2013's hottest home trends and easy upgrades

2013's hottest home trends and easy upgrades


The top home decor trends for 2013 are already emerging, and homeowners seeking a fresh look will find a lot to love. Not only can these looks be accomplished in minimal time - they're budget friendly and easy enough for DIYers to finish in a weekend or less.

Giving your home an updated feel doesn't require a full-scale renovation. Instead, focus on simple updates for the most frequently used rooms in your house. When you're ready to get started on your home's new look, let these trends of the year be your design guide.


In the kitchen

Kitchens need to be functional, but in this hub of the home style is just as important. Upholding practicality while adding visual interest is a top trend this season. Two-toned upper and lower cabinet colors are rapidly growing in popularity as a way to let homeowners customize their kitchen spaces and express their personalities.

* Maple is the style frontrunner when it comes to wooden cabinets, but painted cabinets in white, black and gray tones are also on the rise. Whether you opt to replace your cabinet fronts or paint them, your efforts will give you impressive - and fast - results.

* On the functionality front, innovative hands-free faucets simplify cooking and cleaning tasks while requiring minimal effort to install.

* Open shelving is seeing a boost in popularity. Both glass-fronted cabinets and simple open shelves capture this trend, allowing you to put your style on display while creating a sleek, updated look.


In the bath

A luxurious-feeling bath doesn't need to make big demands on your wallet. By making a few on-trend updates, you'll give your room designer appeal guaranteed to make an impression.

* Updating the vanity, often the focal point in a bathroom, provides immediate results.

* Tiling provides the perfect solution to add extra personality to your bath. Right now, trends offer two different but equally chic directions - large-scale tile and small-scale mosaics. Tiles with wood-like appearances are also gaining popularity; they create a warm, inviting look, but offer the wet-space practicality of tile. If it's your first time tiling, home improvement stores can provide guidance to get startedwith your tile flooring.


Throughout the home

When it comes to low-effort, big-impact changes, it's hard to beat a fresh coat of paint. For walls that feel drab, boring or outdated, new paint makes a color statement and draws attention to architectural details. Follow these paint tips to make an instant, dramatic impression:

* Alter the dimensions of a space by painting ceilings a slightly lighter color than the walls.

* Create patterns and shapes using painter's tape. Stripes, chevrons and ombre effects are perfectly on-trend.

* Highlight architectural details by painting interior doors and trim in a colorful hue instead of traditional white.

In one weekend or less, these simple changes will make your home feel like an entirely new space. So when the seasonal urge to renovate sets in, don't resist - reinvigorate your home with these ideas. (BPT)

Video Tour - 421 Vasey Oak Drive, Keller

Video Tour - 421 Vasey Oak Drive, Keller

Presented to you by the Grove Team, Keller Willams

Sophisticatd style, extensive updates and fresh paint welcome you home to this four bedroom, two bath home in Chase Oaks. Offering split bedroom design on one story, meticulous attention to detail is apparent in the updates found throughout. Newly laid wood laminate floors, updated carpet in the bedrooms, fantastic fixtures, granite, stainless steel appliances & hand painted-antiqued cabinets in the kitchen are only the beginning. Truly a pleasure to see!

Give us a call at the Grove Team, Keller Williams to schedule an appointment, (817) 337-0000

Video Tour - 1412 Brair Meadow, Keller

Video Tour - 1412 Briar Meadow, Keller

Just Listed by the Grove Team, Keller Williams

Beautiful renovation by TK Homes, LLC

Meticulous renovation by TK Homes, LLC located in the prime location of Keller on a heavily treed lot. Completely updated with new interior and exterior paint, new laminate wood flooring, new carpet, fixtures. Enjoy the updated kitchen featuring ample granite countertops, stainless appliances, and plenty of cabinets for storage. One story, 3-bedroom home with study that could also be used as a fourth bedroom. Oversized two car rear entry garage. 

