Smart Storage Ideas to Squeeze Extra Space From Your Bathroom

21140860_original(BPT) – Shampoo bottles, makeup tools, lotions, linens and laundry – the bathroom is one of the most frequented rooms in the home, and clutter can collect quickly. Stop the chaos before it gets out of control by implementing some smart storage solutions. With these simple ideas, your bathroom will be the most functional and fashionable room in the house.

Streamline Shower Shelving

It’s time to say goodbye to hanging racks from shower heads and precarious corner shelving. The new Store+ shower from Sterling has customizable storage accessories, minimizing clutter and ensuring everything you need is close at hand. Sturdy shelves and accessories are easily snapped into any of eight pre-molded locations within the shower – no tools necessary. A fully accessorized wall includes four rimmed shelf/soap dishes, two 4-inch deep storage bins, and soap dishes with towel bar and two shower hooks. Plus, the back wall has molded foot ledges on either side, providing a safe, handy shaving ledge. To clean up your shower clutter for good, visit www.sterlingplumbing.com.

Dare to Go Vertical

Expand the storage potential of a small bathroom by using vertical storage options. Floor space may be limited, but by installing shelving and other smart storage options on walls, you dramatically increase space for necessities. For example, floating shelves are an elegant and space-saving option that are easy to install over the toilet or between a mirror and a pedestal sink. That small space above the door? Perfect for a shelf to store mason jars full of supplies or those beautiful perfume bottles. Need extra space to store linens and washcloths? Install stacked towel racks on the back of your door or hang baskets on the wall and then place folded linens inside for a tidy look that keeps fluffy towels within easy reach.

Vamp Up the Vanity

From shaving and combing to primping and curling, the vanity is center stage for your daily routines. That means clutter can easily take over the countertops and drawers if you’re not careful. A few thoughtful steps will help you organize and maximize your vanity space. To start, dispose or donate of any products or tools you don’t use. Then purchase some drawer organizers or reuse small plastic containers to get items in order. On the inside of doors, install small pieces of PVC pipe vertically to store hair tools and cords. You can also repurpose spice racks on doors to hold a slew of personal products. For hair accessories or other small metal objects, a magnetic strip on the inside of a door or drawer is amazingly effective.

With these simple storage ideas, you’ll cut clutter, keep spaces clean and never trip over a random bottle or towel on the floor again.

3 Tips to Protect Your Home This Winter

29603288_original(BPT) – Cold temperatures, snow, sleet and ice can all wreak havoc on your home’s gutters, windows and gardens, but it can have even more harmful effects on exterior wooden surfaces, such as decks, siding or roof shingles. Residing in Rhode Island, Pete Flood, whose family founded the Flood wood care brand 175 years ago, knows this all too well.

“The coastal climate is tough on wood,” Flood says. “The salt and humidity in the air sticks around all year. Maintaining your home’s exterior wood surfaces, and of course using the right products, can help protect your home from harsh climates year round, but particularly harsh winter weather.”

While the Flood wood care brand is now powered by PPG, a global innovator in coatings, Flood’s knowledge and deep understanding of the Flood brand’s heritage gives him a unique perspective on his own staining projects. Having just refinished his home’s siding and roof shingles this past August, Flood shares his favorite professional tips and products to help you prep and protect the outside of your home for the winter.

Prepare Before Starting Projects

Whether you are refinishing your deck, porch, siding or roof, it’s important to properly prepare the surface before starting your project. It not only helps to clean the wood, but also helps the stain to look its best for as long as possible. Rather than using a power washer, Flood recommends using a wood cleaner to properly remove dirt and loose fibers. “My family developed the first Flood wood cleaner in 1980, and today, the Flood Pro Series Wood Cleaner cleans a deck in half the time it takes to power wash while removing four times more dirt than water alone.”

