Fresh Coat of Paint

Are you a new HomeOwner?
 - If the answer is yes, it is safe to say you had input on what color the walls would be painted.

According to a porch.com, painters are the most sought after professional for new HomeOwners.  While they give you insight throughout the United States, the universal demand stays at painters.  In fact, 33% of improvements made to a new home dealt with painting.  So now that you know what is first on your to-do list, let us help you figure out the hidden details:

The color trend of 2014 is bold and beautiful.  If you want to add energy and a fresh new perspective on life, take a look at these professional color palettes.  They are sure to inspire you and send you on your way to a new, personalized space.  Once you have chosen your ideal color palette, use homewised.com to find a quality painter in your area!

Image credit: BHG.com

Back to School!

While your children are back to the books, give them a welcome home surprise!  

Which of these bold patterns would you choose for a son or daughter's room?

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It's all about the deck!

It's never a bad time to improve your backyard and deck area.  Let us help you ignite the creative power from within and get your backyard looking spectacular!

TIP:
If you have a house that sits high off the ground, make your deck gradually bring together your house and your backyard.  For instance, this house used three different deck heights to help make the transition from door to garden flow.

IDEA:

If you have a small space in the back yard and are more focused on seclusion and privacy, this could be the perfect idea for you.  Created by Gary Marsh Design in Novato, CA, this privacy wall made of tree stakes makes the perfect area for a little peace and relaxation.

IDEA:
If you already have an excellent patio area, you could be looking to spruce it up with something new.  A fireplace is a cozy idea!  This uniquely built fireplace has the ability to heat on cold night, and during the warmer nights, a wood cover can be placed on top of it to double as a table.  Hot or cold, your guests will be able to congregate around this concrete trough.

Unique Storage.

DIY projects have been sweeping the nations lately, and people are finding new, inventive ways to repurpose old items.  While there are a multitude of ideas to choose from, a truly unique concept are the new uses found for wine crates.  The most obvious use for wine crates would be a form of storage; however, the placement and type of storage people are developing are fascinating.

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Entryway storage:
To keep your entryway clean and free from clutter, a good idea would be have a designated wine crate for each member of the family.  All shoes and other objects will be off the floor, and you can even paint the wine crates to add a pop of color and life to your entryway.

Living room storage:
This wine crate coffee table adds storage on both sides, and the ability to add in a cute center piece.  It is a great space saver for coffee table books and magazines.  It helps keep the clutter under the coffee table instead of placing it on top and constantly in the way.

Play toy storage:
Children's toys are constantly being spread throughout every room in a house.  Wine crates help keep the toy mess to a minimum, but without jeopardizing your strategically decorated living space.  This idea works well for children's toy as well as pet products, such as: dog toys, cat toys, etc.

Animal storage:
Literally, you can store your animals in wine crates!  These crates have uniquely developed in possible cat posts.  Added legs for scratching posts, and wine crates attached to one another to provide cats a play/perching post.

Your Window, Your Choice

In order to let the sunlight into your life, you need to choose the perfect window for your home.  You have several options, so make sure you choose what best fits your needs!

1. Bay Windows
- If more space is what you need, bay windows are a perfect option.  They protrude away from the exterior of the home and let in an enormous amount of light.

2. Stationary Windows
- These windows are perfect if you need a customized shape.  They do not open, but you are able to have these windows made in nearly any shape or angle.  

3.  Slider Windows
- The most common used windows are the slider windows.  The operate by sliding horizontally over or past the other window.  

4. Transom Windows
- Traditionally, these windows are used above a door or window to let in even more light.  They are usually narrow and can open to let air in, or remain stationary.

5. Picture Window
- If the sunlight is the majority of your window requirements, this is your option.  These windows are large, stationary windows that let the sunlight pour in and give you excellent views of the outdoors.

6. Awning Windows
- These windows allow air in, as well as sunlight, due to the hinges on the top of the window.  These hinges let the window open outwards and let in air from left, right, or the bottom.

7. Casement Windows
- These windows are also an excellent source of letting in air with sunlight.  They are hinged on the side and can be opened to the left or the right by the turn of a crank.

8. Double-hung Windows
- This is similar to the slider windows, except they move vertically and both windows are able to slide.  There is no protrusion from the house with these windows.

Here Comes the Sun...

Ever wonder why you genuinely feel happier is some places, as opposed to others?  Of course, there are several factors weighing in; however, a large factor could be the amount of sunlight.  With sunlight being the source of all energy on Earth, it is also a large source of your overall health.

This is why windows are so important.  When building or remodeling a home, you should always make sure you have plenty of windows to allow sunlight in when needed. 

When our skin is exposed to the sun's UVB rays, our bodies produce vitamin D.  Vitamin D helps reduce risks of cancer and other serious health conditions; and according to Professor Michael Holick, of Boston University School of Medicine, we get about 90-95% of our vitamin D from the sun.

Along with our physical health, it also helps boost our mental health.  

1. Sunlight boosts levels of serotonin in the body, which is the body's natural happy hormone.  That boost of serotonin in your body is what causes you to feel happier and more energetic, and can also fight off moderate depression.

2. SAD is a type of depression specifically caused by a lack of sunlight.  It stands for Seasonal Affective Disorder and has also been referred to as the winter blues.  Opening windows and sitting in the rays for as little of 15 minutes a day can help prevent SAD.

3. Sunlight gives the world it's energy, and also you.  Melatonin is what regulates sleep, so having a lower level of this hormone can give you more energy.  Sunlight decreases the secretion of melatonin, leaving you with more energy to take on the day!

Now that you understand the importance of sunlight, stay tuned this week as we shed some light on how to get the most out of your home windows.

On the Move!

Moving is always an exhausting venture.  Booking a mover through HomeWised can help minimize the stress, and we also have a few tips for you to make the move as easy as possible.

1. Make essential items accessible.  For any items you may need such as medicine, contacts, make-up, etc.: pack an overnight bag.  This way you have your important items in a known area, but still easy to move.

2. Wrapping glassware or anything fragile or of value in your clothes.  It saves you time and money by packing two items at once and not purchasing a roll of bubble wrap.

3. When labeling your boxes, put the details of the boxes contents on the side.  That way when all the boxes are stacked, you can still read them.

4. Pack books in luggage.  That way it is easy to move since it has rollers and will hold a much heavier amount than a regular box.

5. Before you unplug your TV or other electronic's, take a photo of where all the wires belong. That way you won't spend hours trying to find where they belong, you already have a guide to refer to. 

6. The easiest and fastest way to pack hanging clothes is to leave them on the hangers and put groups of them in plastic bags.  It protects your clothes, makes it easier to carry a large bunch, and makes it easier to unpack into the new closet.

7. If you are renting space, make sure you take before and after photos.  You will be held responsible for damages, so it doesn't hurt to have photos of the conditions.

Introducing Our Partnership with Texas Disaster Restoration, LLC

HomeWised is proud to announce the recent partnership with Texas Disaster Restoration, LLC and HomeWised.com. Texas Disaster Restoration is an emergency response restoration company.  The newly acquired partnership will help enrich HomeWised.com.

For example:

HomeOwners - Texas Disaster Restoration specializes in emergency repairs.  They are available to assist in water, fire, trauma, etc., and with their 24/7 availability, HomeWised.com will be able to help place TDR's technicians when and where HomeOwners need them most.

Service Providers - As a large emergency restoration company serving the entire DFW metroplex, TDR is constantly looking to increase and grow their list of reliable technicians.  Since our database provides only the highest quality professionals, TDR will be pulling from our list of professionals for some of their emergency repairs.

For more information on this new partnership, visit our website!