Contact the Grove Team, Keller Williams today for additional information -

(817) 337-0000 or email info@groveteam.com

The 10 'never-break' rules of good credit

The 10 'never-break' rules of good credit

Some rules are meant to be broken - like the one about not wearing white after Labor Day. Others should remain sacrosanct, such as the rules of good credit. Those are the kind of rules that can make life easier and happier when you follow them - and help ensure your finances stay in good order, too.

Unlike fashion rules, the rules of good credit are really not subject to interpretation or personal opinion. They derive from the formulae that credit bureaus and lenders use to calculate your credit score.

So what are the 10 unbreakable rules of good credit? Here they are in descending order, a la David Letterman:

10. Create a budget and stick to it. Your budget should cover everyday expenses and allow for the smart use of credit.

9. Use credit cards wisely. Smart use of revolving credit - not carrying a balance, paying the full balance immediately - is an important component of a healthy credit score. Unwise use, such as running up debt, can lower your score. And in that vein ...

8. Always pay more than the minimum balance on your credit cards. Ideally, you would pay off the entire balance right away, but if that's not possible, pay more than the minimum - as much as you can afford. Paying only the minimum balance means it will take years - and thousands in interest charges - to pay off your debt.

7. When applying for a loan - which includes applying for new credit cards - do so wisely. Comparison shop and make your applications (if you'll be making more than one) in a short amount of time, so that those credit inquiries will only count against your credit score once. Stretching applications over time, or making too many in a short amount of time, can negatively impact your credit score.

6. Your credit utilization ratio - the amount you owe compared to the amount of credit you have available - is a key factor in determining your credit score. Avoid maxing out your credit - including credit cards or home equity lines of credit. At any given time, try to keep three quarters to two thirds of your total available credit free for use.

5. Don't immediately close a credit card account just because it's paid off. Doing so can skew your credit utilization ratio. Before you close an account, be sure you understand what impact - if any - the action will have on your credit score.

4. Practice identity theft protection measures. From shredding sensitive paper documents before trashing them, to keeping your PC's virus protection software up to date, it's important to take steps to protect your credit from identity theft and fraud.

3. If you're in financial trouble, don't practice avoidance. If you can't pay your bills, contact your creditors to work out a payment plan, but know that not making minimum payments may negatively impact your credit score. Being proactive may not solve your financial woes but it can help minimize the negative impact on your credit.

2. Keep an eye on your credit score. Maybe you're in the habit of reviewing your credit report once a year, or only check it when you're planning to apply for a loan, but it's important to stay on top of your credit score all the time. Fortunately, the Internet has made it easy to monitor your credit report and score. Enrolling in membership of a product like freecreditscore.com can help you understand your credit. With enrollment, you get credit score alerts, identity protection alerts and fraud resolution support if you find an error on your credit report.

And, the No. 1 rule of good credit:

1. Pay your bills on time. A consistent, long-term history of timely bill paying goes a long way toward a healthy credit score. In fact, a solid payment history can pull up your score even if there are other negatives on your credit report, such as a high ratio of credit used to credit available. Not paying your bills on time - or at all - is a surefire recipe for bad cred. (BPT)

Video Tour - 1511 Cat Mountain Trail, Keller

Video Tour - 1511 Cat Mountain Trail, Keller

Gorgeous renovation by TK Homes, LLC - completely updated interior & exterior paint, new laminate wood floors, new carpet. Stunning updates to the kitchen & baths that include new fixtures, granite and appliances. Four bedrooms and study offer a functional floorplan in the prime location of Keller.

For more information or to schedule time to visit this lovely home, contact the Grove Team, Keller Williams - (817) 337-0000 or email us at info@groveteam.com.

Surprising, affordable upgrades can give your home a whole new look

Surprising, affordable upgrades can give your home a whole new look

Sure, kitchen and bath renovations get all the glamour and credit for offering high returns on your investment when it's time to sell your home. But a host of other, often-overlooked improvements can also offer great ROI - while completely changing the look of your home at a fraction of the cost of bigger projects.


"Improvements like upgrading your home's stair case can give a home a fresh look quickly and affordably," says Dale L. Reutter, president, WM Coffman, which has been making and distributing stair products for more than 130 years. "These upgrades can offer impressive ROI, and also enhance the enjoyment and usability of your home."

