The ServiceMagic Connection

Dangers of a Gas Furnace – Five Ways to Keep Your Home Safe

Karen Lawes — Thu, 24 May 2012 11:00:37 +0000

Natural gas furnaces are popular with homeowners. They are efficient and affordable to operate, particularly when compared to electric furnaces. In cold climates, they’re vastly more efficient than electric furnaces. But there are some hazards associated with having a gas furnace, from fire to carbon monoxide poisoning. The risks are low, but accidents do happen. [...]

Solar Panels – The Home Improvement that Gives Back!

Dane Cross — Wed, 23 May 2012 11:00:43 +0000

Are solar panels worth the investment? The prospect of having solar panels installed may seem a costly investment at first, but take into account the consistent increase in energy bills as well as government-implemented incentives, and you’ll soon see a strong case for investing in solar power. Solar power explained When the sun’s energy hits [...]

Eco-Friendly Ways to Update a Bathroom

Brandon Mercury — Tue, 22 May 2012 11:00:32 +0000

From excess water usage to dangerous cleaning chemicals, the bathroom can be the least green space in your home. But you can give the room an eco-friendly makeover. Updating your bathroom so that it is more environmentally friendly not only helps reduce your home’s carbon footprint, but it can make the space more visually appealing [...]

Image of the Week: Seashell Sink

ServiceMagic — Mon, 21 May 2012 11:00:20 +0000

Image Source: Pinterest.com Look how the water pours down drain! If you could make a sink into any shape, what would you choose?

Weekend Warrior- How to choose the right building materials for your next project

ServiceMagic — Fri, 18 May 2012 11:00:52 +0000

Whether you’re redoing your kitchen, replacing your windows, or putting in a stone patio, one of the first and most important decisions you’ll have to make is what kind of materials you’re going to use. The question is: what are the right materials for the job? Understanding the Costs As with most products, building materials [...]

Creative and eco ways to spruce up your decor

Adria Saracino — Thu, 17 May 2012 11:00:09 +0000

It seems everyone is scrambling to jump on the eco-friendly bandwagon these days. And you know what? That isn’t a bad thing. The more aware we are about our impact on the world, the better. We spend so much time in our homes that it makes the perfect outlet for practicing our “green” thumb. When [...]

Lawn Decluttering Tips: Get a Beautiful Looking Yard this Summer

Joe Eitel — Wed, 16 May 2012 14:45:10 +0000

While many times it’s the inside of the home that gets all the attention when it comes to staying clutter-free, it’s equally important to declutter outside the home to increase curb appeal and keep your lawn and garden looking great. Here are a few useful tips to declutter your lawn this summer. Break out the [...]

10 ways towards a healthier kitchen experience

Rubela Jhonnie — Tue, 15 May 2012 11:00:36 +0000

The kitchen is the hearth of the home where everyone loves to assemble for food or just to sit and chat. Therefore, keeping your kitchen not only comfortable but clean is very essential for the health of your family. A kitchen can become the harbinger of illness if the food preparation and items are not [...]

Image of the Week: Victorian Spiral Staircase

ServiceMagic — Mon, 14 May 2012 11:00:38 +0000

Image Source: Pinterest.com What a grand entrance you would make walking down this staircase! We love this Victorian inspired spiral staircase from the details on the banister to the eye-catching pink and black contrast. Would you put a spiral staircase into your home?

A Foolproof Lighting Design For Your Kitchen

Emily Wilde — Sat, 12 May 2012 11:00:50 +0000

The formula for designer kitchen lighting is simple: Work in layers. The most common mistake people make is centering one light fixture in the middle of the ceiling and assuming it can effectively light the entire kitchen. If you’ve ever admired a luxury kitchen, consider the lighting layout. Notice how illumination came from multiple light [...]

Weekend Warrior- 5 ways to incorporate your children’s artwork into the home

ServiceMagic — Fri, 11 May 2012 11:00:21 +0000

If you’ve got kids, you know how quickly your house can become an art gallery. And while you want to nurture your little Van Gough’s artistic spirit, if you’re like lots of parents, you’re running out of ideas on how to display their masterpieces. Here are a few solutions. Magnetize! Want to reclaim your fridge? [...]

A Step by Step Guide to Cleaning Your Vinyl Gutters

Karen Lawes — Thu, 10 May 2012 11:00:40 +0000

Cleaning your vinyl gutters is a simple do-it-yourself task. It takes just a few basic supplies and a couple hours. It might not be a lot of fun, but keep in mind that it goes a long way in preventing damage to your home. Over time, leaky or overflowing gutters can destroy your foundation. 1. [...]

Creating a bigger room

Sarah Oxley — Wed, 09 May 2012 11:00:23 +0000

We have all experienced the problem of a small room, and more often than not, it is used for storage or a guest room in which little thought is put in, as the room looks so small. Even though there isn’t much that can be done about the actual size of the room, you can [...]

10 steps to plan and carryout a successful garage sale

Brandon Mercury — Tue, 08 May 2012 11:00:10 +0000

The summer months are the perfect time to clean out the closets in your home and have a garage sale. Selling the things you no longer need not only helps you get organized, but it also provides a little bit of extra cash. That’s money you could use for a family vacation or to help [...]

Image of the Week: Stained Glass Wall

ServiceMagic — Mon, 07 May 2012 11:00:19 +0000

Image Source: fineartamerica.com Now this is what we call color! How does this stained glass wall inspire you to get bold and bright colors into your home?

Weekend Warrior- How to incorporate outdoor lighting into your backyard

ServiceMagic — Fri, 04 May 2012 11:00:06 +0000

Warm Up the Mood With These Cool Outdoor Lighting Ideas When it comes to a good time, everyone knows that when the sun goes down the party heats up. So, don’t let a lack of light drive the party indoors. With the right kind of lighting you’ll be able to add the ambiance and energy [...]

Get your deck ready for Spring

David Lupberger — Thu, 03 May 2012 11:00:08 +0000

It’s spring and it’s warming up fast. Now it’s time to warm up the grill, break out the lawn furniture, and begin moving outdoors to spend more time on the deck. I’m sure many of you have already begun doing this and to make sure you get the most out of your deck this summer, here [...]

How to make your Home’s Décor Unique

Stephanie Staszko — Wed, 02 May 2012 15:40:21 +0000

In the interior design world, many home improvement enthusiasts want to be trend setters. How amazing is it when guests compliment you on your choice of décor and enquire as to where you got those gorgeous accessories from? But when you reply with a huge chain store you secretly know that you’re probably one of [...]

Easy Steps to Brighten Any Room in the House

Michael Turner — Tue, 01 May 2012 11:00:20 +0000

When interior design is used well it can create some really interesting and unique looks to all the rooms around the home. Selecting the right colours, lighting, window fittings as well as the flooring can all contribute to the overall style and look of a space. For a lot of people, the main aim is [...]

Image of the Week: Staircase Storage

ServiceMagic — Mon, 30 Apr 2012 11:00:36 +0000

Image Source: Pinterest.com This under the stair storage shelves are a unique way to maximize space and maintain style!