May 17, 2012
On May 16, 2012, the Building Industry Association of Southeastern Michigan (BIA) announced the launch of Made In America, Built In Michigan – The Red, White and Blueprint for Economic Recovery. The program is a grass roots effort to generate local jobs by working with BIA member companies to build new homes using as many ...
May 2, 2012
Pinterest is a new but very exciting platform that can lead you to great ideas and even help you find great services for your current or next home. The picture shown here caught my eye today. First, the way the light plays off the arbor and the stucco walls — combined with the shadows — ...
May 2, 2012
In the past few years, battery-operated lights, particularly candles, have become an even better decorating alternative with the introduction of LED technology. The flexibility offered by battery operated LED candles even far surpasses that of first generation of battery candles with their screw-in “Christmas light” bulbs. Probably the best feature is one of safety. LED ...
April 2, 2012
This weekend, I was searching for top kitchen trends and a perennial favorite came up … stainless steel kitchens. While that wasn’t too surprising, the following design feature offered some intriguing possibilities: stainless steel mosaic tiles. Based in Ontario, Canada, MetalStainlessSteelTiles.com exclusively offers literally any style of metal mosaic tiles designed to bring a unique ...
March 5, 2012
(Family Features) Ever wonder how designers make the rooms you see in magazines or on decorating shows look so good? It doesn’t always depend on paint colors or fabric choices. From fresh and airy, to intimate and cozy – and everything in between – lighting sets the tone of a room and should be an ...
January 4, 2012
Okay, this post is something that comes out of the “believe-it-or-not” file … well, sort of at least. At Quick Home Tips and MyHomeCoupons.com, we are always trying to find the best ideas for our readers. I did a search today on “Home & Garden becoming popular” and only got 744 MILLION results! What was ...
December 12, 2011
Nature — God’s creation — can serve as a phenomenal inspiration for centerpieces. Nature’s Centerpiece – This beautiful display can be made in about 30-45 minutes. The greens will last 6 to 8 weeks and carnations will last 3 to 4 weeks, with proper watering. It makes a simple, elegant addition to any table, ...
December 12, 2011
Candy canes have long been synonymous with Christmas. From About.com, the origin of the candy cane goes back over 350 years, when candy-makers both professional and amateur were making hard sugar sticks. The original candy was straight and completely white in color. Around the seventeenth century, European-Christians began to adopt the use of Christmas trees ...
December 12, 2011
The following three “Quick Tips” will help anyone who is making their own festive centerpiece. When working with fresh greens, tree sap from the fresh greens can make your hands “sticky” which is just plain annoying. To easily remove sap, apply some Crisco to your hands. The fat from the Crisco will easily dissolve the ...
December 12, 2011
Christmas brings with it decorating ideas that can make the holiday special. This can be especially true with centerpieces that can highlight the numerous opportunities to share holiday meals and receptions. Christmas Candle Centerpiece – This beautiful display can be made in about 40-50 minutes and will last 6 to 8 weeks, with proper ...
October 27, 2011
(Family Features) For a lot of busy moms, it seems that kids’ activities dominate the family calendar. Between school, soccer practice, ballet rehearsal and everything in between, sometimes you need to have a plan of attack for keeping the family satisfied. Eating right goes a long way to giving everyone the energy they need to ...
October 13, 2011
(Family Features) From big-ticket purchases to basic household items, people from all economic backgrounds are prioritizing their shopping lists to spend wisely on items worth the investment. It is not surprising that when buying items for you or your family, it can be difficult to decide where to adjust your household budget. Personal finance expert, ...
August 25, 2011
Score a Tailgate Touchdown Mini Pulled Pork Sandwiches (Family Features) Are you ready for some football? The best thing about football, besides watching the game of course, is tailgating with delicious food and tasty drinks. So before settling in to watch your favorite team toss the pigskin, roll out some goodies that will score extra ...
July 26, 2011
Want to raise happier kids? According to GE Appliances, consider getting them into the kitchen to do some chores. That may seem counter-intuitive – especially if you’ve ever had to nag a teen to unload groceries or help with dinner. But now you’ve got science on your side. Citing a study conducted by UCLA researchers Eva ...
July 13, 2011
(Family Features) Summer is the ideal time to have friends and family over for casual get-togethers that are centered on the grill and outdoor dining. Add some zip to your summer party with a few tips and a simple recipe that are sure to please your guests. Set the Mood – Get the party started ...
