Essential Elements of a Gracious Front Porch and Entry

Front PorchGuest Blogger: Kerrie Kelly, ASID

As an interior designer, it’s hard to beat the fun and satisfaction of a front porch and entry makeover. Nothing delivers more instant curb appeal, and you can achieve real charm on a large or small budget. Whether you spend a little or spend a lot, my colleagues in the real estate world all insist that this is one of the best returns on investment that homeowners get when prepping their home for market. But don’t wait until you’re ready to sell!

The time and effort you put into overhauling the approach to your home is returned to you every time you walk up. This is a great time to start planning that makeover. Check out my favorite simple and affordable upgrades, and when the sun comes back out, you’ll be amazed how much you can change your home in a weekend! First, consider what role your porch plays as an entry point. Does it have potential Read More

Top Tech Home Security Tips to Protect Your Home for the Season

Home Security TipsThere is so many tech tools for the home on the market.  With so many tools, which ones are worth investing in to help protect and manage your home?  Here are our top recommended home tech that can help you manage your home.

Invest in a Generator

With all the electronics in our home, it may be a great time to invest in home generator.  A homeowner can invest in a small portable generator for as low as $300.  If you are the homeowner who wants to keep your spaces in your home in full operation then investing in a large generator is an option however, these systems can cost between $9,000 and $15,000.  This backup generator can make sure you have the necessary heat when the weather turns cold.  It can keep your food refrigerator operating to keep feeding your family should you be stuck inside due to a winter storm.  It can also keep you connected Read More

The Zen of Zada Year in Review

Zen of Zada - HomeZada Blog - Year in ReviewWe are still in the beginning of 2015 and what better way to move forward then to take a quick peak back. Let’s take a look at what Zen of Zada posts are readers appreciated the most from 2014. A year in review is what we will do here. We learned what our readers were interested in hearing about and what they liked to share with the world. We also learned that the home has a lot of different meanings to all fans and followers. As we say goodbye to 2014, we hope you enjoy all the posts we will provide you in 2015. If there are Zen of Zada topics you would like us to cover or posts you really loved and want us to drill down further, please let us know and we will get right on it. [email protected]  Read More

How to Manage Your Household Budget Like a Business

household budgetsGuest Blogger: AJ Smith

Keeping a household budget seems pretty straightforward — so why do we have so much trouble sticking to it? One trick you can try to help is to think of yourself as a business. Businesses have expenses and money coming in and focus on that bottom line. They also can use profits to re-invest in making the business better. Check out the following tips to try budgeting like a business. Read More

Home Maintenance Tip: Prune trees and shrubs

cutting of an apple treeIf you can see your trees and you are not blasted with snow or ice, it is a good time to trim your trees for spring and summer growth. Trimming your trees can help give them life in spring with fuller leaves and fruit.  It is also wise to trim trees and shrubs that are especially close to a home. Overgrown trees and shrubs can damage the exterior of your home. During storms throughout the year, trees and shrubs can bang, scratch and damage the exterior of your home. Damage to exterior walls, gutters, roofs, and even windows can occur during any Read More