Gorgeous Paint Colors for your Walls

posted by Sound Marketing for House Smart Home Improvements

There are definitely a lot of daring, beautiful paint colors out there! But just because you like a color does not mean you want to live with it on your walls. Also you usually have existing furniture and curtains in your room that you will have to consider when choosing a paint color. Some people are afraid to be too daring with their color choice and end up with a lot of work done but not happy with the bland color on their walls. If you want to make some good choices, here are some shades of popular, tried and true paint colors.




BEDROOMS: TURQUOISE BLUE


A subtle blue-green is a calming and a logical choice for slumber-inducing relaxation. A calm yellow is also relaxing in bedrooms.

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IN THE KITCHEN: BUTTERCREAM YELLOW

One of the trickiest paint colors to get right is yellow. Yellow is always much brighter on a wall than on a paint chip. This very light yellow gives a very cheery yet relaxing feeling to a kitchen or bedroom. 

 

 

 

 

 

LIVING ROOMS: BROWN TONES

Brown. Brown works well with many colors you may have existing in your living room. Brown is great with orange, green, red, blue and other neutral shades. Ivory or off-white goes well as a compliment paint color.

 

 

 

 

ALSO GREY TONES

Warmer grey tones are very popular for living rooms. Do you prefer this to the brown tones? Take a look around your room. True white accents go well here. 
This color is called Sherwin Williams "Mindful Gray"

 

 

 

BATHROOMS: IN BETWEEN GREY AND BROWN

This color is super earthy and gives the bathroom a spa-like feeling of all things natural.

 

 

 

 

BEDROOMS: YOU CAN TELL WE LIKE BROWNS

This brown color looks like it has a hint of red in it. It would go absolutely beautifully in a living room decor as well. Happy Painting! 

House Smart Home Improvements are experienced professionals with an  A+ Rating with the Better Business Bureau. When it’s time to replace your windows, doors or  furnaces and heat pumps, or to install  insulation, and other energy-efficient home upgrades,  Give us a call. 604-585-2020. Right now, save 100 per window for a limited time if you live in the lower mainland, BC Canada    

 House Smart Home Improvements
Phone: 604 945 1904 / Fax: 604 581 1985
Email: info@housesmarthomeimprovements.com

Showroom: #4 120 Glacier St, Coquitlam BC V3K 5Z6 
604-945-1904 (office hours)  - 604-585-2020 (24-Hour)

5 FUN EASY HOLIDAY DECORATIONS

 

posted by Sound Marketing for House Smart Home Improvements

Garland Trick

The best material for stringing cranberry or popcorn garlands is inside your medicine cabinet. Waxed floss is strong and slick, so cranberries and popcorn will slide on easily. Knot one end of a piece of floss, and thread a needle onto the other; just pierce through the kernels and berries, and slip them on.

 

 

Cookie-Cutter Ornaments

These cookie-cutter ornaments make great, sentimental gifts; luckily they're faster to make than cookies are to bake.
Use inexpensive aluminum cutters and choose patterned papers or pictures photocopied onto card stock. Trace cutter on top; cut out. Dab white craft glue along cutter's edge. Press paper in place; let dry. Thread narrow ribbon through needle; poke between paper and cutter, and wrap ribbon around top of cutter. Slip a bead over ribbon's ends; knot.

 

Paper Stars

Stars made from folded paper are so easy to create that within a half hour you can have enough on hand to adorn all of your presents, string into garlands, or decorate a tree.
 

How to Make the Paper Stars

Paper-Plate Angels

How to Make the Paper-Plate Angels

Light Up the Front Door

Turn Summer Candle Holders into a Christmas Feeling

To Welcome Your Guests!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

House Smart Home Improvements are experienced professionals with an  A+ Rating with the Better Business Bureau. When it’s time to replace your windows, doors or  furnaces and heat pumps, or to install  insulation, and other energy-efficient home upgrades,  Give us a call. 604-585-2020. Right now, save 100 per window for a limited time if you live in the lower mainland, BC Canada    

 House Smart Home Improvements
Phone: 604 945 1904 / Fax: 604 581 1985
Email: info@housesmarthomeimprovements.com

Showroom: #4 120 Glacier St, Coquitlam BC V3K 5Z6 
604-945-1904 (office hours)  - 604-585-2020 (24-Hour)

5 Projects that Add Value to Your Home

posted by Sound Marketing for House Smart Home Improvements

1. Remodeling the Kitchen

Most people consider the kitchen to be the heart of the home, and because of this, updates in this room pay off. You can expect to recoup 60%-120% of your investment on a kitchen remodel, as long as you don’t go overboard.

