TIPS// Winter Home Maintenance

Winter Home Maintenance

With the first snow of the season fresh on the ground we thought we'd give you some tips for maintaining your home through the holiday season.

Inspect Exterior, Roof and Furnace
You don't want to wait until snow is packed up outside to realize you're furnace isn't working properly.
You don't need to get extreme here for any of these, just a quick look around for major issues will give you some piece of mind as it cools down outside. Check for cracks around the exterior of your home and any loose shingles on your roof. Take a look to make sure your furnace filter is clean. While you're looking around, ensure that your doors and windows are sealed properly as well.

Clean Gutters and Drain Hoses
Prevent big water issues down the line.
Clean your gutters out once at the beginning of the season and again once the leaves are mostly off the trees. Drain your hoses to prevent water from freezing inside.

Clean and Seal Deck
Not necessary for everyone but it's a good idea to give your deck a good look to be sure.
If your deck is looking a little lackluster, give it a good cleaning to give it new life. Seal it all to be sure water doesn't warp the wood during winter.

From all of us at K&E, we wish you and your family a safe and happy holiday season!

TRENDING// Tiny Homes

Tiny Homes
Tiny houses are popping up all over the country! Turn on your T.V. and it seems like there is a never ending stream of new shows about tiny home living. And for good reason! Less maintenance, less cleaning and more freedom to move around the country. In fact, our own assistant here at K&E lived in a tiny house for a few months last year. Here's a few inside tips and design ideas to get you started.

First, decide if this is really for you. Can you keep it clean? Can you handle having that little space? Can you handle being in such close quarters with your partner?

Next, you're gonna have to get rid of a lot of stuff. Then, you're gonna have to get rid of more. If you don't use it on a daily basis, you don't have room for it.

Lofting
One of the best ways to utilize your space is to loft either your sleeping or living quarters. Trust us, you want to try to make space for both. Having distinct spaces for each will help you to feel like you're in a tiny home as opposed to your dorm room from back in college.

Barn Door Ladder, Pull Out Mattress, Spiral

With that being said, you don't want your staircase to become wasted space. These are all great examples of ways to add some extra function (and style) to your stairway.

Multiple Function Pieces
With such little space to work with, it's important to make sure each square foot packs the biggest punch it can.

Combination Murphy Bed/Desk, Bed Under Staircase, Hidden Kitchen Sinks

The best think about all of these is that they are out of the way. The table and bed can be folded up to clear up some space and the counter top in the last photo can be folded down to cover the sinks. It may not seem that important but once you're living in a tiny-home, you'll appreciate the ability to open up your space as much as possible.

Storage

You want to build storage anywhere and everywhere you can. The more you can put out of view, the better.

Closet, Kitchen Utensil Pull Out, Rotating Drawers, Secondary Storage Loft

Again, the more that you can keep out of your line of sight, the more open your space will seem. This will also help you keep your space more clean.

Hopefully this helped anyone on the fence about living in a tiny home! If you have any more questions, we'd love to hear from you!

Bar Inspiration

Home Bar Inspiration
Around here, we love sitting down for a nice cold drink at the end of the day. We like our beer cold and our liquor cabinet stocked, and we're not alone. More and more homeowners are adding bar areas to their homes. If you've been thinking of renovating a space into a personal bar, check out some beautiful bar inspiration below and give us a call!

Small Spaces

Nook, Under the Stairs, Small Counter top

Don't let not having a large dedicated space discourage you. Squeeze it into any space that you don't regularly use. We love the idea of renovating the space under the stairway!

Themes

Coca-Cola, Beach

Here's your chance to go all out in your decor! The more personalized, the better. It doesn't necessarily need to flow with the rest of your home. Deck it out in sports gear, vacation souvenirs or whatever else you love.

Quirky Bar Elements

Bottle Cap Tile, Bottle Chandelier

You can get away with a lot in your decor that you wouldn't be able to use as much throughout the rest of your home. Use empty bottles, bottle caps and posters to give it a relaxed feel.

