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Winter Decorating Tips + Inspiration Monday

Welcome to Inspiration Monday! We are so excited to have you here!

This week's Winter Decorating Tips were chosen by Meegan from What Meegan Makes.

Please be sure to PIN below from the original source.

Winter Decorating Ideas from Bringing French Country Home

Simple Winter Sitting Area Décor designed by Cherished Bliss

DIY Cathedral Window Tutorial created by Snazzy Little Things

Simple Winter Living Room Ideas from Farmhouse 40

Above the Bed Decorating Tips designed by Cedar Hill Farmhouse

  SO, BE SURE TO FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA, AS WE LOVE TO FEATURE YOUR LINKS THERE:

I Should Be Mopping the Floor | Scattered Thoughts of a Crafty Mom

Refresh Restyle | What Meegan Makes

Our Southern Home | Inspiration for Moms

Please keep in mind:

*Be sure to mingle with other party guests.

*Link up all of your creative fun…including recipes, crafts, printables, DIY projects and other fabulous things you've been up to on YOUR blog.

*Please DO NOT link Etsy stores, giveaways, or other link parties.

*And by linking up to the Inspiration Monday Party you are giving the six blogs, listed above, permission to feature your project and/or photos on our social media outlets and blogs.

*In addition, DO NOT LINK ANY stock photography. Links will be removed without notification.

An InLinkz Link-up

The post Winter Decorating Tips + Inspiration Monday appeared first on Refresh Restyle.

[mwkblog]

How to Stick to Your New Year's Cleaning Resolutions

2019 is here and the annual tradition of setting New Year's Resolutions and vowing to break bad habits has begun!

The new year is the perfect time to start afresh and set yourself a few personal goals. This year, why not try setting some resolutions for your home too? From monthly decluttering, to cleaning the fridge once a week, these can be a great way to improve your family's wellbeing and the general cleanliness of your home.

Once you have decided on your resolutions, the hard part is sticking to them! By late February, many of us begin to lose motivation.

Make this year different – we have gathered six tips that are sure to make your New Year's cleaning resolutions a success!

    1. Keep it simple

It is easy to get carried away when making resolutions, especially when filled with the optimism and determination of the new year. In reality, establishing new cleaning habits will take time and willpower. So, the best approach is to settle for a few, simple resolutions. This will allow you to focus your efforts and will make sticking to your goals more achievable.  Check out our post on New Year's Resolutions to Improve Your House's Well-Being for some ideas!

  2. Make a plan, not a wish

Once you have decided on your resolutions, the key is to make them specific. For instance, instead of declaring, 'this year I will keep the fridge organised', it is much more effective to decide, 'this year I will organise the fridge once a week'. Break your goals down into smaller steps and create a plan detailing which day each task will be completed and how often. By creating resolutions that are clear, measurable and scheduled, monitoring your progress will become much easier.

  3. Share it with the family

Sharing your cleaning resolutions with everyone in the house will help to drive your motivation and deter you from giving up. Better yet, getting the children involved will be a great way of sharing the work load and making sure the housekeeping resolutions are kept throughout the year.

  4. Write it down

Make your cleaning resolutions concrete by writing them down. Creating a checklist or a journal can be a great way of tracking your progress. Try placing notes around the house, such as on the noticeboard or fridge, as this will help to remind everyone what should be cleaned and when. A written checklist will keep your motivation alive and ensure your resolutions do not fade into the background after the initial enthusiasm of January!

  5. Reward Yourself

When making your New Year's resolution plan, don't forget to include rewards! Rewarding yourself and your family with a treat, after each successful month of sticking to your cleaning goals, will give you all a sense of achievement and will help to maintain your motivation.

  6. Don't give up!

Slip-ups are the most common reason why people give up on their New Year's resolutions. However, it is important to remember that slip-ups and set backs are inevitable. If you forget to clean the fridge or pass on your weekly declutter, don't view it as a failure or an excuse to give up altogether. Instead, treat every slip-up as a temporary set – back and resolve to get back on track!

  Happy New Year and Good Luck!

[mwkblog]

crispy rice and egg bowl with ginger-scallion vinaigrette

It's really unfortunate timing, because we've got a long year to go and I at one point had many great and luminous cooking plans for it, but they're all cancelled now because on the afternoon of January 4th, before 2019 had really even kicked in, I ate the best thing I had or will all year or maybe ever - because what would the internet be without some unnecessary melodrama - and I threw it together from a mess of leftovers in my fridge.

