We spend so much time in our homes but do we really know what our relationship is with our homes? It’s been my dream to talk with women and learn what they like, or don’t like about their homes and how HomeTips4Women can help them enjoy life at home better.

At BlogHer 2011, I spoke with Shannon Entin from Bloomsbury, NJ. Once we started talking, Shannon took over the conversation and I got to enjoy her story which towards the end included a floorplan drawing (more about this later). Here’s what Shannon had to share about her house … READ MORE

Kitchen remodels can take years if we’re honest about it. Remodeling projects start as an idea and you first have to justify the cost … to yourself. Next comes your research which takes more time than anything else, looking through magazines and books to zoom in on the look you want.

Sleek and contemporary like the kitchen shown here with dark cabinets and counter tops? Alternative layouts if you’re not happy with existing workspace and/or traffic flow? With lots of structural changes, a kitchen designer can help you make decisions you’ll be happy with for years. If your project is more cosmetic, pick your remodeler and get started but how long will it take? READ MORE

Interior architecture and design is a continually evolving industry.  Just like fashion, we can’t help but notice the ever-changing design trends of the season particularly when magazines, newspapers and television shows keep us abreast as to what’s hot and what’s not from one year to the next.

Technological advancements together with popular culture tend to set the stage for these new trends in the home design industry.  Implementing every newest craze into your home renovation or design project isn’t what’s important – the goal is to incorporate those trends that have the staying power and that become the new lifestyle standard without ever appearing dated. READ MORE

Today’s remodeling trends are focused on function and lower costs compared to several years ago when increasing home prices provided equity for improvements. Yesterday’s additions are today’s remodeling or replacement projects, many of them ones that are required like a new roof. The surprise in this year’s survey was the attic bedrooms topping the list with 83% of the cost projected to be recouped when a home is sold.

The top 3 remodeling trends in 2010 focused on low maintenance exterior replacement projects with immediate and long term energy savings, creating additional space (attics and basements) for families who can’t move and lower cost updates to kitchens and bathrooms over additions to expand these traditionally popular rooms. READ MORE

Do you know how many decisions are required to outfit a new bathroom? There are literally 100s of decisions to be made. Having completed more than 10 bathroom remodels, I know the decision making can get overwhelming. After dealing with custom cabinets for 2 bathrooms, I once jumped at the chance to buy a discontinued vanity/cabinet combination to save myself lots of decisions.

When I learned about bathsimple.com, a website that simplifies the process of picking out the majority of your bathroom purchases, I had to check out their website and you should too! READ MORE

More homeowners are considering remodeling as an alternative to selling their home and moving. Remodeling isn’t new. Early settlers added extra rooms onto their homes, to accommodate a new generation. Look anywhere in New England and you will see houses that have changed over time to reflect the evolving lives of their owners.

A commitment to schools, neighborhood, community and location are some of the reasons that homeowners decide to expand, reconfigure and rethink their existing homes to fit changing needs and desires. Today, remodeling or renovating your current home enables you to avoid today’s uncertain housing market while gaining the efficiency, space and comfort you need from your living space. READ MORE

Working with your building contractor can be challenging because construction concepts and terminology aren’t part of our everyday language. Like being in a different country, it’s similar to your friends talking about their work and using terminology that means nothing to you. When home owners talk to contractors they face the same challenge.

New terminology, different backgrounds and having contractors work in your home can be stressful. That’s why many people delay necessary repairs to their home or put off building that special room they’ve dreamed of for years. By spending time learning about your home, basic concepts and terminology related to your project at HomeTips4Women.com, you can reduce stress and have positive communication with your home pros. READ MORE

Have you dreamed about remodeling your home for years? Do you want to get started, but are uncertain how to start the process? The first step, planning your project is critical. This is where you have to prioritize your dreams and make tough decisions as few homeowners have an unlimited budget. You can find experienced architects or home designers who will work with you to match your goals to your budget. READ MORE

Decorating is much more than picking colors and finding bathroom fixtures that work together. Decorating is about making all the pieces come together to create a coordinated look and feel, a place where you feel warm and cozy. When I teamed up with an interior decorator to remodel two bathrooms in 90 days, I never realized how much I would learn.

My role was overall project manager and I focused on getting materials to the job site to keep everyone on schedule. Where I worried about the alignment of the plumbing for the new vanity, our decorator focused on the best hardware to dress up the vanity and overall bathroom. Here’s my first tip for you – take photos of different sections of a room you’re decorating. You’ll be able to focus on the details better. READ MORE

Bathrooms are the smallest rooms in a house yet they’re one of the most complex rooms to design, build and decorate. What makes a bathroom so complicated? Bathrooms have more fixtures per square foot than other rooms in the house although we often think a bathroom is a vanity with sink, toilet and bathtub or shower.

In fact we didn’t consider how many fixtures this small bathroom had when the owner said they wanted to go with bronze hardware which costs about fifty percent more chrome hardware. Want to learn how many different products you have to buy for a small bathroom? READ MORE