A Little Paint Goes a Long Way

Get the biggest bang for your buck on a kitchen remodel by looking at color. Fresh paint, in modern colors, can go a long way towards updating the look of your kitchen. You might want to consider using low-VOC paint; this makes your kitchen more eco-friendly, and helps your family avoid breathing in dangerous chemicals, like benzene, that off-gas from regular fresh paint.

Energy-Efficient Appliances

 

Replace old appliances
with energy-efficient models. Energy Star-rated appliances are better for the environment, and they also help you save money, because they use less energy. Potential buyers often look for ways to save money when shopping for a new home.

2) Draftproofing

Seal cracks around the house to save even more money on energy costs, and to make your home more appealing to buyers. You can find leaks in your home during the winter. Anytime you feel a draft or cold spot, you’re in an area that leaks air. The materials you need to seal the gaps are inexpensive. You can prevent warm or cold air leaks around your window and doors by applying weather-stripping or caulking to windows, and by putting weather-stripping along the side and the top of exterior doors. For more on weather-stripping: visit House Smart Home Improvements.

 

  

 

 

 

 

3) Energy-Efficient Windows

These days, buyers shop for homes with energy efficiency in mind. Old, drafty single-pane windows are a major turn off. Energy Star claims that adding Energy Star-rated windows can save you up to $500 a year in heating and cooling costs by making your home more energy efficient.
You can expect to recoup 60%-90% of your costs when you invest in energy-efficient windows. Right now save 100 dollars per window installed. House Smart Home Improvements can fill you in on all of the details during your in-home free consultation.

4) Deck Addition

Adding a deck increases the value of your home. Outdoor living spaces have become more desirable, especially since more people stay home for vacation. If you make your deck and your backyard more appealing, your house will be more appealing to prospective buyers when you decide to sell. HGTV claims that homeowners recoup 65%-90% of their investment by adding a deck.
The cost of adding a deck to your home varies widely. Everything depends on its size, and how many bells and whistles you want added, like built-in seating, multiple stairs, built-in flower pots, and the size of the deck. Decks can cost anywhere from $1,200 to $10,000, or more. Again, it all depends on the design and materials used.

5) Basic Updates

Basic updates add the most value to your home. Keep the paint fresh, fix the roof when it leaks, replace wood that rots, and get rid of any mold that you find. These types of chores keep your home from deteriorating over time. Buyers want a healthy, solid, safe home, and they look carefully for signs of routine maintenance.

House Smart Home Improvements are experienced professionals with an  A+ Rating with the Better Business Bureau. When it’s time to replace your windows, doors or  furnaces and heat pumps, or to install  insulation, and other energy-efficient home upgrades,  Give us a call. 604-585-2020. Right now, save 100 per window for a limited time if you live in the lower mainland, BC Canada    

 House Smart Home Improvements
Phone: 604 945 1904 / Fax: 604 581 1985
Email: info@housesmarthomeimprovements.com

Showroom: #4 120 Glacier St, Coquitlam BC V3K 5Z6 
604-945-1904 (office hours)  - 604-585-2020 (24-Hour)

Energy-Efficient Insulation

posted by Sound Marketing for House Smart Home Improvements

A Good Way to Upgrade Your Home that will Save You Money and Eventually Appeal to Potential Buyers.

If your home lacks basic insulation, and has old doors that let in plenty of hot and cold air, home inspectors working with potential buyers will include this in their reports. Homes that haven’t been modified with energy efficiency in mind cost more to live in and maintain.
Updating your home to save energy doesn’t have to cost a lot of money and can make your home more appealing to potential buyers. You can save $2,500 or more each year just by making some changes. For example, you can add extra insulation to your attic for $200 or less, and this small change can save you hundreds each year on your utility bill.

