Homeowners' Association FAQ

Homeowners' Association FAQ

A homeowners association, or HOA, is a legal entity that oversees a community of houses. They operate within state statutes to apply community regulations and also to accumulate periodic examinations from homeowners. HOAs are designed to proactively protect the interests of the whole community while working within a strict set of bylaws.

Who’s a Homeowners Association?

A homeowners association is led by a board of directors that have been chosen by the homeowners. Most often, the board is made of fellow homeowners with an interest in keeping the area powerful.

Why Are You Currently CC&ampRs?

CC&R stands for covenants, conditions and limitations and will be the governing legal documents that outline the guidelines for the operation of this community as a non-profit company. They’re recorded by the county recorder’s office and are included in the title to your house. Often, a homeowner who fails to abide by the CC&Rs may be fined by the homeowner’s association.

What are Bylaws?

Bylaws are the guidelines for the operation of this non-profit organization that is the homeowners association. These bylaws specify the duties of the several officers of the board of directors, membership voting rights, required meetings, and other specific items that are essential to conduct the homeowners association.

What is an Assessment?

An assessment is the sum that is occasionally due from each homeowner to cover the operating expenses of the common areas, hazard insurance, and also to provide reserve funds for future developments. All homeowners are expected to pay this assessment.

What Exactly Does Fees Pay For?

Like any budget, a homeowners association budget is designed to reflect upcoming debts such as utilitiesand landscaping and management. The book fund is money that’s been set aside for future expenses, such as new lighting, fencing, and street resurfacing. A guideline is that the larger the building, the larger the HOA dues. It makes sense that when there are more windows, structural components, and a larger electric system, there are going to be maintenance problems.

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What Tax Deductions Can Real Estate Agents Take?

What Tax Deductions Can Real Estate Agents Take?

Realtors can deduct any business expense that’s both regular and necessary to create a profit, according to the IRS. Normally, realtors may deduct advertising expenses, professional and licensing fees, educational expenses, a portion of the expenses connected with the business use of the homes and any automobile expenses associated with business use.

Advertising

Business cards, open house flyers,”for sale” signs, newspaper ads and other types of advertising can usually be deducted as business expenses. Advertising encourages you to be contacted by people for business, which may lead to a profit. Since most real estate brokers must market to generate real estate leads that lead to sales, advertising prices are both regular and necessary, which means for a tax deduction.

Professional and Licensing Fees

Fees charged by attorneys consulted rigorously in regard are tax-deductible, according to the IRS. Prices for attorneys or tax preparers may be tax-deductible on tax returns just. Some realtors decide to combine with the National Association of Realtors or any of its affiliated chapters to elevate their public standing by adhering to a strict code of ethics. Prices of membership may be. The cost of renewing and obtaining a real estate license may be.

Educational Costs

Coursework to renew or obtain a license may be. The IRS requires evidence that any seminars, classes or workshops enhance skills or are required by law to maintain your license in order for those expenses to be tax-deductible.

Home Office

Mortgage interest, homeowner’s insurance, utilities, repairs and depreciation for the portion of the house converted into a house office are eligible for a business expense tax deduction. All expenditures need to reflect the percentage of their home used as a workplace, whether the office is a separate space or a section of a space screened away from the remainder of the house. Another telephone line dedicated to the business may also be deductible.

Automobile stinks

Most real estate brokers use the exact same automobile for business and private use. Automobile expenses should be divided based on mileage. For instance, say a real estate broker’s total annual mileage is 45,000 miles, however, just 25,000 miles were utilized to preview and show properties, hold open houses and attend meetings. The percentage of business use would be 55 percent. If total automobile costs for the year equaled $15,000, just $8,250 would be tax-deductible. Some realtors prefer to choose the standard mileage deduction, which can be 50 cents per mile for 2010. That means $12,500 may be tax-deductible for automobile expenses.

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The Way to Understand a Land Survey

The Way to Understand a Land Survey

Land-survey maps could be confusing, but they are essential for determining property topography and official real estate dividing lines. In accordance with Land Surveyor LLC, every land-surveying job is handled differently, which makes it difficult to comprehend the subtle difference among land-survey results. But should you follow the ideal steps, you can take the mystery from a land-survey report. With just a little prior knowledge, even a novice map reader can comprehend a land-survey map within only a couple of minutes.