If you're looking for home improvements that will pay off in the long-term, plus give your home a fresh look now, consider these high-impact, lower-cost upgrades:

* Change the front door. The door to your home is not only a key element of its exterior look, the door can set expectations for what guests will see inside your home as well. A new front door makes a statement for both the inside and outside of your home. When you sell your home, that new front door can return as much as 73 percent of the initial cost for steel doors and nearly 54 percent for fiberglass doors, according to Remodeling Magazine's Cost vs. Value Report.

* Layer and upgrade lighting in key rooms such as living rooms and family rooms. Replacing outdated lights can create a fresh, appealing atmosphere in a room. But don't stop at overhead fixtures. Layer your lighting by adding new floor lamps and table lamps. A variety of lighting sources and types allows you to change moods in a room with the flip of a few switches.

* Repaint ceilings and baseboards. While you may be aware of the benefits of painting walls, many homeowners overlook the value of painting ceilings and baseboards. Repainting a ceiling - even if it's plain white - dramatically brightens a room. The same is true for painting trim; the freshness of updated trim can draw the whole room together. So the next time you paint a room, be sure to do ceilings and trim as well.

While these upgrades can help you cost-effectively change your decor, when you're looking for high impact, flexibility and affordability, updating your stairway is one of the best investments you can make. Many modern floor plans place the stairway front and center, making it the first design element guests see when they enter. Yet when it comes time to renovate, many people overlook the design potential of this functional element in their home.

(BPT)

Simple home fix-ups you can complete in a weekend or less

Simple home fix-ups you can complete in a weekend or less




While you may not know the term "nowism," you more than likely live it. With our fast-paced lives, this term, coined by www.trendwatching.com, a leading trendscouting website, describes the trend of the consumer's need for instant gratification. We want fast service, fast answers and fast results.

And, of course, this need for fast fixes extends into our homes. Luckily, no matter how pressed you are for time, you can spruce up your house by focusing on simple projects that can be completed quickly ... in a day or a weekend. Don't delay - check these easy and affordable projects off your to-do list today and soon your home will be perfectly prepared and instantly updated.

Fancy fixtures

As the workhorse of the kitchen, we have dozens of daily interactions at the sink. So, give your kitchen a functionality facelift by upgrading your faucet.  Next, tie the finish of your new faucet throughout your room by updating the hinges, knobs and pulls on your cabinets for an uncomplicated and inexpensive way to add new dimension to your kitchen space.

Restore beauty in the bath

In a recent Gallup Poll, 80 percent of workers said they feel stress on the job, making it important to make your home - and specifically your bathroom - a relaxing retreat. Swap your old, boring showerhead with a new rainshower to create a serene sanctuary within minutes.  You can upgrade your bathroom in no time.

Another fast fix for the bathroom is to simply get organized ... and stay that way.  Keep your hand towels tidy, incorporate baskets for storage, maximize your space with unique storage ideas. 

Refurbish the living room

As one of the gathering areas for your family or guests, the living room can get dirty quickly - especially the carpet. Footprints, pet odors or food and beverage spills could be detracting from the enjoyment of the room, so take a few hours to take back your carpet. Many grocers rent steam cleaners for as little as $25 per day, making them an ideal solution to bring new life to your living space.

Living room lighting can also have a big impact on your room's decor and ambiance. Brighten your atmosphere - and your mood - by replacing your current incandescent light bulbs with high-efficiency LED lamps. These energy-efficient bulbs will have your home shining brightly all season long, while also saving on your electric bills.

Clean ceiling fans

The most neglected fixture in your home might be hanging right above your head - the ceiling fan. Luckily, by flipping a switch, you can improve the effectiveness of this overhead oversight.- Start with dusting the fan blades and housing, and then simply reverse the fan's usual summer rotation to a clockwise spin to push down warm air from the ceiling. This is easily done with a switch located on the side of the fan's motor.

Don't think that fix-ups can't fit into your fast-paced life. By following these helpful hints, you can quickly and easily renew your home now and make it an inviting retreat throughout the year. (BPT)