Forget the Open Floor Plan--It's Time to Bring Back Walls

  1. Rent out your pool or backyard If you have a pool worth diving into, then you might want to dip your toe into the rental market this summer by using a pool app called  Swimply . The company advertises that pool owners can make up to $10,000 per month, although that will depend on how much you charge per hour. “If you have a pool, cash in and make some extra money,” says  Erick Nilsson , founder of  Rentola . “The average hourly rate for renting a pool via Swimply is $45. This price changes according to the area. In places like Los Angeles, the prices can hike up to as much as $100 per hour.” The app also allows you to rent out your backyard or private gym. Plus, the company’s insurance policy will protect you for up to $1 million for general liability claims. 2. Host a photo shoot Have a great open-concept living room? Or a deck with a view to die for? Your home could be a perfect fit for  Splacer , an app that connects you with event planners looking for u...

  Many entries open directly into living rooms or kitchens, without so much as a compact coat closet nearby. Here are three examples of how designers cleverly solved the problem by creating a “no-entry entry.” Jefferson Street Designs 1. Harmony With the Living Room Entry space was tight in this Arlington, Virginia, home. In order to address a front door that opened into the living room, designer  Cindy Eyl of   Jefferson Street Designs  had to get creative. Jefferson Street Designs Two rows of hooks tucked between the door and the fireplace provide a spot for coats, hats, bags and leashes. A cute umbrella stand shaped like rain boots adds a cheerful touch. ns A  long console table on the other side of the door has space for large, attractive bins underneath. Each family member can conceal items like shoes, gloves, scarves and bags in their own designated bin. Almar Building and Remodeling 2. Mudroom Built-Ins in the Kitchen In this addition by  Almar Build...

  1. Old rule: Find your dream home, then finalize your mortgage paperwork New rule: Lock in a mortgage before you start your search In the past,  getting pre-approved for a loan  was something you could think about after you’d found a house you wanted to buy. Today, though, this approach can stall your momentum straight out of the gate. In today’s fast-paced market, it’s essential to have your ducks in a row and finish your mortgage pre-approval  before  you make an offer. “You should be pre-approved by a lender and knowledgeable about your finances before you even begin your home search,” says  Beverly Burris , an agent with William Means Real Estate in Charleston, SC. “With houses going under contract as quickly as they are right now, often within days or sometimes  hours  of going to market, there is no sense in going to see a property before speaking to a lender and learning what you can afford.” Putting off the pre-approval process could lea...

T he office is one of the hardest rooms to pare down. Papers can take a long time to sift through to determine if they’re important enough to keep. There may also be an abundance of different office categories that make decluttering overwhelming. If you have the luxury of time before your remodel, it’s best to break up this task into smaller parts. If your remodel is fast approaching, you may want to at least sort into categories as you pack and trim down items later. If you don’t have time to sort and reduce at all, then pack your items to get the remodel rolling and then commit to a steady schedule of reviewing one box at a time, perhaps with the goal of finishing by the time your remodel is complete. Closet America Create an Office Essentials Box Life continues during a remodel, which may mean bills need to be paid, letters need to be mailed, passports need to be accessed and cards need to be written. To remain organized, consider which items you need to access in order to stay on t...

  Record-high home prices and rising mortgage rates, coupled with the return to the office, even if only a few days a week, are prompting buyers to prioritize locations closer to their jobs that they can afford—instead of what’s bigger and better, say real estate experts. Many are making do with smaller homes within their budgets featuring square footage that can be used in a multitude of ways. “In 2021, space was the housing story followed by affordability,”  Ali Wolf , chief economist at Zonda, a homebuilding consulting company, tells  Realtor.com® . “In 2022, affordability is the lead story followed by space.” Homebuyers, particularly first-timers, still want large kitchens, designated offices, and outdoor spaces they can enjoy in 2022, according to a recent survey by Zonda. However, many will have to align their expectations with finances. That can mean forgoing that extra square footage to become homeowners. “Interest is and will remain strong for the most affordable...

B eige used to be white-hot (well, off-white!) back in the fabulous ’80s. In fact, you couldn’t stroll through most homes without spying it splashed on kitchen cabinets, counters, bathroom tile, and, um, home fax machines. And then, just as suddenly as it rose to glory, beige fell by the wayside. For those of us who are old enough, we recall the bland-shade days and the other names beige went by, like ecru, tan, taupe, and khaki—and therein lies the reason for this neutral renaissance. “Beige is a novel hue to most of today’s decorating set, which means millennials and Gen Z’ers, since every shade of gray has been their beige for two decades,” explains  Debra Kling , an interior decorator and owner of the eponymous color consultancy. Even the paint giant PPG named  Transcend  (aka beige) as one of its three Colors of the Year in its latest palette. Leon Elias Wu , a fashion designer and owner of  Sharpe Suiting , calls Transcend “a familiar beige that’s more modern, ...