If you want more privacy at your home, consider the benefits of adding trees to your property. Read more
Savvy Consumer Tip: Trees & Privacy
Posted on September 08, 2016 by Chris Bjorklund
Posted in: Home Tips, Landscaping Tips
Tags: consumer tips
Low-Impact Floors, Part 2: Recycled Flooring Options
Posted on September 06, 2016 by James Florence
In the previous installment of our “Low-Impact Floors” series, we talked about flooring made from sustainably sourced materials. In this second half, we’ll cover an even more eco-friendly option: recycled flooring. If sustainable flooring ensures that harvesting and manufacturing are performed in an ecologically sound manner, recycled flooring takes things a step further by eschewing the consumption of new materials in favor of reusing existing ones. Here are a few of the top recycled flooring options: Read more
Posted in: Consumers, Home Tips
Tags: flooring, hardwood flooring, carpet
Tip Sheet: Readying Your Home for Labor Day Entertaining
Posted on September 01, 2016 by James Florence
Labor Day is just around the corner, and if you’re like most people, you already have plans for how you’re going to spend the three-day weekend. If those plans include having friends and family over, you’ll need to make sure your home is in suitable condition to receive guests. Here are five quick things you can do to get ready:
1. Clean your living room. Expelling the clutter that has accumulated in your living room can be a daunting task, so it’s best to take a systematic approach. Begin at the top of the room (removing cobwebs and dusting high shelves, for example) and work your way downward—this will help you avoid having to redo things like floor cleaning. Read more
Posted in: Consumers, Home Tips
Tags: house cleaning
New Year, New Routines: How to Get Your Home Ready for School
Posted on August 11, 2016 by Maria Onrubia
It’s that time of year again: students in San Francisco go back to school in less than a week, and the rest of the Bay Area follows quickly behind. Whether you’ll miss the lazy, crazy days of summer or can’t wait for the structure of a school day, it’s time to (re)develop your “school’s in” routine. Last year at this time, we discussed four great ways to get your home ready for the school year. New year, same helpful tips. Here are four things you can do to jump back to school with panache.
Create a family launch pad.
A launch pad can help soften the pain of school-morning madness…at least according to Cynthia Ewer, Read more
Posted in: Uncategorized, Consumers, Home Tips, Home Improvement
All About Outdoor Kitchens
Posted on August 09, 2016 by James Florence
With the beautiful weather in the Bay Area, it’s no wonder that one of the biggest local home improvement trends is to extend one’s living space to the outside with add-ons like decks and covered patios. However, even though these exterior additions are great, you can take your alfresco experience to a whole new level by building an outdoor kitchen, which will allow you to prepare meals and dine under the sun or stars. To learn about the process of outdoor kitchen construction, we’re joined by North Bay Area landscaping contractor Alain Joske.
Plan way in advance. An outdoor kitchen isn’t built overnight—it’s a lengthy process, and the actual construction is often the shortest part. Read more
Posted in: Decks and Patios, Consumers, Home Tips, Home Improvement, Landscaping Tips
Tags: kitchen, summer-related, hardscaping
Reinforcing Your Home with Seismic Retrofitting
Posted on July 26, 2016 by James Florence
Living in the Bay Area, we have a lot to be thankful for, from the mild, sunny weather to the lush, scenic landscape. Additionally, we’re spared from many of the severe weather phenomena that exist in other areas, such as hurricanes, blizzards and tornados. However, there’s one destructive natural force the Bay Area isn’t exempt from: earthquakes. While an earthquake may lack the portentous visual dread of a Midwestern twister, perhaps no other natural disaster is able to inflict such a devastating toll in such a brief span of time—often mere seconds. What’s worse, we’re due: Geologists predict that a large magnitude earthquake will occur in Northern California within the next 30 years, likely along the Hayward Fault. Read more
Posted in: Consumers, Home Tips, Home Improvement, Real Estate Tips
Tags: remodeling, earthquake safety
Choose a Fabric that Performs (So You Don’t Have To)
Posted on July 19, 2016 by Guest Blogger
Guest Post By Ron Smith, owner of J. Hettinger Interiors
Ready for a makeover? Whether your old sofa needs a facelift or you’re redecorating your entire home, selecting fabrics will be a key part of the design process. Here are some tips to keep in mind:
First, when it’s time to select a fabric for your furniture, cost should be just one of the many factors you consider. A design professional can help you choose fabrics that wear well, clean easily and keep their color over time. Read more
Posted in: Uncategorized, Consumers, Home Tips, Home Improvement, Savvy Tips
Tags: home maintenance, interior design