Hopefully this helped you think up some ideas for your personal bar space. Now if you'll excuse us, we're gonna go crack open a cold one!

DESIGN STYLES// Contemporary

Sometimes the hardest part of redecorating/remodeling is finding a cohesive design plan. Browse through our Design Style series for project inspiration, and give us a call when you're ready to make your vision a reality!

Contemporary

Living Room

If you're a big Pinterest fan, you're already pretty familiar with a contemporary style. It's similar to modern but focuses more on maintaining a clean, light and open space.

Example Color Palettes

Color Palettes

Try to stick with light neutral colors, using dark colors as an accent. If you're craving color, keep them muted and spread them throughout the whole space.

Floating Shelves

Office, Living Room, Kitchen

Floating shelves are everywhere right now, and for good reason. They open up otherwise closed off spaces and give you a chance to display belongings without clutter. Their clean lines make them perfect in a contemporary space. 

Flooring

Honeycomb, Graphic, Gradient

Steer clear of carpets in a contemporary space. If you've gotten bored of a traditional hardwood or tile floor, step it up a bit! Add a tile in a different shape or pattern than expected. Keep other design elements simple, so the space doesn't get too overwhelmed.

We hope this inspired you to revamp your contemporary space. Have a great day!

PROJECTS// Garage into a Loft

Garage into a Loft 

Our blog may be new, but K&E is no stranger to the remodeling world. Check out an awesome project from a while back, a garage converted into a loft space, complete with a Murphy bed!

Starting work on the Murphy bed

Bed area with finished walls

Completed Murphy bed!

Here, Shane added in a shelf where the existing window was so that there's a little storage right near the bed. If you have a room in your house that you need to be multi functional, a Murphy bed is an awesome space saver! Fold the bed into the wall when you need to use the space as an office or playroom, fold it down when you've got guests on the way! And trust us, this is waaaay more comfortable than an air mattress on the floor ;)

 

These dark barn doors with the frosted glass are great in a small space because they are both stylish and functional. The frosted glass still allows for light to come in, but maintains some privacy.

If you have an unfinished space that you would like remodeled, give us a call! We'd love to come take a look and help you out!

TRENDING// Summer 2016

2016 has been a big year in home design. Sites like Pinterest and Houzz have homeowners more motivated than ever to spice up their living spaces. We've rounded up some of our favorite trends from this year so far, check them out below!

2016 Design Trends
Two Toned Cabinets

White and Wood, White and Black, White and Blue

Can't decide if you want a wood or painted cabinet? Can't narrow it down past 2 choices? You don't have to! To work this trend in your space, use the lighter color on the top cabinets to keep from weighing down the space. It's a great way to be able to bring darker or bright colors into the kitchen without going over the top.

Bold Powder Room Walls

 Beige and White, Palm Leaf, Black and White

Powder rooms are a perfect place to go bold! They're just the right size to be interesting but not overwhelming. Go all out and pick a statement wallpaper, like this palm leaf or black and white teardrop print. If that's a little too much for your style, try something a little more monochromatic with an interesting design, like this beige and white design. Either way, you're guaranteed to impress your guests the second they walk in.

P.S: Like this idea, but don't have a bathroom small enough? Try adding just one accent wall in a bigger bathroom. Same impact, but less overwhelming!

Statement Mirrors

Large Frame, Scalloped Edge, Gold

If you don't have a ton of time or money to spruce up your space, consider swapping out your medicine cabinet for a fancy statement mirror! They open up the space and create an awesome focal point. 

Interesting Light Fixtures

Gold Orb, Hanging Bulbs, Round Metal

Lights are some of the most used design features in a home, you use them everyday! Pick a style you love and go for it! A stunning chandelier or lighting fixture is a great way to up your design, with minimal effort.

Love the idea of revamping your space, but not sure you've got the know-how? Give us a call, we'd love to help! Did we miss one of your favorite trends? Mention it in the comments below!