Choosing the Right Product

“Since my grandfather and brother were painting contractors, our family knew the importance of a quality products,” Flood says. “Choosing the right product for your project can make the difference between both appearance and protection. First, it’s important to understand the climate in your region to ensure you use a product that can protect against particular elements such as rain, snow or sunlight. Then, it’s just as important to select a product that will meet your appearance expectations.”

“When I last refinished my house in 2008, we used Flood CWF in Cedar Tone, and the product has held up really well over the years,” Flood says. “This time around, we used Flood Pro Series CWF-UV 5 for its UV protection, water repellency against rain and snow, as well as penetrating protection below the wood surface.”

Maintenance Moving Forward

It’s important to plan for protection this winter, but ideally you will also be protecting your home for future winters, summers and more, which is why choosing a durable, lasting product is so important. With the harsh climates in Rhode Island and many other areas of the country, this is especially important to Flood to avoid having to refinish his home year after year.

“Flood products have that balance of great appearance and durability as they age. When you do need to refinish your home again, it may not need to be completely redone. It may only require cleaning and recoating, which is a lot less work.”

Pete Flood received Flood stain product in exchange for participation in this interview. All opinions expressed are his own.

5 Residential Design Trends in Hardwood

23086641_original(BPT) – Hardwood may be one of the oldest building materials known to man, yet architects, designers and homeowners are always finding fresh ways to use it in the modern home. What’s the appeal? Flexibility and variety, for starters.

“We’re constantly delighted to see how traditional woods like oak and walnut are being employed with renewed flair and imagination,” says Linda Jovanovich, of the American Hardwood Information Center, www.hardwoodinfo.com. “Subtle tweaks can make something familiar, look innovative. The current trend is to take a classic hardwood application, like paneling or flooring, and give it a stylish, up-to-the-minute twist. Here’s a look at what’s trending.”

Wide-Plank Flooring

Perhaps no recent trend has been more influential than the use of wide-plank hardwood flooring. Traditional plank widths, ranging from 2 1/4 to 3 1/2 inches, are still popular. But today’s homeowners often ask for widths between 5 and 7 inches, and there is even demand for up to 10 or 12 inches. “Wider floorboards can make a space look larger and more modern,” says Melissa Morgan of M Interiors in San Antonio, Texas, who has used the generously proportioned planks in traditional and contemporary homes. “With fewer seams, these floors can be treated like a canvas: ebonized oak or walnut for a sleek, dark look; light woods like ash or maple for a chic, urban vibe; weathered-gray tones for a slightly rustic affect – the possibilities are endless.”

Wood Ceilings

It used to be that hardwood planks primarily went on floors or walls, but today they’re appearing on residential ceilings too. “Simple poplar beadboard, painted white or with a light natural stain, looks crisp and airy overhead, adding visual interest while remaining quiet and unassuming,” says Rebecca Ascher, Ascher Davis Architects in New York and Newport, Rhode Island. “For a more assertive affect, I might specify tongue-and-groove walnut or hickory, characterful woods that provide a degree of drama. For that reason, they’re best reserved for large, high-ceilinged rooms that are not easily overwhelmed. In smaller, lower spaces, a ceiling with too much personality can feel oppressive.”

Mix and Match23086998_original

Architects and designers, who once avoided using different varieties of hardwood in a single residential space, now mix and match them with newfound enthusiasm. Clearly contrasting wood tones – blond maple and black walnut, for example – create a striking effect that can work well in both traditional and contemporary settings. This is particularly true in kitchens, where a favorite configuration features upper cabinetry in a light-color wood such as birch, and lower cabinetry in a dark-color wood like cherry. The result is a space that has strong visual interest, and is light and airy, yet solidly grounded.

Gray Stains and Finishes

Gray is a classic “neutral” that never truly goes out of fashion. It’s currently one of the most popular colors, ranging from pale smoke to deep charcoal, showing up in hardwood flooring, paneling and cabinetry. “Whether light or dark, gray stains bring out any wood’s natural grain and texture,” says New York interior designer Laura Bohn. “Grays are versatile and timeless – quiet and soothing colors that recede into the background without losing personality or becoming faceless. That’s why they work in any style décor, yet always look modern.”

