Renovations That Will Make an Old Home Look New

While the United States may not be as old as other countries, we still have no shortage of older houses, especially in New England. If you live in one of these older homes and want to bring it into the modern era, consider some of these renovations that will make an old home look new.

Update the Bathroom

The bathroom is a good place to focus your efforts because it’s typically where your day starts. Some older homes also have restrooms that use carpeting or linoleum floors, which is never ideal. In an environment that often gets wet, such moisture can ruin linoleum or fester in carpets until mildew and mold take hold. Consider trending designs with tile instead for a bathroom that’s both stylish and much more practical. Tiles are nonporous, meaning water, dirt, and other contaminants can’t get stuck on their surfaces. Cleaning and maintenance for tiles are thus so much easier.

Refresh the Kitchen

Have you ever considered how much time you spend in the kitchen or how old your appliances are? An easy renovation that will make an old home look new is replacing your current, outdated appliances with modern ones. This may seem costly at first, but it will save you money in the long run because modern appliances are much more efficient and less wasteful due to advances in technology. Tile can also come into play once more to give your kitchen sink a sleek new backsplash that accents the walls beautifully.

Improve First Impressions

The entryway is the first impression your guests receive when they enter your home. For many people, renovating the entire house is probably not viable. So, instead, focus on devoting the time and effort to renovate the entryway. This will do wonders for changing the perception of your home to something a bit newer and more stylish that’s in line with modern housing trends. Painting alone is a great way to update the entryway and make it look new and fresh. This is especially true because the paints of eras past were different from the vibrant paints of today.

The 4 Types of Wall Finishes and Which Would Be Best for Your Home

A pleasing home is one with many great details in place. One of the most important is the right choice in wall finishes. All rooms need to look and feel inviting. If you're not sure where to begin, our company can help. We know precisely how to create pleasing wall finishes based on details such as the application of color theory. Below are four types of finishes you could choose from.

Flat

One of the single most important things to understand when it comes to interior painting choices is that paint finishes have certain amounts of shine to them. Flat paint has a lot of uses. It provides a lot of coverage on walls. However, flat paints are not as durable as other kinds of paints. This one can easily crack and chip. It's best to keep this one to areas that don't get a lot of traffic. Use it on your ceiling as you're far less likely to touch that space on a daily basis.

Eggshell

Another option is what is known as an eggshell. Eggshell paints have just a bit more luster than flat paints. This is a good choice when you need to cover flaws with your existing walls. This is an ideal choice as they are more durable than standard flat finishes. This is a good choice when it comes to painting areas in your home that get only a bit of traffic now and then. They work in areas like your dining room that aren't used as frequently.

Satin

Satin finishes are actually the most common kind of wall finish. That's because they combine a great many qualities in a single paint finish. They have a low-level sheen that brings in light and helps add color. They're also very easy to clean. Use them in areas such as the laundry room and other areas where you need to clean often.

Gloss

Paints with gloss to them include semi-gloss and high-gloss. These are shiny and durable. They're also very easy to clean. Use them in your bathroom, kitchen, and other high-traffic areas. This is a great way to show off beautiful details such as intricate woodwork and trim. Keep in mind they will show stains immediately so they need to be washed as soon as you see a problem.

No matter what choice you make, you'll find it easy to pick out fabulous wall finishes with a little research and expert advice that will make your walls look amazing. The more effort you’re willing to put into your walls, the better the result is likely to be.

Ways to Get More Natural Light In Your House

Natural light has been connected to boosts in our welfare and happiness, and in the house, it may make a room brighter and lighter, giving the illusion of greater space. These recommendations are a terrific place to begin if you would like to flood your house with natural light.

Install Bigger Windows and Doors

If you're in the market for new windows and doors, now is a great time to boost the natural lighting coming in. Because of advancements in window production, there is less framework, resulting in the more exposed glass. For the most effect, choosing something like bow and bay windows can help you achieve just that. These may be used with fixed and operable units to enable lots of light and ventilation.

Mount Transform or Radius Windows

Another option could be to mount transom or radius windows over your existing windows to provide light while maintaining privacy. Any room may be transformed into a "sunroom" by replacing a solid outside door with a garden or patio door, blurring the borders between outdoor and indoor living areas. Add beautiful sidelights to surround your main door for an additional source of illumination in your entryway that does not require electricity.

Wash Your Windows

If you need a stronger reason to wash your windows and glass doors, here it is: unclean and dusty windows may prevent a lot of sunshine from entering your home. Clean windows, believe it or not, make your home appear more inviting and visually beautiful. As a result, you must wash your windows on a regular basis or contract professional window cleaners to do that for you.

Lighter Window Coverings

Replace heavy, brocade curtains with light, airy sheers. Recall your grandma's old house, when the drapes were so dense that you couldn't distinguish if it were night or day? Window decorations have evolved drastically throughout time to reflect more simple patterns.

It's time to remove those Roman shades which block sunlight even if they're open and allow in some natural light. Choose sheer drapes in a single frame so that you may draw them back and enjoy the magnificent view outdoors. Blinds are also another common option since they enable you to regulate the quantity of light coming in and can be angled in any direction.

Install skylights

Skylights are a one-of-a-kind and efficient method to bring sunlight into your house. They are available in a range of sizes and layouts and are frequently utilized in high-traffic areas such as restrooms and family rooms. You'll definitely want an expert to handle this project since you'll have to make a gap in the roofing, site-build the skylight, and then place the skylight so that it fits exactly without leaking.

Natural light can be a great boost to your mental and physical well-being when you can get it into your home, and as a result, you may want to try and incorporate it into your home as much as possible. The first step to doing that is finding the right kind of windows for your home to get the light you need, whether that be just the style of the windows or dependent on how the windows operate.

Household Items You Should Be Replacing Regularly

Replacing items in your house comes at a price, but if you don’t keep up with it, these things can lead to costly repairs down the line. There are a few different things in your home you should be replacing regularly, but some are more important than others.

If you’re having trouble figuring out which ones to prioritize, don’t worry. Here’s a list of household items you should be replacing regularly.

Air Filter

It’s easy to forget to replace your air filter because it’s out of sight and therefore, out of mind. However, forgetting to replace it can cause your HVAC system to work much harder, and if left unchecked, it can damage your system.

You replace your air filter at least every three months. Consider learning about the pros and cons of washable furnace filters if you don’t feel like buying a new filter every couple of months. Disposable air filters are pretty cheap, and they’re much more affordable than paying a few thousand dollars to repair your HVAC unit.

Carbon Monoxide Detectors

Replacing your carbon monoxide detectors every few years could potentially save your life. You should replace them every five to eight years depending on the model you use.

If your detector is newer, you can examine the back of it to find the expiration date. But if you can’t find the date, you should just replace the detector anyway.

They’re quite cheap, often costing as little as $15, but if you want one with a digital display, it’ll be closer to $40. Spending the money to prevent yourself from inhaling dangerous chemicals is well worth the cost.

Water Filter

Safety should be the top priority for your household, so replacing all of these items should be on your annual to-do list. Changing your water filter is another item you should add to the agenda, whether you use a pitcher with a filter or a filter attached to your refrigerator.

Depending on the type you have, you might need to change the filter more or less frequently. To be safe, review the manual for your filter to make sure you’re accurate with the schedule.

Replacing your water filter prevents it from developing mold, which leads to numerous health consequences. Faucet water filtration systems only cost between $30 and $60, and for a pitcher with a water filter, the cost is only between $16 and $30.

Overall, staying on top of what you need to replace can lead to a happier and healthier home. Now that you know which household items you should be replacing regularly, go ahead and make a list!