Open the whole property survey on a flat surface that is large. It can be tricky to read and comprehend the survey results correctly if you’re not able to view the whole survey as one cohesive document.

Scan the file to get an official state or county seal. If there’s absolutely no seal or logo on the survey, then it is only a preliminary, unofficial mapping of your property. Although this survey might be useful for understanding the property’s basic attributes and estimated bounds, the land lines have never been verified by the county recorder. As a result, the information on the map is still considered tentative and doesn’t establish real property lines or possession.

Locate rsquo & the map;s directional index. It’s very important to orient the map so that north is pointing up. Even in the event that you must turn your head on the side to see slanted or misoriented text, then a typical map will be read with north facing up.

Locate the map key, which is generally located in one of the map’s corners. Each land-surveying company will use slightly different symbols to signify crucial survey items. But, despite distinct labeling, virtually every survey will include symbols for regular items, such as water, altitude, land boundaries, streets, structures and a distance scale.

Use a ruler to correctly comprehend the space scale. This is particularly important considering that lots of survey maps do not have a grid. A ruler can help you accurately measure the space between land boundaries.

Identify important landmarks on the map. It can be tricky to ascertain your premises ’s physical boundaries if you do not use landmarks as reference points. If the survey was created recently, little bets or orange flags could still mark the property’s edge, which makes land lines easier to determine. But for an older survey, the landmarks are always crucial for a complete understanding of the border.

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Community Building Just About Anyone Can Do

Community Building Just About Anyone Can Do

Whether you live in a diverse metropolitan area or a calm, tree-lined suburb, connecting with your neighbors to construct a feeling of community can be difficult. It’s easy to blame the men and women who live around you — or even yourself but the reason is often bigger than that. At times it’s the area itself and its absence of public space that prevent you and others from connecting.

Here we’ll explain to you how to modify your area to create a feeling of community.

Ben Herzog

The value of Public Spaces

Public areas allow neighbors to socialize and connect, whether they are playing with their dogs at a shore, watching children’s football games at a field or playing chess at tables at the park. “You discuss your streets, your parks, your sidewalks with your neighbors,” states Brendan Crain, communications director at Project for Public Spaces. “You are bumping up against one another and interacting. That builds community.”

A scarcity of usable public space limits opportunities to meet other people locally. But if that is true in your area, the good thing is that there is a very simple solution: defining or building public spaces based on your area’s needs.

Union Studio, Architecture & Community Design

Placemaking

The more valuable, important public spaces that exist, the more likely it is that people will use them together. That contributes to shared minutes and relationships.

Urban planners often refer to the process as placemaking. It’s based on locating and creating a neighborhood’s collective vision for a public space. Placemaking reexamines everyday spaces — streets, sidewalks, and empty parking lots — through the eyes of the men and women using them every single day. But does it work?

cityrepair.org

Many businesses across the United States have brought the concept of placemaking to areas. In Portland, Oregon, City Repair gathers groups of residents to construct decorate or around dilapidated intersections. Occasionally they paint the road, turn an empty lot into a garden or establish a free library. The colorfully painted intersection here in Portland’s St. Johns area, has beautified the road and encourages motorists to slow down.

Before Photo

Matthew Mazzotta

Without a public gathering space, the citizens of York, Alabama, felt disconnected from one another. Artist Matthew Mazzotta worked with the town to turn a dilapidated old house to a brand new unfolding outdoor theater where the entire community can congregate.

See more about this job

Schwartz and Architecture

Temporary Placemaking

naturally, there is a difference between seeing the demand for a public space and having the ability to make it. Raising money and going through local government stations can appear intimidating, so many residents implement temporary placemaking ideas.

parkingday.org

Park(ing) Day is 1 example. It started in San Francisco but has spread to cities across the nation. Every year on September 19, people around the U.S. place quarters in local parking yards, reserving spaces all day and creating little parks for people to enjoy. The concept shows what can be accomplished with existing road spaces and other ways people can use them.

In San Francisco the program has resulted in the development of parklets Throughout the city throughout the Pavement to Parks program.

