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Erin Vaughan from Modernize shares her go-to apps for home design inspiration. Whether you’re just looking for ideas, or are ready to jump into a decorating project, one or more of these apps may make it on to your home screen in the near future. What are your favorite apps or websites for home inspiration? Share with us in the comments below!
You may not usually associate technology with interior design, but these apps know a thing or two about home improvement—and they’ll give you stylish, smart rooms with just a tap on your mobile device. These newest apps move digital home decor past Pinterest, letting you integrate your actual space into your design plan with grace and ease. Not only do they let you choose paint and measure a room—they even link to a wider range of furnishing options. This helps to narrow the gap between what you see in your mind’s eye and what’s on your walls. Check out some of our favorite new home decor apps and see how simple professional-level designing can be.
Via Chairish
Shopping for brand new home goods online is easy, but what about when you’re looking for a mid-century television stand? Chairish is the place to find picture-perfect vintage and antique pieces. It’s an online marketplace of individual buyers and sellers—like a high-end Etsy full of gorgeous photos and curated room samples that will help you fit old-school furniture into your modern home. Antique shopping without the dust!
Sampling paint colors used to feel like taking the big plunge. After all, a room looks a whole lot different once you’re done painting—like that chocolate-brown powder room that seemed a lot better in your mind than it does in reality. But Sherwin Williams’s ColorSnap app solves that problem, letting you see how your favorite hues match up to a variety of sample scenes. You can even snap pictures in real life and locate a paint color in that exact shade. Painting just became virtually risk-free!
You know those annoying little sketches you have to make when you’re shopping for furniture or home goods, covered with jumbled wall measurements and arithmetic? PhotoMeasures lets you upload a picture of your living room and draw your measurements directly onto the photo, so you can keep track of exactly which measurements match up to which spaces—and get a new rug that will really tie the room together.
Via CNet
The hardest part of home design isn’t necessarily decorating—it’s keeping your interiors neat and polished once you’re done. Sweeping and doing the dishes are an obvious part of your weekly routine, but what about wiping down the microwave? Cleaning out your fridge? Or even maintenance tasks like inspecting your chimney? That stuff tends to fall through the cracks since we don’t have to do it every day. BrightNest sends reminders when it’s time to have your roof looked at, for instance—and comes with a virtual plethora of tips and advice for cleaning, organizing and more.
Really great style is all about being ahead of the curve. By all predictions, Homee, a new design app brought to you by Tinder CEO Sean Rad, will be the biggest thing in home decor since the birth of IKEA. The app’s still in its beta phase, but it looks to be really great—according to representatives, it will feature a chatbot who acts as your artificially intelligent designer, making room recommendations and then allowing you to purchase and try out design schemes, all on the house. It’s a personal interior design service for those of us who want to be stylish but aren’t rolling in dough. Look for it soon!
With apps like these, your decor will be on lock. Who needs a designer’s eye when you have 5G and a smart phone?
Erin Vaughan is a blogger, gardener and aspiring homeowner. She currently resides in Austin, TX where she writes full time for Modernize, with the goal of empowering homeowners with the expert guidance and educational tools they need to take on big home projects with confidence.
Each year, thousands of homeowners engage in the joy that is Spring cleaning, which generally involves various levels of home maintenance. For some folks, that means de-cluttering gutters, washing windows, power washing siding and fences, or even re-painting. Unfortunately for some homeowners, there are some issues that can arise that a bucket of soapy water and a sponge won’t fix.
For instance, many homeowners don’t know how to turn their water off if a washing machine hose busts or a toilet overflows. What about adjusting the temperature on your water heater? Or turning off the power to the bathroom while you try to remove that broken lightbulb from it’s socket. What about changing your air conditioner filters? These are things that happen in homes across America every day, and with just a little bit of gumption, you can save yourself some time and $$$ by learning how to take care of these things without calling a handyman to your home.
Thank goodness for the internet. These days, there are videos posted by more adventurous DIY’ers on how to do everything from finding a wall stud to hang a mirror on, to how to build and install an outdoor brick pizza oven. Technology has made it much easier to tackle some home tasks that may have been biting off more than you could chew before. Check websites like Pinterest and YouTube for great ideas and step-by-step instructions to help walk you through projects that you don’t feel comfortable tackling on your own.
Take the time to get to know your home. Find out where the fusebox, the water main (and gas main if your home has gas) and the HVAC unit is in your home and become familiar with how they work and what it takes to maintain them. You’ll save yourself from future home headaches and needless expenses if you do.
The 55+ housing market is expected to continue growing according to experts attending National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) International Builders’ Show in Orlando, FL. This recent article by James Limbach of Consumer Affairs shares more details on the 55+ housing market.
“We know, anecdotally, over the past few years that the 55+ housing market has been growing and is likely to continue to grow for the next decade, and now we have new numbers that back that up,” said Paul Emrath, NAHB’s vice president of survey and housing policy research. “The return of 55+ data — now included in the American Community Survey — will not only show us the size of the entire group of 55+ households, but also will give us information about individual markets, and how they are currently accommodating that growing segment.”
