15 Ways to Get Your Home in a Summer Mood!

15 Ways to Get Your Home in a Summer Mood

Hello Friends,

Hang Outdoor Curtains What says summer more clearly than white curtains billowing in a breeze? And as if the tropical-vacation vibe weren’t enough reason to add them to your porch ASAP, they also provide shade and privacy.

Collect Shells in a Big Glass Vase Start the season by filling a big glass cylindrical vase partway with sand, and gradually add shells as you find them on your beach adventures throughout the summer.

Deck Out Your Deck for Siestas and Fiestas Colorful cushions, a pottery collection and a guitar set the stage for any relaxed afternoon activity you like, from solo napping to having a mellow party with friends.

Set Up a Summery Bar A pretty tray with a few glasses and a pile of limes is all you need to be ready for summer drinks — and the glasses don’t even need to be made of glass if your bar is outdoors.

Hang a Swinging Chair Whether outdoors or in, a swinging chair instantly makes any space feel more relaxed. Try one on the porch or in the living room.

Restyle Your Kitchen Shelves Give yourself the gift of simplicity this summer by offloading the clutter from your kitchen cabinets into a few boxes and putting them away in a distant closet. The extra breathing space will make it feel like you’re cooking in a vacation home.

Decorate With Driftwood Found a cool chunk of driftwood on the beach? Clean it up and put it to work on your coffee table, console or bookcase.

Make Setting the Table Easy as Pie Instead of keeping your silverware in the drawer as usual, try storing it in a caddy right on the dining table for the summer months — plus it’ll be easy to grab when you decide to have dinner al fresco.

Put Wildflowers in a Jelly Jar When outdoor blooms are so plentiful, why buy them in a store? Snip whatever happens to be growing in your own backyard and plunk the stems in a jelly jar to add a romantic touch to any room.

Freshen Up the Beds With Crisp Nautical Stripes Blue and white striped bedding on all of the beds feels very beach house chic. Shop around and scoop some up on sale.

Keep Rolled-up Beach Towels by the Door The bright colors look cheerful, and having the towels close at hand means you won’t have to scramble when it’s time to head out the door. Try storing them in a vintage enamel bucket, big beach tote or French market basket.

Squeeze Fresh Juice in the Morning Keep a big pile of fresh oranges, a glass pitcher and a juicer together on the counter and make a ritual of squeezing fresh juice each summer morning. It’ll make the day feel special right from the beginning.

Set Up an Outdoor Changing Area If you have a pool in the backyard or make frequent trips to the beach, it can come in quite handy to have a changing booth outside for getting into and out of bathing suits.

Furnish a Sleeping Porch Add a daybed or two to your screened-in porch to transform it into an extra sleeping spot on warm summer nights or a napping place on lazy summer afternoons. 

ERA Skyline Real Estate

3376 Harrison Blvd. 

Ogden, UT 84403

(801)627-6500

Tips for Designing a Wildlife-Friendly Small Garden

Tips for Designing a Wildlife-Friendly Small Garden

Hello Friends,

Keep it simple but plant it thick. Accept your garden’s limitations and work with them by keeping plantings simple. It’s going to look chaotic if you have 30 plant species in 100 square feet. Instead, choose 10 to 12 species, or fewer, and try to have two or three of them be a grass or sedge. Grasses and sedges provide winter shelter and nesting material for birds, and they tend to out-compete weeds with their fibrous root systems and soil-shading nature. These will become your base layer that ties everything together in a cohesive way. Match them to your soil, light conditions are for best long-term performance. Grasses generally need full sun, whereas sedges are more adaptable. 

Mass flowers. In 100 square feet, you could include four to six species of flowering perennials, planted in clumps of two to three. Planting in clumps not only helps the landscape look organized, but it also serves as a stronger beacon for pollinators flying overhead. If you want the space to be more formal, place shorter plants toward the front of the design and taller ones toward the back. You can also mix and match for a more natural appearance, with the mass plantings helping to avoid a messy look. 

Create a path. Mulch works great, or you could dig in some steppingstones. Maybe you can place a birdbath with a narrow or small footprint in there too. Even a little bench nestled among the plants would show that the space is made for bridging the world of humans and other species, making it inviting to all.