See more parklets in our Design Lover’s guide to San Francisco

betterblock.org

The Better Block, based in Texas, reinvents public streets into an occasion or gathering space for one weekend, highlighting its potential for residents and local lawmakers. Here an empty stretch of road in Wichita, Kansas, turned into a contemporary parklet using a bike path.

Calling attention to a public space reveals the need to improve it. This doesn’t need to involve a lot of work, possibly: Placemaking can mean things such as having a knitting club meet in an amazing park, throwing a concert at the road or hosting a small craft fair at a quiet street. “This is particularly helpful in areas that are underutilized,” states Brendan Crain of Project for Public Spaces. “Even if it’s an awkward match, you are calling the community’s attention to it.”

betterblock.org

What You Can Do

Take some ownership of your own neighborhood. Placemaking helps residents understand they have the ability to produce and shape the place where they live. “There’s something powerful about caring for the public realm,” states Maria Rosario-Jackson, an expert in urban planning and a senior research associate at the Urban Institute. “There’s the duty of caring for something larger than yourself.”
Start small. Maybe your dream of a brand new park is not possible yet, but you can assist your neighbors see how great it would be by hosting a neighborhood children’ play in your front yard. Do something temporary. Experiment before making any permanent changes. You do not have to bring out the bulldozers just yet — determine if your concept captures on first. Mow that meadow and host a couple of impromptu football matches, put a couple of Ping-Pong tables in an alley or establish a few food tables near that particular street. If it works, you will have a motivated group of people to help to make your dream a permanent reality. Bring out your life to the streets. Placemaking doesn’t need to involve anything out of this box. Just bring one of your daily passions or habits out. This could be something such as cooking, playing games, playing music (quietly) or perhaps working on a Wi-Fi hotspot. Find a leader. “An significant part creating a community is leadership,” states Rosario-Jackson. “Find a community leader to help create a culture of participation.” Communicate. Don’t let connections or motivation fade. Share ideas and keep in contact using a Google Group or your neighborhood-based social network Nextdoor.Learn more about placemaking at the Project for Public Spaces

Inform us : Can you see a way it to make your area a stronger community?

More: Novel It: Bring a Mini Library For Your Front Yard

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What House Cases Help You Feel Like a Kid Again?

What House Cases Help You Feel Like a Kid Again?

About once a year, I just take down a tattered cardboard box in the top shelf in my closet and sift through my little collection of comic books and baseball cards. Ironically, the first thing I do is check online to see if any of those items have exponentially appreciated in value. They never have. If I sold everything today, I’ve somewhere in the ballpark of $13.

This disappointment is always fleeting. When the fiscal consciousness falls off, I am left with the genuine value of Wolverine #4 and Barry Bonds (back when he was skinny). All these small mementos take me back to blissful moments when I was a kid, when life was simple and all that mattered was baseball and comics.

Many homeowners feel exactly the exact same way. A collection may not be superheroes and retired sports stars, but maybe it’s a complete pair of Ty Beanie Babies, which my spouse proudly owns, or a stunning variety of Matchbox cars. Whatever the items, their meaning and worth are priceless.

We’d love to see what makes you feel like a kid again. Listed below are a couple of special collections. Please show us in the Comments, and we’ll follow up with an ideabook showcasing your screen.

Sarah Greenman

Terry Minshull served together with the Paso Robles fire department in 1962 to 2005, starting at age 21 as a volunteer, then finishing his career as the town’s fire marshal. His vast collection of classic fire trucks, gear and firefighting gear fills his and his spouse’s den.

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Sarah Greenman

Benedict August

This homeowner proudly displays an astonishing G. I. Joe set in his man cave.

Lindsay von Hagel

Brian Gibb and Misty Keasler exhibit their set of limited-edition designer toys in a kitchen wall.

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Flea Market Sunday

Dan Benedict shows his train set in his office.

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Susan Jay Design

Not going to lie. I love Pez and have always been fascinated by the dispensers. This homeowner’s set that spans numerous shelves near the ceiling is additional, er, sweet.

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Your turn: Show us your collection!

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Kitchen of the Week: Preservation Instincts Produce Vintage Modern Style

Kitchen of the Week: Preservation Instincts Produce Vintage Modern Style

Anne and Richard DeWolf’s formulation for modern classic design comes out of years of experience: preserve what you are able to salvage whenever possible and keep true to your own style.