Don't you hate it when those lifestyle guru-types tell you about the meals they threw together from their leftovers, which just happen to be in tip-top shape, chromatically balanced, and Instagram-perfect. In real life, or at least mine, leftovers are a lot of Let's Never Speak About That Again, the best of intentions cut short by poor planning, the now shamed and guilt-ridden humans responsible for the disgrace vowing to do better by that murky bag of herbs and liquefied cucumber next time.

But not last week. Last week, on January 1st, I made David Chang's Bo Ssam, something I do once a year or so when I want to make a jaw-dropping feast for a crowd with exactly three ingredients (pork shoulder, salt, sugar) even a person living through the aftereffects of an evening of daquiris can handle. Of course, because most three-ingredient recipes are a lie, there are a few other things you make to serve with it: a Ssam sauce (it's like a vinaigrette), a ginger-scallion sauce (a riff on the classic Cantonese sauce), rice, and I always like to serve it with marinated julienned carrots and thinly sliced cucumbers so needless to say, these leftovers were well above-average. Bo Ssam makes a lot; we ate it on the 1st, the 2nd, and the 3rd before we were finally out of pork, but I still had a smidge left of everything else so for lunch on that 4th day of the year, I put it all in a bowl and topped it with a crispy fried egg.

Read more »

[mwkblog]

Thistlekeeping

If you happened to be at the Atlanta gift market on the 12th floor of building 2 with a beautiful product line and a new book in the window you saw a random 5′ person with sparkling eyes and blonde hair and red lipstick and a grin as big as Texas standing out in the hallway and jumping up and down and pointing to her picture in the window.

That was me.

Seriously.

My favorite thing ever.

In the history of ever.

I would stand outside the booth and greet the hundreds of people walking down the hall and point at my picture and ask them if they ever met this person before.  They would stop and stare and start laughing and say THAT'S YOU.

And I would say, “I know, right. CAN YOU EVEN BELIEVE IT?”

If you need a visual?  Oh, good.  I have one.  Just scroll to the end of the post.  One of the people told me I was so happy they wanted to take my picture.

I'm making it my screen saver.

Just in case I want to remember what joy looks like.

And now?

Let's see what the internet has been up to while I was at market.

This is my favorite craft of 2019.

It takes five minutes and it came from the dollar store.

See the DIY here.

I love this fun faux wood ski tutorial.

Perfect for the winter wall where a Christmas tree used to be.

See the entire DIY here.

Cute ideas for laundry storage.

And laundry room organizing ideas.

See the tips and inspiration and a really pitiful before here.

And this closet?

SERIOUSLY.

It's like the supermodel of closets.

See the rest of the closet walking the runway here.

  And in random news this week:

Create a mail organizing system

Write your home's story

This modern farmhouse

What to do when your gray looks purple

Kitchen pantry organization

How to clean glass shower doors

One of my favorite houses ever

This cute way to organize eyeglasses

This sweet master bedroom

Tale of two throws

And just when I thought there was nothing left to watch on television…

…I read this.

I'm never turning the channel.

Seriously.

And speaking of seriously.

Here's some serious joy.

PS And this joyful face?

It's the face of someone who hasn't taken down her Christmas decorations yet.

#sorrynotsorry

#ilovetwinkling lights

Happy random Saturday to you.

The post Thistlekeeping appeared first on Thistlewood Farm.

[mwkblog]

Tame That Junk Drawer! Make This Roll Organizer!

It's the season of organization and purging, and it's high time to get real with ourselves. Let's talk about the junk drawer. You know the one I'm talking about. The drawer that holds everything and anything: takeout menus, a few rubber bands, hardware from that IKEA chair you bought two years ago, and an orange-handled pair of scissors. Maybe you are one of the blessed few who has managed to avoid the never-ending pit that is the junk drawer. Good for you - gold medal in adulting. If you are an actual human being like the rest of us, or just need a place to put all your tools, why not roll'em?    

[mwkblog]

Choosing the Right Type of Retaining Wall for Your Property in Westchester County, NY

There are many reasons you may want to add a retaining wall to your landscape. A new retaining could correct the water runoff from your property going into your neighbor's yard, or it could simply add visual interest to your landscape design. How do you choose the right type of retaining wall for your Westchester County, NY, property?