In addition, Emrath says, builder confidence has increased over the past several years. “NAHB’s 55+ Single-Family Housing Market Index, which is based on a survey of members that measures builder and developer confidence for that market, regularly posted year-over-year gains from 2012 through 2015, and has remained in a very positive position through 2016, with third-quarter reports of sales and current traffic posting increases from the previous year.”
As the boomer generation ages, many are looking for a smaller home — one that’s the right size, with a floor plan that makes single-level living possible, but with space for visiting family members and entertaining friends.
“Older home owners, in recent years, have been able to sell their large homes in the suburbs and buy an energy-efficient right-sized home, often in walkable communities with a wealth of opportunities for activities and social engagement,” said Jim Chapman, chairman of NAHB’s 55+ Housing Industry Council. “Downsizing 55+ buyers do their research — they know what they want and don’t want to settle for less.”
However, Chapman warns that not every 55+ household is positioned to buy into such communities, so it’s important that local jurisdictions plan to address the growing need for affordable rental housing for seniors as well.
[See the full article at Consumer Affairs]
To learn more about Lennar’s offering of 55+ Communities available across the country, visit lennar.com/activeadult.
Vallejo, Calif. – January 2017 – Lennar Bay Area is excited to debut a Home Within a Home® floorplan at their upcoming community of Tovero, set on Mare Island in Vallejo. With plans to grand open in March, this will be the first time that Lennar offers a Home Within A Home® floorplan in the Bay Area.
“We are so thrilled to begin offering The Home Within a Home®, a first for our division,” said Morgan Sterling, Marketing Manager for Lennar Bay Area. “This floorplan makes such a difference in lives of multigenerational families and we’re ecstatic to begin offering it at Tovero.”
Lennar’s Home Within a Home® floorplans allow extended families to live all in one place without sacrificing privacy. These unique home designs include an attached private suite that comes with a separate entrance, bedroom, bathroom, kitchenette and laundry area. A lockable door that connects the Home Within a Home® suite to the interior of the main home allows for as much privacy from or direct access to both areas, depending on what each situation requires.
“We’ve seen so many different family types that can benefit from living in a multigenerational home,” Sterling said. “Whether it’s a family with young kids whose live-in grandparents act as full time nannies. Or families with young adults still living at home, or with children who have special needs. The Home Within a Home® floorplans are all about keeping these families together in a functional environment, all under one roof.”
In some cases, The Home Within a Home® has allowed families to come together and purchase a home where otherwise, they might not be able to. By teaming up together, splitting mortgage costs and utility costs, the dream of home ownership becomes a reality.
Tovero at Mare Island is a brand new upcoming community that offers new homes with spacious and smart floorplans in a setting rich with maritime history, nature and scenic views of the San Pablo Bay. Homes range in size approximately from 3,000 to 3,800 square feet and will include Lennar’s innovative Home Within A Home®.
Interested parties may join the interest list for Tovero at Mare island at https://www.lennar.com/new-homes/california/san-francisco-bay-area/vallejo/tovero.
With hundreds of communities nationwide and homes designed for first-time, move-up and luxury homebuyers, Lennar has grown to become one of the nation’s leading and most respected homebuilders. Lennar has a longstanding history of building homes of enduring quality in only the most well planned and desirable locations throughout the country.
January 2017 – A new year is a fresh start and it’s never been a greater time to purchase a new home. Over the past two months we have seen interest rates starting to rise, signaling that now is the time to buy. If you’ve been on the fence about making the jump, we highly encourage buyers to make their move today before it’s too late.
“There is no better time than now to buy a new home,” said Jeff Roos, Division President for Lennar West. “We build in many of the most highly sought after areas and offer a large variety of floorplan styles to meet every type of lifestyle need. From active adult to multigenerational homes, we have a floorplan for every family!”
If you’re in the market for a new home, you might be asking yourself whether brand new or resale is right for you. The reasons to go new are plentiful. Buying new is not only better—it’s smarter, healthier and more energy-efficient.
Our Everything’s Included® program was designed to give homebuyers the features they want, without the hassle of having to select options and unexpected costs. We include a high level of standard features that come in all our new homes at no additional cost to the buyer. These features not only improve the home’s overall performance, they also add tremendous value.
Energy efficiency is often at the top of a modern home shopper’s wish list. New Lennar homes incorporate current energy standards and building codes and implement features that are designed to lower the home’s utility usage when compared with a typical resale home.
Items like programmable thermostats help reduce overuse of heating or cooling systems. Tankless water heaters, available in select communities, can be 24 to 34 percent more efficient than a traditional tank-style water heater. Other items that help improve a new Lennar home’s energy efficiency include radiant barrier roofs, ENERGY STAR® certified appliances, low-E windows, LED lighting and more.
