Home & Real Estate

Do you spend lazy Saturday afternoons browsing online, wishing you had the budget to hire an interior designer to replicate their artistic interiors? Well-designed rooms don’t always have to come with a huge price tag; designing on a budget may be easier than you think. Many times, by changing small things, a room can take…

After spending more time at home, over the last several years, you may be ready to change the look and feel of your house. Perhaps you are ready to upgrade your kitchen or add more space. Whatever the impetus, the thought crosses your mind: Maybe it’s time to start a home remodel. If you are…

Although they serve a specific function, bathrooms don’t need to conform to a utilitarian design. If anything, this space benefits from personalization. From simple contemporary designs to chic, luxurious fixtures, today’s bathroom trends are about creating a relaxing personal retreat. Merge the Indoors with the Outdoors. Blurring the lines between inside and out can create…

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a resounding effect on the way people live — not only in how they interact with those around them, but potentially in how they view their homes as well. More time at home may be changing the way individuals think about how tangible elements such as increasing their capacity to…

Register to attend the Remodeled Homes Tour and see remodeling trends, speak with experts in design-build, at www.remodeltour.com You can tour the home in this video – remodeled by Irons Brothers Construction — on Oct 22. We look forward to seeing you there. After spending more time at home for a couple of years you…

You’re remodeling, and everything in the kitchen must be moved out. Get started — the earlier the better. It’s time to pack the dishes and move any food items you keep in the kitchen to a good storage location – but remember, you will have to get into them at times during the remodeling project….

This custom home overlooking Lake Washington was overdue for an update. Fortunately, the client contacted us before the water damage on their top deck got too bad. The entire home underwent a facelift inside and out. The new design included framing in the old leaky deck and building a larger, more functional home office.  Additional…

If you’re planning to buy or remodel a home but you’re not quite ready to view several dozen homes in person, start by looking at homes online. You’ll be surprised by the number of online showrooms, photos and 3D videos/virtual tours available to help you narrow down your search. For new homebuyers, Realtor.com, Redfin.com, Trulia.com and…

With the summer season in the rear-view mirror, now is the time to focus on a few simple home maintenance projects to prepare for the fall weather. Not all maintenance projects require a significant of time or money. Instead, seasonal projects are low or no-cost DIY projects that can also help you save money on…

It’s back-to-school time and that means all over town, parents are vowing that this year, they’ll finally be organized. There will be no more tears, threats, or lost field-trip permission slips. The kids will walk out the door with their completed homework and a healthy lunch snug in their backpacks. Here are some hints to…

America’s housing stock is aging. And following the Great Recession, residential construction grew at a modest pace. According to the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB), many homeowners across the country occupy dwellings that are not new or modern. A closer look at the housing stock data reveals that many properties may be due for…

Anyone who’s been car shopping in recent years knows that modern cars come with a seemingly endless list of options and features to consider. But if there’s one characteristic that most car shoppers rank as high as price, performance and style—it’s fuel efficiency. Much like car shoppers compare miles-per-gallon (mpg) estimates, an increasing number of…

As a first-time homeowner, you now have a place to call your own. Routine home maintenance will help you enjoy your new home for years to come. Maintaining your home not only helps ensure your home is working at an optimal level but helps to identify or fix problems before they become a larger issue….

Remodeling your home has many benefits. A home improvement can modernize your living space, enhance your comfort level, and add to the resell value of your home. However, not all remodeling projects are equal when generating the greatest resell value for homeowners. Zonda, a housing market research firm, recently released their annual Cost vs. Value Report,…

After the dust settles from your latest barbecue or home gathering, you may have noticed that your home has begun to show the signs of an active summer – both inside and out. Take the time now to do a few maintenance tasks to keep your home humming through the rest of the summer. Keep…

Boost your buying power with a HomeStyle Renovation Loan In today’s tight real estate market, limited inventory means finding the ideal home for your budget can be tough. But what if you could create the home you want? If you find a house in a location you love, updating an outdated interior or creating a…

From kitchens and bathrooms to decks and entire homes, the Building Industry Association of Washington (BIAW) celebrated the best in remodeling at the 2022 Excellence in Remodeling Awards June 6. A highlight of the association’s summer board meeting, the awards recognized the top remodelers across 25 different categories. Winners faced fierce competition, with 57 entries vying…

The ongoing pandemic has put a renewed focus on the air we breathe. If you are spending more time at home this year, keeping the air in your living space as fresh and as free of pollutants is critical. Common indoor pollutants are from sources that release gases or particles into the air such as…

After years of decline, homeownership is gaining momentum across the country. According to the latest data from the Census Bureau’s Housing Vacancy Survey the U.S. homeownership rate is 65%. Homeownership endures as the foundation of the American dream, and that’s why the home building industry is celebrating National Homeownership Month in June. Home ownership builds…