Upgrade Incentives

Right now, if you live in BC Canada, rebates of up to $3,250 are available for insulation, as well as rebates on ventilation and space and water heating upgrades. Plus, if you have a pre- and post-upgrade EnerGuide®* home evaluation and make three or more eligible upgrades you could qualify for a draftproofing rebate of up to $500 and the $750 Bonus Offer. The Home Energy Rebate Offer is provided in partnership by BC Hydro Power Smart and FortisBC.
Let House Smart Home Improvements fill you in on all the details and get you started on saving during your free in-home consultation. Call for your appointment today at 604-585-2020

House Smart Home Improvements are experienced professionals with an  A+ Rating with the Better Business Bureau. When it’s time to replace your windows, doors or  furnaces and heat pumps, or to install  insulation, and other energy-efficient home upgrades,  Give us a call. 604-585-2020. Right now, save 100 per window for a limited time if you live in the lower mainland, BC Canada    

 House Smart Home Improvements
Phone: 604 945 1904 / Fax: 604 581 1985
Email: info@housesmarthomeimprovements.com

Showroom: #4 120 Glacier St, Coquitlam BC V3K 5Z6 
604-945-1904 (office hours)  - 604-585-2020 (24-Hour)

Draftproofing and Insulation Rebates up to $3750.00 and a $750.00 Bonus Offer

Provided in partnership by BC Hydro Power Smart and FortisBC, the Home Energy Rebate Offer provides a wide variety of rebates to help you make it easy to reduce your ongoing energy costs, and improve the comfort of your home.

Rebate overview

Rebates of up to $3,250 are available for insulation, as well as rebates on ventilation and space and water heating upgrades. Plus, if you have a pre- and post-upgrade EnerGuide®* home evaluation and make three or more eligible upgrades you could qualify for a draftproofing rebate of up to $500 and the $750 Bonus Offer.
The following home energy efficiency upgrades on air sealing, ventilation and insulation are eligible for incentives:

Air Sealing and Ventilation

• Up to $500 for air tightness upgrades
• Up to $25 for an ENERGY STAR® bathroom fan

Insulation

• Up to $1,200 for exterior wall insulation
• Up to $1,000 for basement insulation
• Up to $600 for attic insulation

 

Qualify for the $750 Bonus Offer

 If you want a comprehensive report on how to save energy, or if you’re making multiple energy-efficiency upgrades to your home, consider having a pre- and post-upgrade EnerGuide home evaluation performed by an energy advisor first. As well as rebates on some of the individual upgrades, you could qualify for the additional $750 Bonus Offer.

Get Your Pre-retrofit evaluation

You must hire a Certified Energy Advisor to perform a pre-retrofit home energy assessment.

House Smart Home Improvements can set you up with the right adviser during your Free In-Home Consultation.

Our professional expert will explain all of the rebates available to you and walk you through the steps you need to take.
Call Us at 604-585-2020 Today.

For More Details Please Visit Our Website Here: http://housesmarthomeimprovements.com/livesmart-bc-incentives/insulation-grants-and-incentives/

House Smart Home Improvements are experienced professionals with an  A+ Rating with the Better Business Bureau. When it’s time to replace your windows, doors or  furnaces and heat pumps, or to install  insulation, and other energy-efficient home upgrades,  Give us a call. 604-585-2020. Right now, save 100 per window for a limited time if you live in the lower mainland, BC Canada    

 House Smart Home Improvements
Phone: 604 945 1904 / Fax: 604 581 1985
Email: info@housesmarthomeimprovements.com

Showroom: #4 120 Glacier St, Coquitlam BC V3K 5Z6 
604-945-1904 (office hours)  - 604-585-2020 (24-Hour)

4 More Easy Ways to Save Money at Home!

Posted by Sound Marketing for House Smart Home Improvements

Choose One Neutral Trim Paint for the Entire House 

-Rather than buying a gallon of a particular color for each room and using only a fraction of each can.
You have to forgo the trendy color combinations in the paint manufacturer brochures, but you can save around $50 on paint for three rooms. Crisp white trim is always in style, and you'll never have to rummage around for the right can for touch-ups.

Install a Ceiling Fan

In the winter, run it at low speed in a clockwise direction to recirculate the warm air that rises to the ceiling. This will allow you to lower the thermostat a couple of degrees.
The fan might cost you around $200 dollars, but you will end up saving around $100 per year off your heating bills.Reverse the fan direction in the summer and the airflow creates a windchill effect, making you feel cooler.

 Install a Shower Timer for Kids

The battery-operated device limits showers to 5, 8, or 11 minutes.
You can install it yourself for around $120, then save over $200 per year. Speeding your kids' morning routines may also ease the struggle to ensure they eat breakfast, brush their teeth, and make it to the bus on time.

Use Your Laptop

It runs on batteries, which use 80 percent less electricity than a desktop computer. Be vigilant about unplugging the battery charger once your computer is juiced so it doesn't sap unnecessary energy.
You will save around $30 per year off your electric bill.