Load-Bearing Retaining Wall

Retaining walls have varying purposes, but the most familiar one is to reduce erosion and water runoff from a sloping yard. Most yards have uneven areas, but the sloping terrain that sends water running toward your home and into your neighbor's yard creates a mess that needs to be resolved. The retaining wall acts as a barrier to keep the soil in place while redirecting the rain water in a storm. Because this type of wall frequently must be high, engaging a professional landscape contractor can be the best choice for a wall that functions as it should.

Related: Designing Stunning Curved Retaining Walls in Putnam County, NY

Tiered Retaining Wall

Some yards have more than one hill, which reduces the usable space for a patio, outdoor kitchen, or play area for the kids. A retaining wall can convert those Westchester County, NY, hills into graduated tiers, allowing you to optimize the use of each section. A play area could inhabit the topmost tier while another tier could be used for a flower or vegetable garden. At the base could lie a patio that adjoins the house, giving you a place to enjoy a fun evening visiting with friends and family as the kids play. Adding steps in the middle provides access to all of the once difficult-to-use landscape.

Landscape Retaining Wall

Some landscapes could go from simply pretty to “Wow!” with the addition of low retaining walls, especially in front yards where they would receive the most attention. A low retaining wall could provide texture and visual interest to the terrain of your yard. Bringing defined lines into an otherwise flowing picture, a low wall would provide a clear cut-off point for an expanse of grass, contrasted by the texture of the wall stones. A low landscape wall can be designed to draw attention to a focal point, like a massive, gorgeous tree or a grouping of colorful rose bushes. Even planting a row of low shrubs on the top of the wall can bring symmetry to the look of the yard.

A low retaining wall does not have to be one continuous wall. You may opt to add a gate to create the sense of something special waiting on the other side. The options are endless!

Any retaining wall can benefit from recessed lighting to bring focus and warmth to your landscape after dark. Retaining walls that border the entry to the driveway are a perfect spot for pillars with lanterns to help your guests locate your home with ease.

Related: 5 Design Styles for your Retaining Walls

Landscape experts can evaluate your yard to propose the design that will bring you the most effortless use and beauty. They can suggest the type of shrubs and plantings that would maximize your home's curb appeal as well as the views you see from your windows.

[mwkblog]

6 Tips for a Successful Finished Basement Remodel

Finishing the basement in your home is a great way to maximize the space you already have, without having to add on any square footage in the form of an addition. Whether you want to go the more luxurious route and turn your basement into a home theater, or you're simply looking for a way to create more living space in your home, finishing your basement is a great way to do so. However, there are a few things you'll want to keep in mind for a successful basement remodel. Below, we cover 5 tips to get you started.

[mwkblog]

Giveaway Guidelines

Maid to Shine is declaring January the month of giveaways!

If you're interested in participating please read the guidelines below then head on over to our Facebook pages to enter (click here for Colorado Springs, click here for Denver).

Guidelines:

-To have the chance of winning you must currently be a teacher

-You must be within our service area to win (Colorado Springs Service Area, Denver's Service Area)

-You must understand that this giveaway is for a general first time cleaning

-You must like Maid to Shine's Facebook page and leave a comment in the comment section of the designated post

-You are welcome to nominate your friends if they are teachers (even if you are not, you can still nominate)

-If you are chosen as a winner your cleaning must take place when Maid to Shine's schedule has availability within the month of January

-This offer may not be traded for cash

-This cannot be combined with any other offers

We're so excited to get started on our giveaways for the month! We can't wait to give a nice clean home to some deserving people. Thank you!

The post Giveaway Guidelines appeared first on Maid to Shine | Your Best & Local House Cleaning Colorado Springs.

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Rookie Mistake: Not So Secret Storage

We're back with another rookie mistake and this is a good one if you want to get organized this year. Come learn the RIGHT way to organize your stuff...

Keep Reading

The post Rookie Mistake: Not So Secret Storage appeared first on DIY Playbook.

[mwkblog]

Hot Tips to Avoid Cold Water: 4 Types of Water Heaters to Consider

Imagine this: it's a chilly morning and you really don't want to get out of your warm bed to get ready for work, but let's face it you have to. The only thing you're looking forward to is stepping into that nice warm shower and standing under it for a few extra minutes to get your mind to wake up.