The owners of design-build firm Arciform, the DeWolfs place their renovation abilities to the test remodeling the kitchen of the 1908 Portland, Oregon, house. Remodels in the 1920s and 1970s had buried much of the original architecture below a mishmash of styles, but the few still kept whatever original components they found. Salvaged appliances and custom-designed accents helped produce a fun, casual and authentic-feeling space.

Kitchen in a Glance
Who lives here: Richard and Anne DeWolf
Location: Portland, Oregon
Size: 222 square feet
Cost: About $60,000

Arciform

The DeWolfs saved the original windows, upper cabinetry and tin ceiling, painting them all a bright white. “I think that is a bit of the European section of me,” says Anne, a German native. “I love painted woodwork and feel.”

The present cabinets and windows decided the kitchen’s design, since the DeWolfs desired the sink below the window and the cooker on an exterior wall for ventilation. Contemporary walnut accents, stainless steel appliances and glass tiles counterbalance the more conventional tin ceiling, original fir floor and marble counters.

Hood: Vent-a-Hood; ceiling paint: Dover White, Miller Paint; cooker: 1940s Tappan, eBay

Arciform

“We wanted cool colours that have a warm feeling,” says Anne. Gray-blue soft and tile yellow Venetian-plastered walls match the natural wood floors and walnut lower cabinets.

Backsplash: Roku, Walker Zanger; faucet: 1940s classic; trash cans: Cost Plus

Arciform

The long and narrow footprint didn’t allow for a single, average-size island, so Anne and Richard constructed and constructed two hefty end-grain butcher block islands. Having two separate islands also produces a pathway therefore a kitchen work triangle can be preserved.

Pendants: Clemson, Restoration Hardware

Arciform

The DeWolfs still desired a powder room, so that they constructed a small enclosed space between the dining area and kitchen. Another door on the opposite side of the enclosure contributes to the dining area.

A conventional built-in cupboard houses small appliances and a pantry. The house didn’t have many upper cabinets initially, so the few used other kinds of storage in the new design. “It’s only us,” says Anne. “So we don’t have a whole lot of stuff”

The few found the classic phone shown here (in working order!) On eBay and hooked it up to their telephone.

Arciform

Anne frequently sets up a part of a meal on an island and wheels it round the white cupboard and into the dining area.

A small bathroom with a shower before sat in this corner by the back door. The DeWolfs took it out completely to open the kitchen up.

Table, chairs, rug: Ikea; window: Rejuvenation Salvage; chandelier: Anthropologie

Have you blended classic materials with your modern design? We would really like to see your photo in the Comments.

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5 Ranch Homes With Modern-Day Appeal

5 Ranch Homes With Modern-Day Appeal

In the early ’70s, before my family moved to Los Angeles out of Northern California, we lived at a 1960s ranch-style residence. Our house was in a huge tract along with other houses of this style, with dramatic horizontal and low rooflines with gable and hip profiles. The designs were L shaped or U shaped, and rambled on with main living spaces on one side and bedrooms around the other. The major living spaces were available, with oversize windows which gave an outdoors-in feeling. I remember meals on TV trays (walnut veneer, naturally) in front of the big stone fireplace in the living area, that was adjacent to the kitchen.

Because of standard building, these ranch houses still stand today. And the classic ranch still has charm for older and younger generations. The baby boomers, now in their 60s, such as the single-story construction typical of this architecture. Younger buyers looking for their first home love the retro style. Interior designs are really up for translation, mostly reflecting the owners’ needs and enjoys. Take a look at the current versions of this iconic American fashion.

Think. Design Office

Think. Design Office

Midcentury influence is front and center in this great upgraded ranch home. The glass front allows in complete views of the beautiful mature trees on this property.

A close-up view of the front facade shows high ceilings and a clean, contemporary aesthetic.

Think. Design Office

The back side of this property has partition-style doors which open up for a authentic outdoor-room feeling. More contemporary lines specify this home with a fire pit and a pass-through the kitchen off.

Design Platform

This traditional ranch-style exterior includes an extended gable roof with initial 1969 hanging outside pendants. The slant of this ranch style is a little more midcentury. The color scheme has been updated to highlight the lush picture.