Another great reason to buy new? You can find the floorplan that works for you and your family best. Instead of trying to make the best resale home you could find in your price range work, why not choose a new home that actually meets your needs? New Lennar homes are designed for the way people live today and all of our communities offer a distinctive variety of floorplan styles and sizes.
A new home also reduces the need for repairs. When you move-in, everything is brand-new allowing you to rest assured you won’t be inheriting a past owner’s general maintenance requirements. New Lennar homeowners also enjoy increased indoor air comfort and quality. Low VOC paints contain less toxins than older paint.
With new homes for sale in communities all over California, Oregon, Washington, Nevada and Arizona, it’s easy to get started on your search today. Visit www.lennar.com to find new homes for sale in your area.
With hundreds of communities nationwide and homes designed for first-time, move-up and luxury homebuyers, Lennar has grown to become one of the nation’s leading and most respected homebuilders. Lennar has a longstanding history of building homes of enduring quality in only the most well planned and desirable locations throughout the country.
Lennar makes no guarantee of present or future market conditions. You should consult your own accounting, legal and tax advisors to evaluate the risks, consequences and suitability of any real estate transaction. Real estate market conditions involve risks, variables and uncertainties that may cause the real estate values to differ materially from geographic area, timeframes and product types. Energy claims were developed by third parties and not based upon specific testing of an individual’s home. Savings will vary due to many variables, including but not limited to, actual utility rates and fees, actual construction, floor plan, occupancy, appliance usage, thermostat settings, weather conditions, number of individuals occupying the home and orientation of the home. Lennar provides no guarantee of savings or efficiency that will be achieved by each homeowner. Lennar makes no guarantee of the present or future condition of a home, indoor air quality, comfort of the occupants, or market conditions. Improper maintenance of a home can create poor indoor air quality and/or health risks. People react very differently to exposure to indoor air pollutants. You should have an independent third party inspector inspect the home for potential contaminant exposure risks and consult your own construction and medical advisors. For additional details, including specific information about your favorite Lennar home, visit your nearest Lennar Welcome Home Center or contact us at www.lennar.com. Please see your New Home Consultant and home purchase agreement for actual features designated as an Everything’s Included feature, additional information, disclosures, and disclaimers relating to your home and its features. Lennar Homes of California, Inc. License #728102. Lennar Sales Corp. – California Bureau of Real Estate License #01252753. Lennar Reno, LLC d/b/a Lennar Homes — License # 64226, Lennar Sales Corp. — Broker. Greystone Nevada, LLC, NV Contractors License #0048844 and U.S. Home Corporation dba Lennar, NV Contractors License #0050808. Lennar Sales Corp. — Broker. No offer to sell or lease may be made or to purchase or lease may be accepted prior to issuance of an Arizona Public Report. A Public Report is available at the State Real Estate Department website ww.azre.gov. Broker Lennar Sales Corp. Lennar Arizona, Inc. dba Lennar Homes ROC# 232731, Lennar Arizona Construction, Inc. ROC# 228129, Lennar Communities Development, Inc. ROC# 137295, Greystone Construction, Inc. ROC# 256680. US Home of Arizona Construction Company ROC # 065983. CCB#LENNAN1893QG. CCB#195307. Copyright © 2017 Lennar Corporation. All rights reserved. Lennar, Everything’s Included and The Home Within A Home are registered service marks or service marks of Lennar Corporation and/or its subsidiaries. Equal Housing Opportunity. 1/17
TV and sound are crucial aspects when hosting a successful party to celebrate the Big Game. The team at Polk Audio is sharing tips to enhance the sound in your living room space so that you can host an unforgettable game day in your home!
Sound bars help provide better audio quality than you’ll find built into any HDTV, and without the clutter of satellite speakers. They are an excellent compromise between shelling out for an expensive surround-sound system and settling for the tinny sound from your TV’s build in speakers.
In the right setting, many sound bars can produce an expansive sound stage so no one has to miss the call on a football play due to lack of sound. While you might not be at the game, you can still experience the sounds of big hits and tackles as if you’re on the field!
For those who don’t want to go to the trouble and expense of hooking up the TV set to a full-scale surround-sound system, a sound bar can offer an ideal solution. Sound bars are one-piece home-theater speaker systems that are sleekly styled and can easily be hung on a wall underneath your TV or placed on your entertainment center. Skip the confusion of setting up multiple speakers, and ensure a smooth game day by utilizing a simple sound bar in your home.
If you’re not a fan of commercials or would rather skip out on the slower parts of the game, easily access your Spotify or Pandora account to bring out you and your guests favorite party tunes. Even if there is a dull moment during the game, it doesn’t mean you can’t still keep the party going with other forms of entertainment.
While you may not want to invest a lot of money into your TV’s sound system, the sound bar offers a wide variety of prices allowing you to more easily find a price within your budget. The price range for sound bars ranges from as little as $100 to over $1,500, depending on the features and audio quality you need or want.
