Blog by Beebe Cline, PREC*

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10 Ways to Enjoy a Screened Porch This Fall

September 22nd, 2023
Fall is prime time for enjoying a protected indoor-outdoor space like a screened porch. Here you can take a look at how design pros have set up screened porches around the country for fall fun, dinners, conversations and naps. Let them inspire a new setup or activity for your own porch. If you don’t have a screened porch, perhaps it will inspire an addition. 1. Watch Wildlife Part of an addi ...

Show Us Your Hardworking Home Office

September 11th, 2023
Whether a work-from-home setup occupies a spare closet or a spacious room, it faces a common set of design challenges. For example, its cords and cables need to be handy but hidden (or at least neatly organized). Its layout needs to be efficient and ergonomically friendly. And the space needs to be appealing enough for someone to want to spend time in it. We’ve shared some examples and tips ...

5 Ways Pros Work Smarter, Not Harder, on Their Businesses

August 18th, 2023
When you run your own remodeling or outdoor business, finding ways to work smarter rather than harder isn’t just good for the bottom line, it’s also good for your well-being. We asked pros to share the strategies they use to make their businesses run smoothly and efficiently.  1. Find Simple Ways to Be More Efficient Kitchen and bath remodeler Jared Lewis of Lewis Design-Build-Remodel in ...

4 Ways to Create Healthy Habits at Home

August 16th, 2023
When life gets hectic, it can be easy to sacrifice our health. Neglecting sleep, exercise and nutrition can be the path of least resistance. But there are small steps you can take at home to keep your health on track in stressful times. I recommend you get started on these now.Sleep Get rid of nightstand clutter. Getting enough rest is a foundation of good health, but it sure is easy to negl ...

Tap Into Your 5 Senses to Find More Peace at Home

August 14th, 2023
With screens taking up so much of our time (both at work and at play), it’s easy to become disconnected from the simple pleasures of living. Restore some sanity this season by tapping into your five senses, and turn the place you live into a more peaceful haven. 1. Touch The sense of touch makes a wonderful antidote to a modern life often filled with screens and visual information. When we ...

Simple Pleasures: A Relaxed Weekend at Home

August 11th, 2023
So often we look forward to the weekend, but once it arrives, it gets swallowed up by errands and chores — and before we know it, it’s over. That hardly seems fair! If you’re ready to reclaim your weekend, begin by shifting your thinking and consider your weekend a “mini retreat” — a well-deserved opportunity to rest and recharge. And while not every weekend lends itself to this relaxed appro ...

6 Ways to Cool Off Without Air Conditioning

August 2nd, 2023
Having an air conditioner is a near-must in climates where months-long heat waves are a summer norm. And with that comes an equally scorching energy bill. Even in regions with gentler climates, homeowners can still experience enough hot days in a row to nearly go mad. It doesn’t have to be so hard. Whether you want to save money by running your air conditioner less or brave the heat without ...

The (Lost) Art of Laziness

July 28th, 2023
Do you find yourself lying awake at night thinking of everything you need to do the next day? Checking your emails before you’re even out of bed? Talking about how busy you are? Hard work and having a work ethic can be great things, but we all need a break. So give yourself at least one weekend day off and find places around the home to slow down and recharge.Hang Out Hitch up a hammock or a ...

Pros Share How They Increase Productivity and Save Time Each Week

July 26th, 2023
When your workload gets heavy and things start to slip through the cracks, it may be time to find new ways to optimize your productivity, work smarter and get more efficient. Rethinking how you structure each workday can help you find better flow and ease stress. Twelve design and remodeling pros on Houzz share some of their best practices that can give you a performance boost and save you t ...

10 Ways to Make Your Home Feel More Joyful

July 24th, 2023
A home bursting with joy is something you can feel the instant you walk in the door. But what is it that makes a home joyful? Certainly the mood we bring with us has a bearing on our experience of home, but the spaces we inhabit also have the power to influence us. If you want to feel more joyful at home, these 10 thoughtful touches may help pave your path to joy. Bold color, fresh flowers an ...

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