If you put everything together, you have a garden that’s doing many things for wildlife: 

o    - Grass provides birds with nesting material and insects to eat.

o    - Moths and butterflies lay their eggs on milkweed, asters, cone flowers, wild indigo and grasses.

o    - Flowers provide pollen and nectar to pollinators.

o    - Ornamental seed heads create winter interest.

o    - A thick planting scheme of grasses and sedges combats weeds.

     - All told, you may have roughly 50 plants in a 100-square-foot bed, depending on if you have a path and how wide it is. If you can buy plugs or 3-inch pots, you may spend in the neighborhood of $250 to $350 on the plant material.

ERA Skyline Real Estate

3376 Harrison Blvd. 

Ogden, UT 84403

(801)627-6500

How to Refresh Your Kitchen on Any Budget

How to Refresh Your Kitchen on Any Budget

Hello friends,

If your budget is around $100: Change the wall color. Between cabinetry and appliances, kitchens generally have limited wall space, which means it won’t take much paint to cover it. If you do the painting yourself, your only costs will be a gallon or so of paint and basic painting supplies. If you have cash left, use it to pick up a new art print and pop it into a ready-made frame to decorate your freshly painted wall.

If your budget is around $300: Change the wall color, put up a new art print and then swap out a light fixture. One swap for tired lighting can make a huge difference in how your kitchen looks and feels. There are so many great budget lighting options available you don’t have to break the bank to get an on-trend look. If you have more room in your budget, replace all of the kitchen lights, or splurge on a fancier pendant over the island.

If your budget is around $500: Paint, hang art, purchase new lighting and add open shelves. Open shelving certainly has its fans and its critics, but one thing is certain: It does wonders for small spaces. Even replacing one small upper cabinet with a set of open shelves can make your kitchen feel more spacious and provides an opportunity to display favorite dishes and accessories.

If your budget is around $700: What’s next? After the fresh paint, art, lighting and open shelves, consider springing for a new faucet. Replacing a kitchen faucet costs less than doing the whole sink can be a DIY job for handy homeowners.

If your budget is around $1,000: If you have more wiggle room in your budget, splash out on a new sink to go with that new faucet. Keep in mind that if your new sink is a different style than the old one, you may face additional installation costs to fit it properly into the cabinetry and counter.

If your budget is around $1,500: Paint, art, new lighting, open shelves, a new sink and then a makeover for your cabinets. Brand-new cabinetry is one of the higher-cost items in a kitchen remodel, so if you can avoid it, do! If your cabinets are in pretty good shape, repaint them, following the necessary steps to preparing them for their new finish. Then replace the old cabinet knobs and pulls. Know that if your cabinets need to be refaced, which involves replacing rather than just repainting the doors, the cost will be significantly more.

If your budget is around $5,000: Along with updating the cabinets, installing new counters is one of the biggest-impact changes you can make to your kitchen. There’s a wide range of options when it comes to great-looking kitchen counter materials  so hunt around until you find something you like that fits your budget.

ERA Skyline Real Estate

3376 Harrison Blvd. 

Ogden, UT 84403

(801)627-6500

To-Dos: Your April Home Checklist

To-Dos: Your April Home Checklist

Hello friends,

1.       Keep mosquitoes at bay. Having warmer weather and longer days means we’re entering mosquito season. Take preventative measures by regularly checking your property for standing water and emptying it. Any open containers (empty flowerpots and saucers, a wheelbarrow) can become a mosquito breeding grounds when filled with rainwater, so store items like these upside down or in a shed.

2.       Inspect paths and driveway. Repeated freezing and thawing can take a toll on asphalt and concrete. Check your driveway and paths for cracks, scheduling repairs as needed.

3.       Clean out trash cans and recycling bins. Take empty cans outside and spray them with a hose to start. Sprits inside and out with the cleaning spray of your choice. Let the bins sit for a few minutes before scrubbing them with a stiff-bristle brush. Rinse with the hose and leave them upside down to dry.

4.       Check safety devices. Test batteries on smoke and carbon monoxide detectors, replacing them as needed. It’s also a good idea to periodically check for recalls of your home safety products.

