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

  1. Swapping a mortgage doesn’t make sense right now With mortgage rates sitting at around 7% on 30-year fixed-rate loans, homeowners with a lower rate might want to stay where they are. Say you’re thinking about moving to a smaller house to save money, and your current house has a 2.95% interest rate for the next 15 years--when you add up the costs for a 7% interest rate in today’s market, you may end up with a 20 to 30% smaller house but with the same housing payment over the next 15 years. In that scenario, you would not reap the massive savings that usually comes with downsizing. You’d have the same payments and a smaller house. 2. You can’t afford the cost of selling Don’t have a mortgage? Downsizing can potentially reduce your living expenses in the long run; but in the short term, it could end up costing you more than it’s worth. The costs of selling a home—think real estate agent commissions and  closing costs —can outweigh the immediate financial benefits.  Addi...

  A successful landscape design starts with a detailed and well-thought-out plan. While it can be tempting to dive right in to your renovation, investing the time and budget upfront to map out your entire space will help ensure a cohesive, long-lasting design — and often save time and money in the process. Read on to learn from professionals on Houzz about the details of a landscape master plan, the benefits of getting one and other considerations to make sure you get the landscape you want. ROCHE+ROCHE Landscape Architecture What Is a Landscape Master Plan? A landscape master plan, also called a site plan, is a detailed scaled drawing that shows everything in a landscape’s overall design. It includes the site’s orientation and conditions, from sun and wind patterns to soil, drainage and slope issues. The plan also contains the design’s hardscape and structural elements — with specified materials for each — along with the planting plan and house location.  The Benefits of Havi...

A dated kitchen doesn’t have to be a huge downer. In fact, there’s a whole lot you can do to infuse some style into your kitchen—without even lifting a paint brush. From area rugs to cover worn floors (or misguided linoleum choices) to plant life to breathe fresh air into your space, here are 6 low-lift ways to make your kitchen feel (almost) like new. Kitchen rugs Add a snazzy kitchen mat or area rug. Old, beat-up flooring can make any kitchen feel tired. If it’s not in the budget to  change your floors out , a snazzy kitchen mat or rug can pack a huge punch.  This checkered runner from Ruggable  can easily be thrown in the washing machine, while t his one from Waterhog  will withstand pretty much anything you throw at it (and still look good). The best part about  this spill-resistant option ? It’s cushioned! (Your feet will thank you.) Swap out old hardware. New drawer pulls and cabinet knobs can go a long way in transforming the feel of your space. You can f...