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OPEI Expands Product Representation, Adds Golf Cars And Light Transport Vehicles

The Outdoor Power Equipment Institute (OPEI) has announced that the International Light Transportation Vehicle Association (ILTVA) has transferred representation of its member products and respective ANSI standards to OPEI, effective January 1, 2019. This expands OPEI's product representation to now include golf cars and light transport vehicles.

Kris Kiser President OPEI

“OPEI is a natural fit for these products as we actively represent a wide range of utility vehicles currently in the marketplace,” says Kris Kiser, President of OPEI. “As the association of record in this space, we're a leader in the development of safety standards for UTVs, and have significant experience as it relates to these vehicles with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission and other regulators.”

OPEI currently represents manufacturers of utility vehicles for a wide range of end-user applications. ILTVA developed and maintained ANSI standards relating to the design and performance of golf cars and personal transport vehicles. That organization will wind down its operations, and those standards will now be part of OPEI's ongoing standards development work.

“As uses and applications of these products have expanded, it made sense for us to partner with OPEI. The association has a demonstrable history in utility vehicle safety and performance standards and representing these products before regulatory authorities, as well as a deep background in market statistics collection, and positions us well as we look toward the industry's future,” says Mark Wagner, member, OPEI Board of Directors, and President and CEO of Club Car, LLC, Ingersoll-Rand Industrial Technologies. “We're excited to work with OPEI on the representation of our products on a going-forward basis.”

The post OPEI Expands Product Representation, Adds Golf Cars And Light Transport Vehicles appeared first on Turf.

[mwkblog]

IS TERM INSURANCE PURE PROTECTION PLAN?

We live in a world filled with risks and uncertainties. People, their families, their properties and their assets are constantly at exposed to a variety of risks. Insurance plans are a vital part of every person's life for it acts as a safety net for when an individual is in need of monetary assistance due to certain circumstances. In the finance industry, there is a large assortment of insurance plans ranging from health, home, vehicle, travel and even life insurance that an individual can opt for to protect his assets better and be equipped to handle any unfortunate incident that were to occur concerning the particular insurance policy.

Before proceeding further, it is crucial to know what is term insurance and what is meant by pure protection plan.

What is term insurance? Term insurance or term life insurance is life insurance that provides coverage for payment at a particular allotted fixed rate for a certain period as agreed during the initiation of the policy. This fixed term is the relevant term. If the insured individual happens to pass away before the end of the tenure of the life policy, then the death benefit from the policy is paid to the beneficiary as per mentioned in the policy itself during its agreement.

Term insurance is generally the most effective and least expensive method of paying a substantial amount of death benefit

What is meant by pure protection plan?

Pure protection plans or pure term plan is plan that secure and protect you for a particular period in exchange for a regular fixed premium. Term insurances are by far the easiest and also the most monetarily effective method of providing future and continuous financial support and security for your dependants if you meet with any unforeseen tragedies.

  Term insurance as a pure protection plan

Term insurance is the purest form of insurance payment the pays a premeditated amount of money to those who are mentioned as your dependents for a specific period if the insured dies during that time. After the demise of the insured, the term insurance of the life insurance policy pays the face value of the policy itself to the beneficiary or nominated individual mentioned in the policy at the time of the agreement. The cost of insurance protection with no survival benefit is covered by all the premiums that are paid. The insurance coverage ends with the completion of the term of the policy until and unless it is renewed before the expiry of the policy. This is the greatest and the most advantageous way of providing financial support and security to your dependents if you happen to meet your unforeseen death

  Advantages of term insurance as a pure protection plan

A term insurance plan has some benefits that are suited to any insurer looking to provide security and protection to his or her nominees.

Financial Security: this benefit is most advantageous to those who are the chief earners of sustenance in a family or group. Term insurance provides financial security for those looking for a way out during times for monetary crunch. In the event of the death of the prime earner, the sum assured can be used by the dependant to clear of any outstanding loans, child education fees, carry on with daily household expenses and any other liabilities that need to be taken care of.

