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Just for Fun

Quick Tips for Removing Snow

by Alex Kelly on February 14

Quick Tips for Removing Snow

If you live in an area that’s likely to see snow during the winter months, make sure you’re ready to tackle it. When it comes to removing snow, you have choices. You can pick up a shovel and do it the old-fashioned way, or you can invest in powered snow removal tools. These snow removal tips will help you choose the method that’s best suited to your needs.

Removing snow with a shovel

If you typically only have to clear light layers of snow, then a shovel may be sufficient. But removing snow – even if there isn’t much of it – with a shovel can be hard work. To make the job easier and safer, follow these snow removal tips: [click to continue…]

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How to Give your Home a Vintage-Style Makeover on a Budget

by Izzy Woods on January 25

Now the festive season is done and dusted it’s time for a fresh start, and what better place to begin than your home? If 2012 is the year you decide to give your home the look you lust after, read on to discover some great tips. And you needn’t think you’ll have to set aside a whole month’s salary just to tackle one room. Oh no, in fact, this guide is all about how to give your home a vintage-style makeover even if you’re on the tightest of budgets.

Image Source: DesignWagen.com

Feature Walls

So you’re looking to give a particular room a new lease of life. There’s one quick, simple and relatively easy way of going about this, and that’s to decide on a wall and make it a feature of the room.

If it’s your living room, it might be the wall where the fireplace is, for instance. If it’s the kitchen, you might think about highlighting a wall by the eating area. You can even make a feature wall of a downstairs washroom. Basically, the only limitation is your imagination – and the supplies you can get hold of. [click to continue…]

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Weekend Warrior: Home New Year Resolutions

by ServiceMagic on December 30

We say instead of remembering any resolutions that fell by the wayside from last year, let’s focus on the future. Is there a spot in your house that you wish you could change? Especially when it comes to the bathroom and kitchen, minor changes or remodels can make a big difference. Maybe a stove with more burners could mean quicker or healthier dinners. Or perhaps a new water heater will speed up shower times in the morning.

To help you get started, we have compiled a small list of 2012 home resolutions:

  • Take out the carpet and add wood floors! Wood floors are easier to clean and they will transform a room.
  • Start a small garden in your backyard.
  • Remove wall scuffs and marks throughout your house. It’s amazing how small cleanups make a difference.
  • Instead of remodeling your kitchen, save some money by staining your cabinets. A darker stain can change the look and feel of your kitchen.
  • Purchase and install new windows, and see the savings in your energy bills!

The best part of making your home your resolution is once you’ve finished planning, you can send in the pros to do the work. If it’s a few smaller jobs, think about bundling them up for a handyman to knock out at once. If you’re focusing on a particular room, now’s a great time to start talking to a few pros. Just remember to talk to at least three pros to find someone that will work well with you. If you do the prep work now and figure out what you want, which is the fun part, you can transform your room later this year with ease.

Happy New Years!

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Image of the Week: Windsor Kitchen Stove

by ServiceMagic on October 31

Windsor Kitchen Stove - Pinterest.com

Do you have any old kitchen throwback’s at home? This Windsor Kitchen Stove we found on Pinterest would be a fantastic focal point – bonus points if it’s fully functional and working!

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Spooky Halloween Murals

by ServiceMagic on October 28

Happy (almost) Halloween from ServiceMagic!

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15 Everyday Household Items That Moonlight As Fashion Lifesavers

by Adria Saracino on October 4

Fashion and beauty require a lot of maintenance. From dry cleaning and alterations to frizz and pimples, we are constantly striving to look our best.

However, all that maintenance can come with a hefty price tag. Dry cleaning alone can cost well over $100 for one modest trip.

Dryer Sheet

Image Source: RealSimple.com

Lucky for us, there are a lot of common household items that double as fashion and beauty lifesavers. Here are some insider secrets on the second function you didn’t know your household items had…

1. Masking Tape: This sticky household item is perfect for removing lint and dog hair without ruining your clothes. Simply take a longer piece and run it across the areas that need care, lifting every so often so as not to stretch fabric.

2. Dryer Sheet: These are your lifesaver in winter. Simply run it over your hair to eliminate static and minimize frizz. Need another use for those dry sheets? Stick them in smelly shoes to eliminate odor. [click to continue…]

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Elements of Feng Shui for Your Home

by ServiceMagic on September 30

Feng Shui Living Room - TheSpiritualFengshui.com

Background

Feng Shui (pronounced fung-shway): The arranging and positioning of objects to let energy flow better in your house. Translates to “wind-water” in English. It is said to promote health and energy. Originated from Chinese astronomy, the goal of feng shui is to situate your environment on spots with good qi (pronounced chee).

Elements of Feng Shui

Elements of Feng Shui EarthBalance-Interiors.com

1. Wood – harnesses creativity and represents growth, strength, flexibility and intuition. Too much wood may make you feel overwhelmed, rigid, and stubborn; however too little wood will idle your creativity and possibly depression. Wood objects to use in your home: fresh & silk flowers, plants & trees, cotton, and wood furniture

2. Fire – increases enthusiasm and leadership. Fire can be used for expression, inspiration or boldness. If fire is overused it may transform into anger, irritability and reckless behavior. If fire is used too it represents lack of emotion, limited vision and shortness of self-esteem. Fire objects to use in your home: candles, natural light, incandescent lights, shades of red, pink or purple, and animal prints

3. Earth – promotes strength and order while providing balance.  Too much earth in a space will see an increase in boredom and sluggishness. If there is too little earth, you may feel disorganized and unfocused. Earth objects to use in your home: earth tones, square shapes, low & flat surfaces and images of landscapes

4. Metal – mental clarity and logic are affected with metal elements. If there is too much metal you may come across as chatty and speaking without thinking; however too little metal can provoke cautiousness and lack of focus. Metal objects to use in your home: round shapes, anything made of metals, rocks/stones, and pastel or gray-toned colors.

5. Water – water symbolizes spirituality and can bring about inspiration and wisdom. Too much water creates an unbalanced feeling and drained emotions. Too little water brings a lack of sympathy and isolation. Water objects to use in your home: dark tones, reflective surfaces, asymmetrical shapes, water, and water features

Hopefully we’ve helped you start thinking about how to feng shui your home, and if you need a designer that specializes in Feng Shui you can find one at ServiceMagic.com!

Which element do you like best? Do you already incorporate ones of these elements in your home?

Sources:
Wikipedia – Feng Shui
HGTV – Elements of Feng Shui

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