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Renovating Your Attic Into the Perfect Spare Room

November 16, 2020

Trying to find enough space in your house for storage or entertaining is a problem most homeowners deal with. There’s only so much you can do depending on your house’s size, and more importantly, your budget. So what else can you do to add space, and not break the bank? The answer might be right above your head. Your Attic Could be the Choice If you already have a finished basement that you’re using, you can do the same thing with your attic. What you do with your attic does of course depend on its size, but even smaller ones can be put to good use. If you do decide to go ahead with a renovation, here’s some advice to make sure you do the job right. Endless Opportunities Attic renovations are becoming more and more popular among homeowners, especially with families staying in together. Attics offer a quiet retreat away from the hustle and bustle of the main floors of a home, and sheltering-in-place homeowners are looking to utilize any and all extra space. Plus, renovations are relatively low-cost. Some of the most popular options are: Your perfect option will of course depend on the size and shape of

Lights Out: Preparing Your Home for a Power Outage

November 9, 2020

An unexpected loss of power to your home is not only a nuisance, but also a serious problem. Whether it’s from strong winds knocking down power lines or a sudden electrical surge, extended outages are a hazard. It’s important that you know what to do in a situation like this to keep your home and your family safe. Gather in a safe meeting place inside.The first step you should take when the lights go out in your home is to locate everyone. A severe storm may have forced you all close together, but if you aren’t, safely guide all friends, family and even pets to a single location inside. Once everyone is accounted for, you shouldn’t leave the space alone. Maneuvering in the dark can lead to someone falling or running into furniture and getting injured. Unplug all of your electronics. There’s a good chance that you had multiple devices in use before your power went out. You might have been watching the news for weather updates, cooking a meal or possibly using a power tool. Go around your home and turn off or unplug anything that was in use beforehand. The power could come back on at any time,

The Best Maintenance Tips for Older Homes

November 2, 2020

Older homes can be like time capsules of an era gone by. From their captivating exterior designs to their beautiful craftsmanship inside, it’s easy to see why people snatch these properties up. Yet with all the bells and whistles that can come with an old house, they also come with various problems. Although newer homes can succumb to these same issues, they can pose more of a threat to an older home. Renovations Can Take Longer Doing renovations on an older house isn’t as simple as working on a newer construction. Repairs and replacements must be done with an extreme amount of care to avoid damage. Having to be extra careful can extend the timeline of different renovations, causing them to take longer than average. The longer a project goes on, the more money you may be on the hook for. Renovations May Need Approval In addition to being cautious of your home when making repairs, you might have to follow stricter guidelines. Houses that are deemed historical markers or are part of a historical society are limited in terms of what can be changed. If you fail to follow these rules, you could land yourself in hot water. You

Haunted Places Series: Eastern State Penitentiary

October 26, 2020

Location: Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaArchitectural Style: GothicBuilt: 1829 Located near the bustling center of Philadelphia, Eastern State Penitentiary blends right in alongside the city’s historic architecture. Yet while the outside may seem picturesque, the sprawling compound’s interior is marred by a darker past. Designed to be a place for inmates to redeem themselves from their crimes, Eastern State Penitentiary turned into many a prisoner’s personal nightmare. Eastern State Paves the WayCompleted in early 1829, Eastern State Penitentiary was the first prison of its kind and remained in operation until 1971. After it was constructed, Eastern State was the most elaborate and expensive prison in the world, and it would be a model for more than 300 prisons. Eastern State was designed so that each cell would be more like solitary confinement than a typical holding cell. There were no bars to provide a view to the rest of the building, few windows to the outside and prisoners were even kept apart from each other when out of their cells. Religion and Reformation Unlike previous centers simply meant to hold an offender until their release, Eastern State took things one step further by implementing religious themes into the structure of the building and

Haunted Places Series: Jefferson Hotel

October 19, 2020

Location: Jefferson, TexasArchitectural Style: VictorianBuilt: 1850-1851 We’re off to the Lone Star State as our search continues for the most haunted places. The seemingly inconspicuous Jefferson Hotel, situated in the small town of Jefferson, Texas near the Louisiana border has served as a cotton warehouse, brothel and a speakeasy. Today it’s a lovely historical hotel, though it seems some of the hotel’s guests will be staying indefinitely. Cotton Comes to Jefferson After the original building was constructed in 1850, the now Jefferson Hotel was initially designed to be a cotton warehouse to accommodate the area’s booming industry. For over two decades, riverboats bound for New Orleans made their way down the Big Cypress, stopping at Jefferson to load up on supplies for the last leg of the journey. Being a major port along the bustling riverway for travelers of all sorts, it was only natural that the warehouse was eventually transformed into a brothel and hotel. The Jefferson Opens Its Doors While there’s some uncertainty when the Jefferson Hotel first originally opened, it was a resounding success when it did. Weary travelers looking to rest their eyes were inclined to stay longer by the women that worked at the hotel,