Customizability:  term insurances are customizable. This means that you as an insurer can select the coverage amount, the period of the term for the policy and even the chose whether the payout option will be a lump sum plan or an income replacement term plan. You can choose the payout option depending on your family condition. If your family cannot afford to make a lump sum payment in your absence, you can customize the term insurance so that the payout can be done via a term insurance plan for income replacement. Here the payout can be done concerning the family monthly earning over a period.

Paid sub-features: if you so desire, then the coverage can be widened with the help of paid and optional features under term insurance plan. These sub-features of term insurance are called term plan riders. There are various types of term insurance riders:- ~critical illness ~total and permanent disability ~accidental death benefit ~hospital cash ~waiver of premium Any of the above term insurance rider and be opted for by the insured to widen the coverage of his or her term insurance in general.

Tax Benefits: under Section10 ( 10 D ) of the Income Tax Act, the payout of the term insurance is tax-free and also under Section 80 C of the Income Tax Act, all premiums that are paid by the insured are also liable to tax deductions.

Simplicity:  term insurance is a simple and uncomplicated insurance product. There are not convoluted rules or schemes that need to be critically understood. It is a simple and easy process. This is not a frill-product. Simply by comparing and buying the term insurance that best suits you on an online platform is all that is required.

Reduced Premiums:  Best term insurance plans are relatively cheaper than most insurance products that are out there. As a pure protection plan, there is no investment component in term insurance. The only cover is of the untimely death of the insured. This means that the only premiums that are calculated are ones for mortality charge.

Higher assured sum: you can opt for lower and higher assured sums according to t your comfort zone. This will help assure you that your family will still be financially secure if you are not there anymore to support them. In such a case, the family of the insured will be left with a high corpus. This will help them achieve independency and will be able to make it through hard times more easily and comfortably.

Online Availability of term insurance

Being such a simple insurance product, one can look for and find a term life insurance online with ease. There, one can collect data and information about the various types of policies and the features of each policy. Being customizable, a potential insurance holder can customize their term insurance so that they may reap the maximum benefit out from it and in the event of the death of the insured, his or her family will be able to avoid a financial crisis. The most effective way to choose term insurance is to compare and contrast between policies online. Online availability allows one to compare different term insurance policies of different insurance companies and choose the one which best suits you. Once you have found the right term insurance for you, you can pay the premium online itself and save yourself a lot of hassles.

  Term insurance is a very viable and popular choice as a pure protection plan that will allow the dependants of the insured to be monetary viable even after his or her death.

There are but a few limitations of term insurance as a pure protection plan:

~ The premium amount for the policy tends to increase with age. This means that those who are young will have to pay less amount of premium than those who are comparatively older for the same amount of sum assured. A person who is of age 25 years will have to pay less amount of premium for an assured sum as whereas those above the age of 25 years will have to play a relatively higher amount of premium even if it is for the same amount of sum assured.

~This type of plan is not very suitable if the target is wealth generation. Term insurance primarily focuses on helping the family of the insured remain monetarily viable after the death his or her death during the term for the policy. And long term or short term goals like children's education or retirement is not applicable to this type of scheme.

~The age for the maturity of the policy is not according to the lifespan of the insured. To be able to make the most of the death benefit, the death of the policyholder must occur within the stipulated period. Only If the demise of the policyholder happens during the tenure of the policy, will the family of the insured be given the assured sum. If the policyholder dies after the completion of the period, no assured sum or death benefit can be claimed by the nominees or beneficiaries mentioned by the late policyholder.

~Finally, the maximum amount of coverage that can be acquired is limited. The annual income of the policyholder restricts the coverage of term insurance even with added term insurance riders.

  Bearing all this on the mind, Term insurance is a great and easy, pure protection plan that will allow you to ensure that even after your death, your family and loved ones will be able to continue and comfortably have the financial strength to sustain themselves.

The post IS TERM INSURANCE PURE PROTECTION PLAN? appeared first on Prairie Eco-Thrifter.

[mwkblog]

A Simple Life in 2019: Lessons from Jack

Hey friend! I'm so glad you're here. Yes, you came to the right post. It's not Christmas. Even though you'll see some Christmas decor in my pics, but it's all put away at my house now. Let me explain. This time of year it seems we're not only all setting goals, but we are wanting […]

This article A Simple Life in 2019: Lessons from Jack is from The Inspired Room Republishing this article in full or in part is a violation of copyright law. © 2009-2013, all rights reserved.