 Click To LIKE Us on Facebook for Green Tips, Home Improvement Tips and Heads Up for Government Grants!

 

House Smart Home Improvements are experienced professionals with an  A+ Rating with the Better Business Bureau. When it’s time to replace your windows, doors or  furnaces and heat pumps, or to install  insulation, and other energy-efficient home upgrades,  Give us a call. 604-585-2020. Right now, save 100 per window for a limited time if you live in the lower mainland, BC Canada    

 House Smart Home Improvements
Phone: 604 945 1904 / Fax: 604 581 1985
Email: info@housesmarthomeimprovements.com

Showroom: #4 120 Glacier St, Coquitlam BC V3K 5Z6 
604-945-1904 (office hours)  - 604-585-2020 (24-Hour)

Smart Ways to Save Around the Home this Fall

posted by Sound Marketing for House Smart Home Improvements

 

Get Fall Deals

 Wait to replace your grill, lawn mower, or patio furniture until the fall, when stores mark down their inventory to make room for holiday decorations and snow blower. You can save yourself $150 or more per item. Retailers—especially online ones,—often provide free shipping on leftover warm-weather gear.

Sleep Not Doze

 Set your computer to sleep—not just the monitor, but the hard drive, too—so that it automatically dims after 10 minutes of non use. It may doze off when you don't want it to and you'll have to punch a key to wake it up. But you can save up to $75 per year off your electric bills. Like people, screens and hard drives age more gracefully with plenty of rest.

Recharge the Batteries

 Buy a deluxe battery recharging station and stop using disposables. A combo unit keeps a supply of AA, AAA, C, and D batteries at the ready.
Save As much as $100 per year on disposables for dozens of tools and gadgets.
Never again will you have to raid your kid's battery-operated toys to power up the TV remote.

Go Low-Flow 

Reduce hot-water consumption (and energy needs), federal legislation mandated improved showerhead efficiency for models made after 1994. Replace older models with ones that spray no more than 2.5 gallons per minute. Potential annual savings: $145, plus 370 pounds of emissions

 

 

 

 

 

 

Adjust Your Water Heater

Lower your water heater's thermostat to 120 degrees to restrict heat loss. The exception: dishwashers. Check if yours has a "booster heater" for sanitizing 140-degree rinsing. Your potential annual savings: $450 and 215 pounds of emissions.

 

Replace Your Aging Water Heater and be Eligible for a Rebate up to $1000

This great Fortis BC Rebate Program has now been extended through 2014!! Replace your aging water heater with a qualifying natural gas ENERGY STAR model and you could save on energy costs, plus you’ll be eligible for a rebate of up to $1,000.

Not sure which water heater is right for you?

House Smart Home Improvements offers FREE In-Home Consultations!

Call House Smart Home Improvements Today at 604-585-2020

 

with excerpts from http://www.bhg.com/home-improvement 

 

House Smart Home Improvements are experienced professionals with an  A+ Rating with the Better Business Bureau. When it’s time to replace your windows, doors or  furnaces and heat pumps, or to install  insulation, and other energy-efficient home upgrades,  Give us a call. 604-585-2020. Right now, save 100 per window for a limited time if you live in the lower mainland, BC Canada    

 House Smart Home Improvements
Phone: 604 945 1904 / Fax: 604 581 1985
Email: info@housesmarthomeimprovements.com

Showroom: #4 120 Glacier St, Coquitlam BC V3K 5Z6 
604-945-1904 (office hours)  - 604-585-2020 (24-Hour)

Fall Home Maintenance - Four Tips

posted by Sound Marketing for House Smart Home Improvements
with excerpts from http://www.bhg.com/home-improvement 

Fireplace Tune-Up

Proper inspection of a fireplace is vital to ensuring its safe operation -- even if it is rarely used. An experienced chimney sweep will check wood for flammable buildup (known as creosote) and chimney blockages such as bird nests. A chimney or fireplace professional should also check for these red flags: improperly functioning dampers, damaged brickwork and masonry, and missing or damaged flue caps (the screen covering the top of the chimney).

Touch Up Paint

No time for a full-blown exterior painting project? Hit the trouble spots, such as the cut ends of all boards, especially fascia boards, where paint peels first. If you have a little more time, apply a coat of fresh paint to all trim pieces.