5.       Clear Clutter. Create more space in your home by clearing out unloved items. If you have a lot to get rid of, set a date to hold a yard sale. Or contact a local charity to schedule a pickup – some will send a truck free of charge if you’re donating large items like furniture. If you have a lot of one type of item (for example, books or baby clothes), look for a consignment shop in your town where you may be able to sell them.

6.       Schedule cooling-system maintenance. If you have central air conditioning, be sure to schedule professional maintenance before the start of summer. A properly maintained system cools better, uses less energy and lasts longer.

7.       Spruce up the front porch. Clean the porch floor, exterior windows, windowsills and front door. Wipe cobwebs from the ceiling and high corners. Lay down a fresh doormat, and plant a pot of flowers. If you have porch furniture, clean it off and wash the cushions.

8.       Test sprinklers and irrigation system. Don’t let the first sign of a malfunctioning irrigation system be a drooping garden! Take the time this month to test each part, adjusting or repairing as needed. And if you don’t already have drip irrigation for your garden, consider putting it in – a property installed system can save time and water.

9.       Wash windows. Welcome the spring sunshine by clearing dirt and grime from windows inside and out. After cleaning the glass, take an extra moment to wipe the window frame and sill.

10.    Clean and inspect screen doors and windows. Pollen and grime can also build up on window screens, so it’s a good idea to clean them once a year. For a quick cleaning, leave screens in place and vacuum with a dusting attachment. For a deeper cleaning, remove screens (mark which is which if cleaning multiple windows) and gently scrub with warm, soapy water. Rinse and let dry. Before putting up window screens and screen doors, inspect each one for holes and rips – even small tares can let in mosquitoes. If you find any holes, repair them with a screen patch kit (available at most hardwood stores).

11.    Clean out the garage. Can you park your car in your garage? If not (or if it’s a tight fit), it may be time to make some more space. Clear out the junk, and schedule time to take unused paint, motor oil and other hazardous items to a recycling center that accepts them. (If you’re not sure where to go, search Earth911 to find a center near you.) Once your garage is cleaned out, consider adding a wall-mounted storage to keep things neat and off the floor.

12.    Wash siding. Using a regular garden hose, attach a siding cleaning kit (available at most home improvement stores) to clear away winter grime from your home’s siding. If your siding could use a really deep cleaning, it can be tempting to use a pressure washer to get the job done quickly.

13.    Clean gutters and downspouts. Having your home’s gutters and downspouts cleaned (and repaired if necessary) is one of the first important tasks to schedule this season. Clogged gutters during a rainy spring can cause water to pool, potentially damaging the roof and siding.

14.    Boost curb appeal. Spring is a wonderful time to make upgrades to your home’s exterior, and even small changes – like putting up bold house numbers and a shiny new mailbox – can make a big impact. If you’re planning to put your house on the market this spring, increasing curb appeal can help lure in potential buyers, making it especially important.

15.    Maintain wood decks and fences. Keep outdoor woodwork in top shape by staining or resealing it each spring. Check gates, fencing, decks, railings, pergolas and other outdoor structures, and make repairs as needed.

ERA Skyline Real Estate

3376 Harrison Blvd. 

Ogden, UT 84403

(801)627-6500

5 Trade-Offs to Consider When Remodeling Your Kitchen

5 Trade-Offs to Consider When Remodeling Your Kitchen

Hello Friends,

1.       Daily Use vs. Special Events This area of consideration has to do with how many people your kitchen will serve. From refrigerator storage to seats at the dining table, the number of people you want to accommodate will affect your design choices. You’ll want to consider not only how many people live in the home now, but — if this is your forever home — how many will live in it 10 years from now.

2.       Cost vs. Value As you may have discovered if you’re considering a remodel (or in the midst of one), everything from cabinets to sinks to appliances comes at a variety of price points. How do you decide when it’s worth it to splurge for a high-quality item and when it’s best to save your dollars? Here are some questions to ask yourself:

-          Will the investment improve your everyday life?

-          Will the product solve a pet peeve?

-          Will the addition of this element make your house feel like a home?