[mwkblog]

Custom Cabinets For Master Bathroom

When it comes to deciding what kind of cabinets you want to put in your kitchen or bathroom, we always tell our customers that the options are endless! 

Where To Find Your Inspiration

You can look around on the internet at Houzz, Pinterest, or any picture from anywhere, and we can make it happen! 

Recently we had a homeowner who found a particular cabinet she loved on Houzz. This particular cabinet had drawers with lots of space on the bottom while still having large enough cabinets to use for plumbing and storage. We were able to build these for her. We made the doors with a soft close option, and the whole thing looks fantastic. 

Custom Cabinets Vs. Prefab

This was a custom build, so we actually built the entire cabinet to fit the exact size of her bathroom wall. You don't get that kind of fit with a prefab cabinet. The problem with a prefab cabinet is that you have to adjust it to the size of the space you have available. You often have to add fitters on the sides and in the middle of the cabinets, to fill in the space. But what we can do is build you cabinets that are a perfect custom fit for your specific bathroom.

If you are interested in getting some custom work done for your bathroom or kitchen, give us a call! We can give you a free estimate, and we will be more than happy to make your dream happen for you!

The post Custom Cabinets For Master Bathroom appeared first on Nielsen's Painting & Remodeling.

[mwkblog]

Handyman Matters Named One of America's Best Customer Service Companies by Newsweek

Handyman Matters has been recognized as the top Brand in the Home Referral Services and Home Repairs category as part of Newsweek's inaugural list of America's Best Companies for Customer Service. We attribute this honor and recognition to the laser focus our owners have placed on Customer Experience & becoming the Home Ally.

Handyman Matters rated one of America's Best Companies for Customer Service

In collaboration with Statista, Newsweek sanctioned the independent study that was based on several criteria used to measure the customer service experience.

The five evaluation criteria were:

Quality of communication

Technical competence

Range of services offered

Customer focus

Accessibility

The results were published in the 11/30/18 issue of Newsweek and can be seen here. The independent study used data from a vast sample of more than 20,000 US customers and a total of 132,954 customer evaluations collected.

Owner and founder, Andy Bell stated, “What an honor! We cannot be more thrilled for the recognition our Owners earned by being ranked first in our category. It's so gratifying to see the efforts our Owners' focus on our customers day in and day out rewarded by those they are serving.”

“This recognition is validation that our objective to Redefine Home Improvement is gaining the traction it so well deserves!” echoed Chris Bue, CEO of Handyman Matters. “With enhancements like “On My Way” Text Notifications and the ability to Book Online 24/7, we will continue to meet and exceed our customer needs.”

Committed to helping you love your home, we are locally owned and independently operated locations which provide professional and multi-skilled Craftsmen trained to handle a homeowners' to-do list in addition to larger, more critical projects like a bathroom refresh or remodel. At the end of the day, “We Do It All!”

Handyman Matters guarantees our work and offers a “like it's our home” Promise. Check out why Handyman Matters is different here:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2DIKDccSp7o

[mwkblog]

Why Should You Consider Finishing Your Basement?

The basement is often one of the most underutilised spaces and most homeowners simply use them as large laundry rooms. Instead of letting the basement collect moisture and lint, you should think about basement finishing.

Affordable Solution for Adding More Usable Space

Denver basement finishing provides a cost-effective way to add more space to your home. Compared to the cost of an addition, basement finishing is relatively affordable and requires less structural work. In many cases, these projects can be completed quickly and efficiently, providing minimal disruption to your normal routine.

Basement Finishing May Increase Your Property Value

Finishing your basement adds an extra room, helping to boost the overall value of your home. Whether you use the finished space for a bedroom, office, or living room, the new room may count as another bedroom for property valuations and assessments.

Along with increasing the property value, basement finishing often provides a greater return on investment compared to other renovation projects. In fact, for every $1000 that you put into the project, you may increase the value of your home by up to $700.

Accommodate Your Growing Family with an Extra Room

With basement finishing in Denver, you may not need to move when the size of your family grows. You can add an extra room in the basement, ensuring that you have the space you need.

If you want to add more space to your home, consider the advantages of basement finishing in Denver, CO. It is affordable, is efficient, and may boost the value of your property.

The basement does not need to be a dark, damp place. With a finished basement, you can gain an extra bedroom, bathroom, home gym, or storage space.