Design Platform

Sunlight abounds within this open-concept, upgraded ranch. The interior is minimalist and contemporary. Skylights have been added that illuminate the neutral and natural kind of the main living area.

Design Platform

Oversize windows and sliders increase the contemporary aesthetic. The double-sided fireplace nods into the 70’s style that was trending as soon as the house was built.

Tim Cuppett Architects

This simple, rustic ranch home goes back to the 1850s; its own spacious covered porch offers lots of farmhouse appeal. The inside reveals a wise and sophisticated remodel.

Tim Cuppett Architects

A matching palette of black trim and glistening white painted siding includes great transitional appeal. Discreet lighting fittings and hot wood floors snug up the dining area.

Tim Cuppett Architects

The open cabinets within this kitchen make use of every square inch under a slanted roof typical of ranch design.

Tara Bussema – Neat Organization and Design

Following is a classic midcentury ranch house complete with board and batten siding and a non gable roof. Notice the minimalist landscape of concrete and succulents. The outside color is Amherst Gray HC-167 by Benjamin Moore.

Tara Bussema – Neat Organization and Design

A white wood ceiling is just one of my favourite interior features. This light-filled space does not disappoint, with good vibes out of the windows into the cozy cork flooring.

Tara Bussema – Neat Organization and Design

Take advantage of those oversize corner windows by placing a cozy chair and a lamp nearby. With beautiful windows this big, I would suggest looking into a transparent window film to lower the level of the sun.

Feldman Architecture, Inc..

Another light-filled ranch that features clean, modern landscaping. The painted brick fireplace you’ll see within the next photograph suits the outside color palette.

Feldman Architecture, Inc..

More white ceilings and contemporary styling on the inside make retro allure. The diverse mix of furnishings includes a Platner side table and slingback cowhide chair.

Feldman Architecture, Inc..

A great deal of windows, typical in ranch houses, can make kitchen storage more hard. This great-looking solution fits the contemporary aesthetic without cluttering the kitchen with upper cabinets.

Live at an odd ranch house? Please place a photo below!

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Move Fashion Forward at Home With Dressmaker Details

Move Fashion Forward at Home With Dressmaker Details

I remember being charmed by the word”dressmaker details” the very first time that I discovered an interior designer mention that, way back in the Stone Age of my first career. Like toast points and diamond studs, these fashion-inspired finishing touches to upholstery, window treatments and other textiles have an inborn elegance and delicacy.

Although they may not enroll when you enter a room, you’ll instantly feel the atmosphere of polish and poise these details add. They’re also an efficient and affordable way to create over mass-market furniture, linens and accessories with a personalized look.

Have a peek at the lush appearance that detailing lends to those interiors. What dressmaker details look in your house? Tell us in the Comments!

Echelon Custom Homes

Button tufting adds a feeling of richness and relaxation to chairs, headboards, walls and other surfaces. Throw a little sparkle into the mix for a touch of glamour which arouses bejeweled buttons on a well-cut blouse.

Liz Williams Interiors

How sweet are the very small lilac bows on those curtain flanges? Details like these are the reason that well-crafted interiors feel rich with life and also grounded in warmth.

Lauren Mikus

Scallops on the twin ottomans and mattress cushions, paired with box pleats on the window valances, play up the female feel of this distance. On the flip side, straight edges could have made them more masculine.

Alan Mascord Design Associates Inc

Banded closures and kick pleats on the seat slipcovers, plus pinch pleats at the tops of the draperies, add exquisite top notes to this dining room.

IN Studio & Co.. Interiors

These slipcovers take a more casual approach, with floppy bow ties and a relaxed fit. I could see them fitting right in with a cabin or a shore house.

Liz Williams Interiors

Following is a genius trick borrowed from clothing design: Line the interior of a kick pleat with a contrasting fabric. The peekaboo color makes for a beautiful surprise. This valance is capped with a fanciful scrolled trim.

Amy Troute Launched Interior Design

Contrasting welting on this trio of cushions helps to clear up the borders and underscore the palette.

Mustard Seed Interiors

A ruffled skirt lends flirty flair to this ottoman.

Caitlin Wilson Design

Pin tucks down the center of this bedspread give it the tailored feel of a tuxedo shirt.

