Archive for the ‘Homefront – Quarterly Home & Garden Guide’ Category

Download HomeFront – Fall 2015 (pdf)

In This Issue

Find new inspiration for your next home project

If you’re looking to upgrade your home’s exterior, include American hardwoods in the mix. New, environmentally friendly treatment methods now make hardwood an excellent and great looking material choice for outdoor living spaces…

Can your walls stand up to everyday life?

Let’s face it. No matter how careful you are, an active family can take its toll on the interior of a house – especially on the walls. Depending on the season or day of the week, your family may come home toting cross-country skis, throwing off wet raincoats or banging football gear against…

Carve out more living space with a one-room renovation

A growing family, overnight guests, work-at-home demands and lifestyle changes can make for cramped quarters in any home. If you’re not ready to move to a bigger house or take on a full-scale addition, carve out more space from your home’s current footprint. Renovating an attic, basement or other unused area can add more living space now, provide flexibility for the future and…

Four steps towards living a greener lifestyle

Living a greener lifestyle isn’t just about conserving natural resources, it’s also about saving money. Whether you’re renovating your existing home, or building from the ground up, you can create a home that’s more efficient, cost effective and…

Tips for creating curb appeal

Soon, all things pumpkin spice will be here, including the home visitors that bring them. In preparation of the door bell ringing, create a little spice of your own with some seasonal curb appeal. You don’t have to limit yourself to pumpkins and hay bales – below are tips and projects for sprucing up your…

Download NH Homes & Home Improvement – August 2012 (pdf)

In This Issue

Greening your home: Start at the tap

In today’s environmentally conscious times, it seems we’re surrounded by the need to shop, act and live “green.” According to Kevin McJoynt at Danze, Inc. some of the most important green choices we can make are right…

Go big or go home with your redecorating? Why not both?

“Go big or go home.” It’s a popular sports chant that’s found its way into numerous other aspects of American life. But when it comes to home decor, going big at home may not seem like an option, especially if your budget is less than grand. In reality, it is possible to make a big difference in your home decor…

DIY projects refresh your space in 1 weekend

Home and style magazines, social media and interior designers on TV are inspiring more homeowners to transform their spaces into places they love. Projects range from renewing your bathtub to refreshing your backyard deck, and can be completed in just one weekend…

Why more people are installing saltwater pools

One of the hottest summers in US history has sent everyone scurrying into their pools to cool off, and the biggest new trend in swimming pools is salt water. First developed in Australia, saltwater pools offer several advantages over conventional chlorine and have become incredibly…

Think of lighting as art for your home

Lighting is possibly the most powerful tool you have when it comes to interior design. It does not make sense to invest in beautiful furniture, rugs, paintings and accessories if they are in the dark. The perfect light fixture not only illuminates a space – it is also…

Download NH Homes & Home Improvement – June 2012 pages 1-16 (pdf)

Download NH Homes & Home Improvement – June 2012 pages 17-32 (pdf)

In This Issue

Think of lighting as art for your home

Lighting is possibly the most powerful tool you have when it comes to interior design. It does not make sense to invest in beautiful furniture, rugs, paintings and accessories if they are in the dark. The perfect light fixture not only illuminates a space – it is also a…

The heat is on outside, keep cool inside

As summer heats up, air conditioning bills can rapidly rise. As homeowners feel the heat, many are looking for ways to save and stay cool. One way to help lower utility bills in the summer and year-round is to replace…

Create curb appeal with confidence

Looking for a way to improve the curb appeal of your home? Re-siding your home with vinyl siding is a great investment because it never needs painting to maintain its beauty and durability. Once you’ve made the decision to re-side your home with vinyl siding, however, you need…

Bold and beautiful define outdoor decor trends

Bold is the watchword for beautiful outdoor decorating this year, and it’s easy to find items – from furniture to wallpaper – that play to this theme. “Bright colors, bold patterns and showpiece accessories are top trends in outdoor decor this…

The new real estate reality: To buy or not to buy?

Generations of Americans have considered owning their own home a key aspect of achieving the American Dream. But the lingering aftermath of the Great Recession has caused many people to rethink that belief. Rental occupancies are rising as more Americans opt to lease their homes, rather than buy.Long gone are the days when…

Download NH Homes & Home Improvement – April 2012 (pdf)

In This Issue

Brighten your kitchen with new fixtures

The high “price tag” on groceries and gas do not have to put a damper on your plans to remodel your kitchen this year. According to the American Lighting Association (ALA), just merely changing out the decorative lighting fixtures over the breakfast nook or center island can have a big visual impact, creating a fresher, more up-to-date look…

3 ways to cut your energy bill

During hotter days, the wonderful coolness of our air-conditioned homes is comforting until the whopping energy bill arrives. The American Lighting Association (ALA) offers the following easy ways to use less energy and save money. Replace bulbs with CFLs – Switch out incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent versions. “A compact fluorescent lamp (CFL) can provide…

Outdoor living trends can easily update your patio or deck

More homeowners want their outdoor space to truly be an extension of their house and are taking steps to create an inviting area to relax, play and host guests. If you want to update your deck or patio for warm weather entertaining, you don’t have to spend a lot of time or money. You can easily refresh the items you already have and add new stylish elements by…

Coordinating home décor inside and out

Coordinating décor throughout the home is well known to homeowners. Everyone aspires to a home that flows seamlessly from one room to another, integrated in look and feel by paint colors, flooring and window treatments. A relatively new aspect of coordinated home décor is evolving…

Download NH Homes & Home Improvement – Feb. 2012 (pdf)

In This Issue

Green Living: an efficient equation for today’s homeowners

Across the nation, both building professionals and consumers are embracing the idea of sustainable building practices. Green building brings together a vast array of practices and techniques to reduce and ultimately eliminate the impacts of buildings on the environment and human health. It often emphasizes taking advantage of renewable resources, such as…

Four easy ways to warm up your home decor

Color has an enormous effect on mood and it greatly influences the atmosphere of a room. Neutral and white walls can feel stark and cold during the winter months, so consider warming them up with rich hues like those found in…

Prepare now for a dream summer outdoor living space

Beat the winter blues by taking the first steps to create a summer backyard oasis. By preparing now, you’ll be ready to install – and enjoy – a dream deck once warmer weather arrives.The outdoor living experts at Trex recommend checking these outdoor projects off your “to-do” list early in the year. Create a distinctive design – Start thinking about the style, shape and color scheme of…

First Time Home Buyers: The Housing Market’s Key Players

First-time homebuyers, more than any other demographic, stand to benefit the most in today’s real estate market. In fact, a recent survey commissioned by Move.com reveals that 23 percent of adults plan to purchase a home in the next five years and that more than half of them (53.5 percent) will be first-time homebuyers.Consider that every time a renter buys a home, they make possible a chain reaction of…

Show your kitchen some love with a new countertop secret

Everyone loves granite for kitchen and bath countertops, but many homeowners find this option for adding value to their home, too pricey. When considering a kitchen update I found that granite typically costs $50 to $100 per square foot (including installation). Gail Turner, a top real estate agent in Chicago, agrees that, “While there’s nothing functionally wrong with laminate, it’s not what buyers are looking for. Her advice is to install granite countertops in your kitchen and bath if you really want to sell your home in this economy. So if you are looking for the beauty of granite without the price tag, consider…