[mwkblog]

how we are ditching baseboard heaters

We ripped off the construction band-aid and have been demo-ing our little hearts out over at our #samuelfamilyfixer and sharing loads of progress as we go via Instagram stories. I've put a bunch in my highlights if you've missed anything and I'll be sharing more updates here now that things are really rolling. Along the way I've gotten a ton of questions over what we are doing with the baseboard heaters, if anything, and I tried to answer as best I could in a few short frames but really this is a full blog post kind of answer so here we go!

We love all the modern lines and unique features in the house but what we didn't love was the look of the radiant baseboard heaters. They do the job ok, but boy are they a big bummer to have to design around. No matter how you slice it, they make a space feel dated. So I did a deep dive into researching alternative heating systems and the good news is we got to rip those babies out of there, and will be replacing them with radiant heated floors which will be nicely tucked away under the finished flooring.

Through all my digging I found a company called Warmboard, and their pretty green panels are the answer to our prayers. According to their site… As a whole-home heating system Warmboard is the premier radiant heating solution in the US. Their panels outperform all the competitive systems with faster response times, easier installations, AND lower energy use.

Tubing, that will eventually carry hot water, runs through those grooves in the panels and their patented design spreads the heat from the tubing throughout the surface of the entire floor, so there are no hot/cold spots and the water can run at a lower temperature which means its more efficient. What is really exciting from my point of view is that since these panels have a more even surface temperature than a lot of other radiant systems, the flooring possibilities are wide open. From what I gathered some radiant systems aren't compatible with carpet or hardwood because the heat doesn't make it thought the carpet efficiently and hardwood isn't good with the temperature fluctuation, but with Warmboard you can use thick carpets, laminate, tile, hardwood… all fair game and I am using a mix of almost all of the above. WOOT!

Once I locked in on the Warmboard system it opened up my design choices for the flooring. Tile in the sitting room, tile in the kitchen, bathrooms and even tile in the bedroom! I'm doing it. Without the radiant heated floors there would be no way I would install tile in the bedroom in this cold climate, but I was set on keeping the wood ceilings as is and I didn't want wood on both the ceilings and the floors, so with the Warmboard to keep the tile from feeling too cold and giving me the look I wanted, it was a win, win. We are doing carpet in the kids bedrooms and the large fireplace living room to keep those spaces extra cozy, laminate in the dining room, pantries and closets (I was originally planning on tiling those rooms too but when we got the labor estimates back for tile install we had to make some cut backs), and tile everywhere else. A peek at some of the finishes we've narrowed in on above!

Another way we are saving some pennies (like $5000 worth of pennies, because we are covering A LOT of square footage) is by installing all the panels ourselves. This whole renovation is a mix of DIY and hired out work through our contractor, to get the most out of our budget (and so I can splurge on certain things like terrazzo floors in the main living space) and the Warmboard installation is a perfect illustration of that. We install the panels and then licensed heating & cooling professionals come in to run all the tubing, install a new boiler (ours is on its last leg) and does all the plumbing and mechanical portion of the install.

We just started installation and Rupe got a new power tool… so he's happy. It's an auto-feed drill that allows you to stay standing while screwing in all 16 screws per panel. We did the math based on how many panels we have to install and needed 5,000 screws! Rupe's knees are very thankful for the screw-loading stand up drill. Pop Pop and Rupe are on panels, me mostly on the sidelines this time, with the kids but jumping in and throwing my 2 cents in whether or not it is appreciated, and Mimi is sweeping up the floors as they go to make sure there's no princess and the pea situation under the panels. Warmboard supplies an install kit and a detailed custom design plan to follow which makes it a little like a putting together a giant scale, but fairly simple, puzzle. There was a bit of a learning curve at the beginning but once we got into a groove (pun intended) things started to move. I'll let you know how we do on the rest of the house! Wish us luck. x

Oh and p.s. I got the question a lot on IG if this will be our only heat source and the answer is yes! I've heard that some radiant systems may require supplemental heating, but not Warmboard! It is supposed to heat better than forced air, especially when it comes to heating rooms like ours, that are very large and have tall ceilings (ours are 20 feet tall at the peak!). But don't worry, this girl has been in California for way too long… so it better do the job, I will be the true test and report back.

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