I adore this updated twist on classic nailhead trim. The strip of matching fabric and extra-wide nailhead spacing give it a somewhat contemporary feel.

Phoebe Howard

Grosgrain ribbon banding defines those upholstered walls and ties the room together.

Harper Design from HarperCollins Publishers

Ribbon makes for curtain ties that are impromptu. You could use any substance or color that appeals to you, from metal chain for an industrial space to ripped strips of fabric if you want a more rustic result.

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Contractor Tips: 10 Home Places That Probably Require a Pro

Contractor Tips: 10 Home Places That Probably Require a Pro

If you are working on a DIY remodel, then deciding whether to call at a specialty contractor to perform a specific task comes down to several areas you will need to consider:
Skill. Can you have the necessary skills to build a sound arrangement, and do it safely? Scale. Is the magnitude of this job one that you are able to manage in a reasonable amount of time? Cost. When factoring in the value of your own time, can the job be done for less price by an expert? Do you’ve got the tools you want? Aesthetics. Can you finish the project beautifully enough that you’re not forfeiting resale value? Would a demanding grout joint or wallpaper seam bother you?Learn about the specific issue areas that often require professional help below.

Webber + Studio

1. Structural components. Beams, footers, headers etc. — all these are the unglamorous and frequently hidden sections of a home that are crucial to the long-term stability and security. Do not take chances with structural components. Everything ought to be drawn or accepted by an engineer, whose specifications must be followed to the letter.

Re:Vision Architecture

2. Electrical. Here’s another one where security and skill intersect. Poor wiring could be a security hazard — only because you had the ability to wire something up and it worked, doesn’t mean you haven’t created a security hazard. If you are not certain you have the knowledge to perform the necessary work and evaluate the implications of your job on the remaining part of the circuit along with panel, call in a professional.

Jeffrey Dungan Architects

3. Roofing. Here’s a fantastic example of a job where even if you feel you have the skills to perform the task safely and properly, you might not have the capability to complete the job in a short enough time period to avoid exposing your home to damage from rain. If you can not get your roofing job done in a couple days, don’t start it. Even professionals may underestimate the time a job will take to complete, so you might choose to double your estimate.

JAC Interiors

4. Plumbing. A clogged drain line along with a faucet that has to be replaced are tasks that you know that you may complete. Before you do yourself, however, think about the true price.

What’s your time worth? Do you’ve got the resources? If you wind up renting a drain snake out of the home centre that doesn’t work once you get it home, and you need to make another trip before you clear the drain, then you might lose a great deal of precious Saturday.

Buckminster Green LLC

5. Insulation. Certain kinds of insulating material, for example spray foam, should be left to the professionals. Many people assume that installing batt insulating material such as fiberglass is an easy project, but there is a great deal of room for error here. If you leave openings you can create spots that draw heat and moisture into your walls — a bad combination. Even if you do the work well, it is cluttered work. Plus, insulation contractors get a far better bargain on the material costs than you would, offsetting the labor savings of a DIY job.

6. Carpentry. Even if you’ve got the skills to complete the project, professional carpenters will have the tools and experience to get the work done quickly. If you are attempting to complete the job on a part-time basis, don’t forget to factor in installation and cleanup time. Working a full day is often a great deal more effective than an hour here and there.

Ike Kligerman Barkley

7. Masonry. That is just one that bridges all four factors — if there is a structural factor of the masonry job (and there usually is), security is an issue. The scale of projects involving rock, concrete and brick could be deceiving. Make sure to know what you’re getting into. Wrestling a heavy stone into place and making it look good takes years to master. If you factor in all this, the price of paying for good work could be a deal.

Design Manifest

8. Wallpaper. There’s not much room for error here. You need to get it right the first time. You’re drawing attention to the wall by dressing up it, so it’d better look good. You would not pay an arm and a leg for a beautiful cloth and then make a sloppy-looking dress, so don’t buy a gorgeous paper and place it up with seams that are misaligned and corners that are bad.

Buckminster Green LLC

9. Tile. The pace of tile installation is slower compared to that of wallpaper, and there is a lot of contemplation that goes into a fantastic tile installation. If you are not experienced, you might discover something you need to have thought about if it is too late. You also want to prep properly. Tiles are different and require different strategies to installation. Your DIY tile flooring may look good when it is completed, but can you make sure it’ll hold up rather than crack in a year or two? If you are confident about that, go for it. If not, call a professional.