Haunted Places Series: Craigdarroch Castle

October 12, 2020

Location: Victoria, British Columbia, CanadaArchitectural Style: ChâteauesqueBuilt: 1887-1890 “They’re heeeere!” With the return of the spooky season comes the return of our Haunted Places series! We’re starting off on a new ghost hunting adventure by taking a trip to Canada and the famed Craigdarroch Castle. From hauntings to Hollywood, this location has attracted both the living and the dead. What better way to get in the Halloween mood than with a castle fit for Dracula? BackgroundCraigdarroch Castle is a 39-room, Victorian-era castle that spans over 25,000 square feet (2,300 m2). The castle was originally built for Scottish-immigrant turned coal-magnate Robert Dunsmuir and his wife Joan. Located atop a hill overlooking the City of Victoria, the mansion was meant to be a status symbol for all below to see. However, Robert would never get to bask in the beauty of the completed castle. He died 17 months before construction was completed, one in a string of deaths that followed the family. The original architect, Warren Heywood Williams, also died following the passing of Robert Dunsmuir. With Mr. Dunsmuir gone and the castle only halfway finished, the Dunsmuir boys Alexander and James took it upon themselves to see their father’s dream to

Handmade Haunting: Bringing the Tricks and Treats to Your Home

October 5, 2020

Halloween is normally the time where all the local ghosts and goblins make their way door to door in search of goodies. However, much like the spooky season itself, this past year has proved to be anything but normal. If you’re looking for a fun way to have your candy and eat it too, then making an at-home haunting is just what Dr. Frankenstein ordered. Get the whole family involved in the construction. While your kids may be saddened that they won’t be able to travel the neighborhood, having them create their own house of horrors will cheer them right up. It’s also a good idea to get your little ones involved in the creation since they know their own scare-level. You don’t want to create a house that scares them too much, and definitely don’t want to make a “house of snores.” Decorate with DIY spiders, ghosts and other monsters. You don’t need to head out and buy expensive animatronic spooks that will just sit in storage most of the year. You can easily create your own freaks and creeps from items around your house, with a few additional supplies from the craft store. Some grotesque guests to get

Transforming Your Unused Room into a Healthy Space

September 28, 2020

Being active and staying fit are some of the most common life goals people have today. Whether you’re young or old, finding ways to squeeze more exercise into your busy schedule can provide numerous benefits for you. Maintaining an active lifestyle can be difficult for many, but it’s easier when you bring the gym to you! Gyms Aren’t Always the Answer Gym memberships can be expensive, and you might not be getting your money’s worth if you don’t go regularly. In fact, you might not even have a gym near you that fits your needs. If the thought of fighting miles of traffic after work to get to the gym makes your eyes cross, you’ll probably be one of the many people who don’t keep up with their regimen. Put an Unused Room to Use Your house could be the solution for your workout dilemma. More and more people are beginning to realize the benefits of transforming unused space into their own gym. A basement, your garage or even a spare bedroom are all great candidates. You can easily customize these rooms to fit your requirements, and you don’t need to spend thousands of dollars on high-end equipment. All it

The Importance of an Emergency Radio

September 21, 2020

When an emergency strikes, you need to be prepared to keep you and your family safe. You’ll of course need a solid safety plan, then you’ll need to make sure you have the right tools at the ready. One often-overlooked device you should include in your kit is an emergency radio. Keep reading to learn more about why an emergency radio is one of the most important gadgets in your arsenal. Why Do You Need a Radio? In the age where information can be accessed instantly in the palm of your hand, you might be asking yourself why you need an “older” piece of technology. The answer to your question is simple: phones don’t always work. If you experience a storm with high winds, cell towers could be damaged, hindering service in your area just when you need updates the most. Plus, if you experience a lengthy power outage, your phone could be dead for days without a backup charging solution. The same applies to your TV, which you might be tempted to rely on for updates. Receive Accurate Information Before and After During an emergency situation, it’s important to know where to go and what to do. With the

5 Tips for Making the Perfect Remote Learning Space

September 14, 2020

Back-to-school season is now in full swing, but classrooms look much different than they did last year. As schools across the country adjust to social distancing guidelines, many are moving courses online to help keep students and teachers healthy. While remote schooling means you won’t need to pack lunches or rush your kids out the door in the morning, it does come with its own unique set of challenges. Designing the perfect study spot will help keep students of all ages on task and ready to learn. 1. What space is the best?When you start out designing your new “classroom,” it can be hard to narrow it down to one single spot, especially if you have multiple students at home. Lounging comfy beds all day may seem perfect, but just about anyone might be more inclined to take a nap than to read that next chapter. Natural lighting is good, but it can take willpower not to stare out the window all day. To avoid students constantly moving around and losing focus, make a list of what you need to best replicate their classrooms at school. In the end, after a little trial and error, it’s important that you pick