-          Will the purchase increase the value of your home?

In each of these cases, you may decide that the cost of a feature for your new kitchen is worth because of the value it brings. For example, a better dishwasher might eliminate the need to pre-rinse dishes. Perhaps you hate scrubbing dishes, can afford an upgrade and would cherish any minute of spare time away from the sink. Or if you feel the opposite, this investment wouldn’t be worth the pennies spent. Framing your choices as cost vs. value, in terms of your experience in your kitchen, and possibly the resale value of your home, can help you get clarity on what’s worth the extra money.

3.       Function vs. Aesthetics Ideally a kitchen redesign brings both beauty and function, but when we are dealing with limited funds, trade-offs between functionality and aesthetics may be necessary. By function, I mean not only the kinds of bells and whistles you get with high-end appliances, but also the kitchen’s layout and the choice of whether to have one sink or two. This area of trade off is deeply personal and has a lot to do with your lifestyle.

4.       Speed vs. Patience Any home improvement project takes time – that’s just part of the process. And once the kitchen is demolished and construction is underway, any delay can be difficult, particularly if you are living in the home dealing with the mess. When you are in that situation, the risk is that you will be tempted to say yes to anything just to get the project done and your home back to normal. When making a financial investment that you’re going to live with a long time, a guide when weighing the need for speed vs. the need to exercise your patience, you could consider how long you plan to live in your home.  

5.       The Ideal Me vs. the Real Me This one isn’t so much a trade-off as a reality check. It’s worth mentioning that some clients have fantasies that a remodel can change their habits, or even their personalities. Rather than plan a kitchen for the person you wish you were, focus on solutions that take your true habits into account. For example, a messy cook who is embarrassed when guests are around might want to add a separate cleanup sink where the cook can hide dirty dishes while making a meal.

ERA Skyline Real Estate

3376 Harrison Blvd. 

Ogden, UT 84403

(801)627-6500

7 Ways to Decorate Your Walls When Painting Is Not an Option

7 Ways to Decorate Your Walls When Painting Is Not an Option

Hello Friends,

1.Commit to a less permanent wallpaper. Wallpaper adds color and interest to rooms, but traditional wallpaper may not be a possibility for your rental. If you want that all-over look without breaking the rules, consider temporary wallpaper. Many temporary papers are peel-and-stick, making installation and removal a breeze.

2. Tell a story through tapestry. Tapestries were originally hung to insulate castle walls in the winter. Weavers made these useful items stylish with designs, colors, patterns, historical scenes and portraits.
Fast-forward 600 years, and designers are still using tapestries to tell a story. Whether you choose a classic or contemporary piece, tapestries are an option for your room.

3. Curate and store on floating shelves. If you want wall decor that’s functional and fun, try floating shelves, says Lucie Ayres, principal at 22 Interiors. These shelves are mounted on brackets or fastened into the wall, so if you aren’t able to put holes in the wall, this option might not be a good idea.

4. Add whimsy with wall decals. Wall decals are a great nonpermanent way to liven up a room.
Companies offer premade designs, full wall murals and custom-made decals, so you can find an option for almost any space. The companies also offer design help, coming up with decal solutions that are perfect for your project.

5. Show off your artwork. Bare walls can be dressed up with large pieces of art. Never displayed artwork before? Here are a few tips to get you started. The width of the artwork should be about 7 to 12 inches narrower than the edge of the furniture below it, she says. For example, if the sofa is 6½ feet wide, the width of the art above it will be about 4½ to 5 feet wide. Finally, if the center of the artwork is at eye level, it will feel more natural in the room.

6. Amplify your room with a full-length mirror. One design trick seen in many compact spaces is the use of a large mirror on a wall. The mirror makes the room look bigger than it is and it also dresses up an empty wall. Plus, if your room receives natural light, the mirror will help the space feel more open and bright.

7. Be a little more laid-back with a gallery wall. If large pieces of art aren’t your style and you want something more casual, consider a gallery wall. They allow you to express your personality and passions through design, even if you’re renting.

ERA Skyline Real Estate 

3376 Harrison Blvd. 

Ogden, UT 84403

(801)627-6500