really have for storing. Do to that, make an layout of your garage and determine on the space that is available. A good trick is to park your car in it as you normally do, and open all your car’s doors. No make an outline of your car with opened doors, using tape or chalk. Leave some extra space when you make the outline. Close the doors and remove your car. Now you will know exactly how much space you have to use as storage.

Decide on what you need to store in the garage

Knowing how much space you have, try to decide which things need to be in the garage. Doing that, you will automatically make decisions about what to keep in your house. Try to keep only the truly necessary stuff and decide what you will sell, donate or toss.

Ask yourself how to divide your available space

Divide your stuff into categories. Choose for each category an area where you will be storing it. This way you will always know where to look when you want to clean your car or to find seasonal items. Remember to keep stuff you need often in an area that you can reach easy. Items that come out only one or two times a year, like Christmas decorations, you can keep in a more remote or higher place. Also, don’t forget that large, heavy items should be stored at the bottom.

Best ways for organizing storage

• Use shelving, bins and boxes

Shelving is the best friend for anyone that wants to store stuff. You can choose between open shelving, closets or combine these two. You can re-use old cupboards or shelves. Get some bins, boxes and buckets to put your smaller stuff in them.

• Categorize and Label

You can either categorize by use or by items. So you can store all your rags at one place, or put the rags used for car cleaning with your other car cleaning materials.

Labeling all your storing items is essential to find your stuff but to also knowing in a second where something belongs to.

• Use your walls and ceiling

Walls can be made available for a great amount of storage. Use pegboards, hooks and wire racks to store everything, from bicycles and shovels to tools and pots.

There are great options available to use the higher parts of your garage for storing. If you need that space, it is worth having a look at those options. Also, hooks to hang your bicycles or other items are a great option.

Need more garage organization ideas? Check out these 19 ideas.

Organizing your garage has not to be something difficult to do. If you plan it correctly and use the available space smartly, you will be suprised with how simple it can be done. Let us know what Garage Organization: Tips to Start off the New Year you have!

For more organization tips on Stagetecture, click here.

New Years Eve Party Ideas: Dress Up your Party Glasses

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Make Sprinkle or Edible Glitter Rimmed Glasses

This is such an easy and fun way to make an impression. Just dip your glass into a little syrup, honey, icing or chocolate, depending on what you will drink with it. Then dip it into the sprinkles of your choice. Chocolate and colored sprinkles are great for kids, but take care that they are old enough not to try to bite it off. Bright colored sanding sugar or edible golden or silver glitter is a unique to way dress up Champagne flutes or cocktail glasses.

To make your own colored sugar you will need 1 cup plain white sugar and 2 drops of the food color you want. Take a jar which has a good fitting lid and pour in the sugar. Add the food coloring and close the lid. Now just shake the jar until all the sugar is colored. If needed, add some more food coloring and repeat the process. Spread the sugar onto a baking paper sheet or aluminum foil and let it dry for a few hours.

Beautify the Bowl of the Glass

To do that you will need glitter of choice, modge podge, paint brush and if you want stencil and tape or some painter’s tape. Clean the glasses thoroughly and make sure they are dry. You can now use the painter’s tape to wrap around the rim or stem or tape the stencil on the glass. Apply to the area you want to decorate a thin layer of modge podge and sprinkle the glitter so it will stick to the podge. Let it dry completely.

The best way to make sure that the glitter doesn’t come off is to apply one or two coats of decoupage coat. Let them dry and remove the tape and stencil if you used one.

Using the same method, you can also decorate the base of the glass.

Decorate the Wine Glass Stem

Print out some labels, use washi tape or create your own labels and wrap them around the stem. Use colors that match the rest of the décor and write season’s wishes.

For a simpler decoration, you can tie a nice ribbon around the stem or secure it with a drop of hot glue.

It is easy to turn an ordinary item into something great and impressive. Add some party mood and a good bottle of Champagne and you are all set to have the first, fancy drink of the New Year.

For more New Year’s ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

19 Creative Christmas Decoration Ideas to Try this Season

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1. Green Christmas Decorating – Can you Reuse from Previous Years?

Take a look at the decorations you already have. Do you really need to shop for anything new? Maybe those stockings still look beautiful and those Christmas tree décor will do its job fine. And if at all you really need to buy some décor pieces, check out secondhand shops like Goodwill where you will find lots of vintage and gently used holiday décor. Also, don’t forget to donate items that you have become tired of someone will treasure them!

2. If you don’t want to shop how about natural Christmas ornaments? 

Want a creative Christmas decoration? Take a look at this DIY to make dried fruit ornaments.

3. Christmas Decoration Ideas: Use LED Candles

When it comes to warm winter ambiance, there is nothing like a flickering candle. But, for those who are eco-conscious, there is an alternative that is eco-friendly, safer, and looks similar-LED candles. They are lightweight, reusable, and made from real wax. In fact, they flicker in the same way like real candles-only without smoke, flame, and messy wax. The best thing about LED candles is that they are sustainable as they last much longer, unlike regular candles, which quickly burn down to an end.

4. Visit your Favorite Online Christmas Decoration Ideas Shops:

Check out local craft shops, holiday bazaars or online stores like Etsy and eBay to find something handmade that fits your purpose. We love these Etsy ideas for your Christmas party or just to give to guests.