Distressed Hardwoods

Homeowners drawn to the popular look of weather-beaten rustic and elegantly timeworn are turning to distressed hardwoods – new product to which scrapes, nail holes, notches, saw marks and other signs of wear and tear have been carefully applied, often by hand. Manufacturers are able to reproduce convincing facsimiles of anything from the burnished walnut floorboards of an 18th century salon to the rugged oak-plank siding of a 19th century Pennsylvania barn. It’s a distinctive look that offers a wide range of aesthetics.

Visit www.hardwoodinfo.com for more about residential design trends and other applications and products using American hardwoods.

One-Weekend DIY Projects to Get Your House Relative-Ready for the Holidays

22758447_original(BPT) – When the holidays arrive, you can prepare a scrumptious feast, present ideal gifts that are perfectly wrapped and decorate the house like something off a magazine cover. However, your mother-in-law is still going to focus on the stained upholstery in the family room, the tacky and dated wallpaper in the dining room, and the guest bedroom carpet that looks older than she is.

This year, you can spare yourself the in-law-inflicted shame with some budget-friendly do-it-yourself projects that will take just a weekend (or less) to achieve. Your home will be holiday ready, and as a bonus, you’ll get to enjoy the improvements throughout the New Year.

Before you begin, remember: you can save time, money and storage space by renting the tools you need for holiday DIY projects. Renting means you always have access to the items you need, and when your project is done, cleanup is as easy as returning the items to your local rental store. To find a rental store near you, visit rentalHQ.com.

 

Easy, High-Impact Projects

First, focus your efforts on high-traffic rooms where guests will spend the most time. For example, tackle improvements in the kitchen, living room and guest bath, but skip projects in less trafficked areas like your master bedroom. Next, pick projects that are fast, easy and low cost, but will have high impact.

You’ve undoubtedly heard it before, but it’s worth saying again – paint, paint, paint! Repainting a room is one of the fastest, easiest and most cost-effective ways to make it look better. Most rooms can easily be painted in a day or less, even if you’re going all-out and doing the ceiling and trim as well as the walls. Score bonus points by using a rented texture sprayer to add a unique, professional look to walls.

Speaking of paint, a fresh coat in an eye-catching color can make your front door look new and inviting. While you’re working on your entryway, remember to power-wash sidewalks, steps and trim, and wash sidelights, transoms and other windows near the door. A polished entryway will make your holiday decorations look even better – and wow the in-laws before they even ring the doorbell.

22758567_originalIn kitchens and bathrooms, replace dated or worn faucets. Install a new showerhead in the bathroom, and add a new shower curtain. A new light fixture in the dining room can brighten the space and enhance the festive atmosphere. Rent a steam cleaner to freshen up tile floors, carpet and upholstery. Score bonus points with your scent-sensitive in-laws for using a cleaning method that’s hypoallergenic and chemical-free!

 

A Little More Effort

Some projects may take a little more effort, but their payoff can be even higher. For example, remove that tired dining room wallpaper or 80’s-style wallpaper border in the powder room with a rented wallpaper steamer. The steamer will make the job easy as possible and that little extra investment of time will give you a fresh, blank slate for updating the room’s décor.

Adding molding to a dining room or family room creates an air of quiet elegance. Whether you opt to add crown molding at the ceiling or decorative molding and wainscoting on the walls, you can rent the measuring and cutting tools you’ll need to do the job well.

If you’re feeling ambitious and are eager for a project that will really knock the in-laws’ socks off, you can get rid of that old grungy carpet. Whether you choose to refurbish the wood floor under the old carpet, or install new carpeting, you can rent the tools you need, such as a floor sander or carpet stretching tool.

With the holidays approaching fast, you don’t have a lot of time or money for DIY projects that will impress the in-laws. Fortunately, you can accomplish some impressive results in a single weekend when you rent the tools you need. Visit www.rentalHQ.com to find a rental store near you.