Crisp Architects

10. Painting. I know, it sounds absurd — if you can not paint what DIY job can you do? Keep in mind, I’m not here to stop you by painting your own residence. Just consider that a good, durable paint job requires a whole lot of prep work. Sometimes this may involve wall repair, scraping paint (which may be a health risk when it is lead paint), priming and caulking over old finishes with assorted products. Depending on what you’re working together, you might need somebody with more experience to help.

Next: The 10 Hats Your General Contractor Wears

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Casual Glam Home for a Family of 8

Casual Glam Home for a Family of 8

The first thing inside designer Melanie Turner did to Susie Stern’s home in Atlanta was paint the walls white and stain the bamboo flooring a brown-black color. The new neutral canvas set the stage for layering in color and pattern. “Susie formerly color coded the rooms,” says Turner. “Her artwork supplies were like little trails that led to different projects throughout the home. None of the rooms had a particular, clearly defined purpose.”

Though Turner let Susie’s artistic side and her blended family of eight ascertain a lot of the design choices, she did not lose touch of her main objective: to create a calm area for Susie so the mom-artist could handle the day’s challenges by a calm and centered home.

in a Glance
Who lives here: Susie Stern, husband Clark Davis and their 6 children
Location: Atlanta
Size: 3,000 square feet
That is interesting: Susie and Clark have a blended family; they all came into the union with 3 children each after their own children introduced them to each other on the football field.

Erica George Dines Photography

Erica George Dines Photography

Grass fabric wallpaper and a sisal rug add a bit of contemporary, organic simplicity to this traditional living space, creating what Turner calls a casual glamorous feel.

An assortment of calligraphy brushes traces in Susie’s artistic spirit.

Erica George Dines Photography

The press space is Clark’s “man den.” Chaises provide plenty of living space.

Turner utilized the negative distance from the recessed walls to keep logs, lending the space a cozy, rustic sensibility.

Erica George Dines Photography

“They are a contemporary Brady Bunch, this family. I made the common areas to be elastic, providing different options for furniture structure. The distance is sophisticated and elegant, but you never once forget that a family lives here,” says Turner.

Erica George Dines Photography

The concrete-top kitchen dining table is surrounded by sloped, slipcovered chairs. Upholstered chairs give adaptive seating options and could be moved around.

Erica George Dines Photography

From the entry, a Versailles dome chair with blanched wood trim and kelly green upholstery clearly sets the color tone for the rest of the home.

Erica George Dines Photography

This chest and sunburst mirror add attention to what was a closet space. Turner eliminated the closet doors in front of this area to create this glamorous, high-shine corner.

Erica George Dines Photography

High-backed, slipcovered and slightly oversize dining chairs match the play of this big light shade.

Erica George Dines Photography

Turner altered the sunroom into Susie’s art studio by painting white a classic kitchen table, a flea market light pendant and antique seats. The children use the surrounding West Elm tables in apple as their homework desks, and cozy armchairs upholstered in luxe Schumacher cloth function as their reading chairs.

“A huge chunk of our funding for this job went into the furniture upholstery and wall therapy cloths. A base of white paint, stained flooring and a shuffling of existing furniture into different parts of the home helped us stay within budget,” says Turner.

Erica George Dines Photography

The designer gave the stairs a punch of color by painting onto a runner — a vibrant, budget-friendly alternate to a carpet runner.

Erica George Dines Photography

“For our huge design reveal, my partner and I shipped Susie and Clark away for supper, and if they returned she just started bawling. I am so happy that I could give her a serene, stabilizing home that felt genuinely hers,” says Turner.

Erica George Dines Photography

The guest bathroom upstairs includes a heating palette of white and blue, breaking in the kelly green theme downstairs.

Turner appreciated how that this family approached their home’s redesign. “They are a real family with a true budget, so that they went about things. They could only afford to redo the bottom floor and a little the next floor — and only now are they prepared to operate on the master bedroom, bath and an additional bedroom,” says Turner.

More:
Colorful, Luxe Designs to the Traditional Home

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