The Lean Green Mommy Machine: Home improvement

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Historical vs. Modern Home Decor

I’ve always viewed home décor as a window into my personality. Each lampshade, piece of furniture, or wall hanging is a reflection of my values, likes and dislikes, mood, and more. For this reason I’ve always struggled when choosing my home items, since it seems that there is never a theme that is quite as complex as I am. One of the biggest areas in which internal conflict arises is whether I should select historical home décor or modern.

Antiques and vintage items bring a personality all their own into the home, and when you find some that reflect your own personality as well it can be truly special. History has its place in the home, and these items can muster up nostalgia and sweet remembrances of times long forgotten. The sentimental value of historical-style items, even those that are merely replicas or incorporate the idea of historical design, cannot be ignored.

On the other hand, modern designs offer a clean, simple look. They can help you to feel trendy and sleek, and can really reflect who you are in the present. Modern décor is constantly changing and evolving, and thus it’s even easier to find pieces that suit your home and style perfectly.

Perhaps the best homes incorporate aspects of both vintage and contemporary design into one unique space. Here, tips for bringing historical elements into the home can help to alleviate the internal strife caused by forcing a decision between the two styles. A modern home with historical elements or a vintage home with pieces of contemporary décor added in is the perfect way to uniquely adapt your home to the unique you. Be sure to find a Chicago financial advisor before making any large purchases to make sure that you can financially afford your historical or modern home decor.

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

Home Remodeling the Smart Way

You want to increase the value of your home, but you're not sure which improvements will bring the best return on your remodeling dollar? Check out this article which details the smartest improvements to get the biggest bank your home improvement bucks.

Bathroom

Number one on the list? A mid-range bathroom improvement. Typically you can expect to more than get more money back by sprucing up the bathroom. Note the emphasis on "mid-range": putting a bunch of high-end improvements is likely to cost you more than you'll get back when it's time to sell.

Re-Siding

Another idea is re-siding your house. Curb appeal is everything when you go to sell your home, as it's the first thing potential buyers will see, both in person and through pictures, and if your old siding is looking worn-out it will definitely affect how much buyers are willing to pay for your home. You can go traditional, or you can invest in log home siding, which will make your home look great and appealing to a wider range of buyers.

Kitchen

Rounding out the list is a minor kitchen remodeling. Refacing cabinets can be a much more cost-effective way to add some zing to your kitchen than replacing them, and putting down a little better flooring can return more on your dollar than top-end coverings.

That being said, you're the one who knows your home the best. Maybe none of these make sense for you because you're already happy with the way your kitchen, bathroom and siding (if you have any) look. If you're looking to stay in your home, then convenience and your personal desires are more important than resale value. But if you're looking to sell, make sure you're not throwing away money doing remodeling that isn't going to pay for itself. Be sure to find a Chicago financial advisor before making any large purchases to make sure that you can financially afford your historical or modern home decor