July 13, 2011
Making your “Man Cave” is as much about decorating the hideout, as it is about installing the finishing touches that make life easier. “Traditional cabinet storage doesn’t usually provide easy access to items stored in the back of bar cabinets and entertainment centers,” says Al Williams of ShelfGenie in Southfield, Michigan. “It used to be ...
June 28, 2011
(Family Features) Summer is the perfect time of year for outdoor entertaining. But before you start planning the menus and guest lists, make sure your house and yard are ready to take on the fun. “Your grill, outdoor power equipment and appliances play a big part in your summer routines,” said Jamie Breneman, contributor to ...
June 28, 2011
Who Are Today’s Homeless? According to the National Alliance to End Homelessness (NAEH), between 700,000 and 800,000 people are homeless on any night in the US, with between 2.5 and 3.5 million people experiencing homelessness during the course of a year. More than one million of them are children. Research indicates that – of the ...
June 20, 2011
(Marketwire – 05/30/11) – (Family Features) As America’s economy strengthens, remodeling and home renovations are on a rise. “Homeowners are looking for ways to refurbish their stream homes, rather than shopping a new property,” pronounced Sarah Reep, executive of engineer family and preparation during KraftMaid Cabinetry. “From simply adding a new faucet to totally gutting ...
June 9, 2011
This blog post is the first in a series which will outline the 10 key principles of Lean Design. Before we begin, you may be asking yourself: “What is Lean Design?” “The concept of lean architectural design is often misunderstood,” according to Todd Hallett, AIA, CAPS and President of TK Design & Architecture, Inc. “Elimination ...
June 6, 2011
The Building Industry Association (BIA) of Southeastern Michigan’s 2011 Parade of Homes is a FREE, scattered site exhibition of new construction model homes open for you to visit. We invite you to tour these outstanding homes built by the Professional Master Builders of the BIA.Whatever your plans for your existing or future home, research from ...
May 31, 2011
The Home Builders Association of Greater Kalamazoo (HBAGK) is proud to present its 21st Annual Parade of Homes, June 3rd through the 11th. This is a great event for anyone looking to gain ideas for their current home, or wanting to buy or build a new home. This year’s Parade features 32 new homes, seven ...
May 14, 2011
Removing soffits can make a HUGE difference in your kitchen by providing storage that once was lost. This according to Kristen Shellenbarger, designer for Midwest Cabinet & Counter, Inc. “Typically in a remodel, my motto as a designer is: if something can live in a soffit, it can live just as easily inside a taller ...
May 9, 2011
The Spring 2011 Detroit Home Magazine Special Design Awards issue hit newsstands in April. Our friends at Lombardo Homes, longtime members of the BIA of Southeastern Michigan, received both second and third place awards in the “New Model Home” category. The second place award winner is a model at Partridge Creek Village in Clinton Township. ...
January 25, 2011
Open floor plans, energy-efficient features, and lots of closet space are among the elements that today’s home buyers are seeking in newly-constructed homes, according to industry experts at the 2011 International Builders’ Show sponsored by the National Association of Home Builders. The research and trends presented at the show offered valuable insights and information to ...
January 10, 2011
The concept of “aging-in-place” is simply allowing people to continue to live in the home of their choice safely and independently as they get older. According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), modifications for aging-in-place is the fastest growing segment of the residential remodeling industry. According to an AARP “Fixing to Stay” survey, ...
December 15, 2010
Imagine you’re preparing to host your annual holiday party, suggests the National Association of REALTORS®and you’re past the point of no return. The veggies and meats have been bought. Guests are already braving busy airports and crowded highways to get to your home—and then your oven won’t turn on. Your home-cooked meal has quickly turned ...
September 30, 2010
During October, the National Kitchen & Bath Association (NKBA) will celebrate Kitchen & Bath Month by helping you enhance the value of your home with the free downloadable NKBA Kitchen Planner and NKBA Bath Planner. Key features of the NKBA Kitchen and Bath Planners include: A step-by-step guide to the remodel from start to finish ...
September 16, 2010
The average size of new homes is shrinking, but not when it comes to one room – the kitchen. According to the American Lighting Association (ALA), this multi-tasking room not only serves as the family’s central gathering spot, but it also performs as a dining area, homework station and casual entertaining space. Because people are ...
August 13, 2010
Does your home, patio, deck or yard need a new look? Maybe you’re hoping to improve your home’s efficiency and cutting back on energy costs by adding “green” materials. If this or anything else related to your home is what you’re looking for then the 2010 FALL REMODELING & DESIGN EXPO is the perfect place ...