15 Christmas Tree Decorations Ideas from our Favorite Blogger Friends

1. A Colorful Christmas Tree
2. No Sew Christmas Tree Skirt
3. Star Wars Droid Christmas Tree
4. Designer Dollar Store Christmas Tree
5. Book Page & Bakers Twine Garland
6. Migonis Christmas Home Tour
7. Christmas Tree Memories
8. Michaels Dream Tree Challenge
9. Scrap Ribbon Ornaments
10. Pinecone Owl Ornaments
11. Coastal Inspired Christmas Tree
12. How to Dry Orange Slices
13. DIY Ruffle Tree Skirt
14. Gone Camping Ornaments
15. Wine Cork Christmas Tree Ornaments

To go green this Christmas, you don’t have to compromise your Christmas décor, just be a little more careful about the items that you use to make your home sparkle.

For more Christmas decoration ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

How do you have your kids help out with holiday decorations? I love to use my daughter’s crafts and let them double as Christmas decor. Christmas kids crafts are perfect for winter break too! Help them not get bored even after Christmas is over, these kids crafts are great ideas. Take a look at these kids crafts and our blogger friends who have a good selection of crafts that you will enjoy giving to your kids, and will enjoy bringing them out for years to come… even more!

18 Easy Christmas Kids Crafts to Keep Them Busy

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1. Candy Cane Mice

It’s the kids who will be doing the nibbling when these sweet mice are around. A combination of two Christmas icons — mice and candy canes — these tiny fabric creatures, with their red-and-white-striped tails, make fitting favors at a holiday dinner or delightful gifts for children to give to friends and relatives. How to make craft.

2. Pipe-cleaner Snowflake Ornament

Need a fun, easy-to-make project that will keep the kids busy? All you need to create these ornaments are wire cutters, needle-nose pliers (both for adults’ use only), and pipe cleaners. They make great gifts for teachers, to adorn presents, or to hang from your tree. How to make craft.

3. Old Toy Christmas Tree Ornaments

If you love desserts, take a look at our desserts recipes on How To Make a Burlap Wreath website too!  The new redesigned site has more than just wreaths. Look to the new site for ways to celebrate, decorate and organize.

19 Of Our Best Holiday Cake Recipes

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1. Holiday Cake: Turtle Pumpkin Cheesecake Recipe

Starting off this holiday cake recipes list with a sweet and succulent cake that will have you and your guest begging for more.Oh who doesn’t love rich goodness of cheesecake? And how many of us like cheesecake that carries extra goodies on top, bottom and inside? If that is you then this holiday cake recipe is made for you. Turtle Pumpkin Cheesecake recipe, has all of the usual ingredients but has a mixture of pumpkin spice as an additional flavor. Not to mention chocolate and caramel sauce drizzle on top along with toasted pecans. Make your tongue say “Mmm-hmm.” Go ahead and make this holiday cake recipe a family favorite this season. We also like this Brandy Cheesecake Recipe.

2. Sugar-Free Dessert: Applesauce Cake Recipe

Now not all cakes have to be sugar filled like this next recipe for example. Typically, being on a sugar-free diet is not a part of the holiday plan. However, just because something is sugar-free doesn’t mean that it can’t be just as flavorful as a sugary delight. Try this Sugar free dessert: Applesauce Cake Recipe. This cake is completely simple to make and there are only a few substitutions that will only add to the deliciousness. Plus, when eating this cake you can still appease those sweet tooth cravings without feeling any guilt or heaviness when you’re done. Go ahead try it out!

3. Brown-Sugar Bourbon  Bundt Cake

You can’t have a true holiday without a bundt. And here is one bundt cake recipe that you can’t miss out on. Ladies and gentlemen, now introducing the Brown-Sugar Bourbon Bundt Cake recipe. Who doesn’t remember when you were in the kitchen and your grandmother or mother was filling the bundt pan with batter right before sliding the mixture into the oven? From this recipe you get the wonderful goodness of the maple brown-sugar emersed with a little liquor to enhance the sweetness of the entire cake that the family will adore.

4. Holiday Cake Favorite: Ambrosia Coconut Cake Recipe

Thanks to Southern Living, the Ambrosia Coconut Cake recipe is at our fingertips. This exotic cake recipe not only gives the sweet and refreshing flavors that everyone will love but can also serve as wonderful décor. It only takes a few easy steps to make and even better to taste, it is sure to quickly become a holiday tradition.

The holidays are a great time of the year. And what better way to celebrate it than with a baking recipe that will help to bring the entire family together. And these holiday cake recipes are just a small few of what you and your family can create. Don’t be limited and see what you all can come up with. Also, Stagetecture readers, do you have any recipes that you would like to share for the holidays?

15 Blogger Friends Holiday Cake Recipes

1. Holiday Rum Cake
2. Cranberry Orange Cake Recipe
3. Eggnog Bundt Cake Recipe
4. Tropical Christmas Cake
5. Cinnamon Roll Layer Cake
6. Gingerbread Bundt Cake With Vanilla Glaze
7. Gingerbreak Cheesecake
8. Ferrero Rocher Cake
9. Old Fashioned Jam Cake
10. Cranberry Pumpkin Upside Down Cake
11. Butter Crunch Cake
12. Cranberry Upside Down Cake
13. Simple Chocolate Peppermint Cake
14. Spiced Chocolate Eggnog Cake
15. Fresh Cranberry Cake Recipe

Do you want a chocolate cake recipes for the holidays?

Try this Moist Chocolate Cake Recipe!

Looking for more yummy desserts? Take a look through our dessert recipes category.