Clean Your Carpets

If your wall-to-wall carpeting
harbors dirt and musty odors, here is a homemade environment-friendly solution you can make to clean them: 

Non-toxic Carpet Cleaning Solution Recipe (my second favorite carpet cleaning recipe)
1/2 part Vinegar 1/2 part Water 5-6 drops essential oils, or more as desired (optional)

Add to your carpet cleaner machine and shampoo. It will smell like vinegar pretty strongly while you shampoo them. But after it dries you will be left with a nice clean smelling house.
Throw open the windows to let it dry before the weather gets too cold. Also consider renting a steam cleaner to get out ground-in stains and odors for as little as $25 per day.

Manage Drainage 

If you live in an area that gets more rain than snow during the winter, dig a French drain to prevent a downspout-fed lake from forming in your yard. A hole that's 4 feet deep and 4 feet wide should do the trick. Dig it under your downspout, line it with heavy plastic sheeting (or whatever your local building code requires), and fill it with gravel.
You can add plants on top of the French drain, but cover the gravel with landscape fabric before adding dirt. Another option is a trench-type French drain, which will move water away from your house rather than directing it deep into the ground. 

 Click To LIKE Us on Facebook for Green Tips, Home Improvement Tips and Heads Up for Government Grants!

 

House Smart Home Improvements are experienced professionals with an  A+ Rating with the Better Business Bureau. When it’s time to replace your windows, doors or  furnaces and heat pumps, or to install  insulation, and other energy-efficient home upgrades,  Give us a call. 604-585-2020. Right now, save 100 per window for a limited time if you live in the lower mainland, BC Canada    

 House Smart Home Improvements
Phone: 604 945 1904 / Fax: 604 581 1985
Email: info@housesmarthomeimprovements.com

Showroom: #4 120 Glacier St, Coquitlam BC V3K 5Z6 
604-945-1904 (office hours)  - 604-585-2020 (24-Hour)

Styles of Home Windows from House Smart Home Improvements

posted by Sound Marketing for House Smart Home Improvements

Casement

• Have a crank out hardware mechanism to open and close the windows
• One key feature to look for is a multi-point lock that will lock your window in multiple locations, ensuring a tight seal.

 

 

 

 

 

 Awning

• Similar to casement, these windows have crank out hardware, but are hinged at the top
• Often used in places where it’s difficult to push or pull open a window, for example, above a kitchen sink

 

 

 

 

 Bay

• Come with a seat or walk-in option (you walk into the bay area)

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bay/ Bow

• Bow windows are similar to bay, but have softer angles

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Bow

• These windows have sliders that are either vertically or horizontally placed
• Two formats; single and double hung
• Single hung:has a fixed sash on one side and an operating sash on the other
• Double hung: two operating sashes
• Often these windows lift out or tilt out for easy cleaning

 

 

 

 

 

Picture/Fixed Windows

• Don’t open or operate
• They come in many different formats

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

At House Smart Home Improvements, We Use Energy Star Windows! Energy Star Windows come in all styles, are of the highest quality, offering you the greatest comfort with less energy used.

ENERGY STAR® windows offer these benefits:

• Double glazing with a sealed insulating glass unit, not only reducing energy costs, but also increasing comfort.
• Low-emissivity (Low-E) coatings, which are like insulation and sunscreen on windows. This thin layer of transparent protection, applied in the gap between window glass panes, improves your family’s comfort by reducing the quantity of heat passing through the windows.
• Inert gas, such as argon or krypton, sealed between windowpanes results in reduced heat transfer and minimized condensation, increasing the windows’ insulation U-value and energy efficiency.
• Low conductivity spacer bars that prevent heat loss and minimize drafts.
• Lower overall heat loss ratings (U-values), meaning greater comfort with less energy used. 
• Heat transfer between the inside and outside of a home is slowed.
• Heat reflection that keeps the sun out during summertime and keeps rooms from feeling drafty
  during the winter. 
• Reduced fading of fabrics and wall coverings.

 Click To LIKE Us on Facebook for Green Tips, Home Improvement Tips and Heads Up for Government Grants!

 

House Smart Home Improvements are experienced professionals with an  A+ Rating with the Better Business Bureau. When it’s time to replace your windows, doors or  furnaces and heat pumps, or to install  insulation, and other energy-efficient home upgrades,  Give us a call. 604-585-2020. Right now, save 100 per window for a limited time if you live in the lower mainland, BC Canada    

 House Smart Home Improvements
Phone: 604 945 1904 / Fax: 604 581 1985
Email: info@housesmarthomeimprovements.com

Showroom: #4 120 Glacier St, Coquitlam BC V3K 5Z6 
604-945-1904 (office hours)  - 604-585-2020 (24-Hour)