Category: hall

  • How to Improve Your Credit Score if You want to Buy New

    How to Improve Your Credit Score if You want to Buy New

    used with permission from Katie De Stefano

    Congratulations on your decision to buy a new home! Before researching and investing resources, it’s wise to determine a budget for a new construction home. You’ll want to know your loan’s interest rate and your home’s budget.

    Experian.com mentions that 90% of top lenders use FICO® scores.

    FICO® scores can influence your approved amount, interest rate, and downpayment. You will enjoy more favorable loan terms if you have a good FICO® score and lower interest rates. According to Bankrate.com, a FICO® score above 740 offers better rates and downpayment options.

    If you have a low credit score, you may want to wait to buy an affordable home; in as little as 6-months, you can see improvement if you work on your credit score. If you need much help, it can take up to two years. There are credit solution companies that can help you improve your FICO®  score.

    If you discover you need to work on your FICO®  score, there are realistic, actionable steps you can take to improve your score. If you dream of owning a home, you can achieve it regardless of your current FICO®  score.

    used with permission from Katie De Stefano

     

    How Can you Get Your Credit Score?

    Through annualcreditreport.com or by mailing a request to each of the three major credit bureaus (Equifax, TransUnion, and Experian), every United States consumer gets one free copy of their credit report.

    For those who have never used mail, there are numerous online ways to view, monitor, or work on your FICO® score.

    For many Americans, a FICO® score is easy to obtain. Consumers have the mail options mentioned above and all of the options below. The below options are quick and mainly free.

    According to Credit Karma, consumers have at least six free options. Capital One cardholders have free access to Creditwise, a FICO® software tool with valuable information, tools, and historical data. It looks like Chase Credit Journey offers free FICO® monitoring services, too.

    Ways most Americans view and improve their credit score.

    • Financial institutions usually provide consumer tools or access to resources with consumer tools. Many financial institutions now offer a free credit score as a part of their services, and some even include it on statements. Many of these institutions provide detailed information for consumers.
    • Consumers pay for financial SaaS services. FICO® data is either an add-on or the main feature. Still, most of the details consumers need and want are immediately available within their accounts on places like Equifax, TransUnion, or Experian. Numerous third-party websites offer FICO® software monitoring services.
    • They hire a company or credit repair expert to help them fix their credit history and improve their score. As with any credit-related service, be wary of these companies. Don’t work with them if you don’t know what they’re doing for you and why.
    • Consumers fix their credit DIY style. They research, discover options, and work with credit bureaus and creditors to fix their credit history and improve their FICO® /credit score.

    used with permission from Katie De Stefano

    Understanding Credit Scores

    Improving your credit score means taking the time to understand how credit scores are determined. Understanding credit scores will make it possible for you to improve them. Plus, you can focus on areas you know you can improve.

    Each of the three major credit bureaus has a unique credit score for you. Although they may differ, they all come up with a number based on similar data points. The FICO® score is the most well-known and widely used credit scoring system. Most lenders use your FICO® score; they all look at one of your scores. Below is each bureau, along with a piece of information about each:

    What are the (3) Three Credit Bureaus

    TransUnion: Database of over 1 billion consumers in 30 countries.

    Experian: Experian uses the FICO®  Score 8

    Equifax: Offers Identity Theft and Fraud Protection Services

    Suppose you are looking to improve your credit to buy a house being built by a home builder or because you found move-in-ready homes you love. In that case, you should be aware of your credit scores and the factors that impact them.

    used with permission from Katie De Stefano

    Credit Score Elements

    FICO® is the most used software for mortgage lending. FICO® stands for “Fair Isaac Corporation;” the acronym is now the company’s official name. In order of weighted importance, the five components of a FICO® credit score are Payment History, Credit Utilization, Length of Credit History, New Credit, and Credit Mix. *The Below information is not financial advice. It’s information and tips that should be individually considered and researched.

    1. Payment History – The more on-time payments your credit report shows, the higher your score. Payment history accounts for 35% of your FICO® score.
    2. Even if you can only make the minimum payment by the due date each month, at least you are paying on time. If you can’t meet the minimum monthly payment, call your lender or credit card issuer, and explain to them honestly your financial situation. Most of them have a relief program where your interest and payments can be temporarily or even permanently lowered. If fees and interest costs make up most of the balance, inquire about the company eliminating some of them for you.
    3. Credit Utilization – Credit Utilization considers revolving credit, like credit cards, store cards, and lines of credit. Amount owed or Credit Utilization accounts for 30% of your FICO® credit score. Also commonly known as the amount owed vs. credit extended.
    4. The more revolving credit you have that you are using, when compared to how much credit has been extended to you, the lower your score. Keep your utilization under 30% for favorable lending outcomes. If you are extended a credit line of $300 on your first secured credit card, you should never owe more than $90 on that card. If you’ve got a line of credit of $1,000 with a different lender, never use more than $300 of that credit extended to you.
    5. Length of Credit History – This is the average age of all your credit accounts, whether revolving lines of credit, installment loans, or mortgage loans. Length of credit history accounts for 15% of your FICO® score.
    6. Lenders prefer older credit lines. Accounts that have been open longer are your best accounts. Don’t close old credit accounts to keep this part of your score healthy, even if your credit report shows late payments. Continue to use these accounts minimally to keep them open (unused credit can go away) and pay on time every month. Utilizing credit early in life is a good thing when handled responsibly!
    7. New Credit – Lenders will look at how much credit you’ve acquired recently. New Credit and their accompanying hard inquiries make up 10% of your FICO® score.
    8. Ensure you’re only opening new accounts when necessary. Opening new accounts temporarily lowers your credit score, usually for a few months, until you’ve established positive payment history. Hard inquiries made against your credit report to obtain this new credit will also lower your score by a few points (generally less than 5 points). They will affect your credit score for one year while they remain on your credit reports for two years.
    9. Credit Mix – The various type of credit you have makes up the remaining 10% of your score. Your debt diversification is another way to say it.
    10. Establish a healthy mix of credit types. Lenders typically want to see how you manage various credit situations to get a complete picture of how you might handle their extension of Credit. These can include revolving credit, such as credit cards, installment loans, car loans, or service credit, like cell phone bills. Thanks to LGI Homes for consulting.
  • How to get your radiators looking and working their best

    How to get your radiators looking and working their best

    Depending on the age of your home you may have some lovely radiators already installed. Radiators can make fantastic additions to your home, providing a great way to heat rooms and also providing you with an easy solution to dry clothes or towels. While you might not have thought about it, there is actually a large variety of styles and designs which allow you to integrate radiators into the style of your home.

    In this article, we’re going to look at how you can get your radiators looking their best if you don’t want to invest in an entirely new radiator, and what you can do to make sure they’re working at their best to provide warmth to your home.

    How to improve the look of your radiators

    via WSJ

    One of the most popular radiator styles, especially for modern homes, is to have the radiator chrome plated. This produces a high-quality finish which shines, looks clean and elegant. If you prefer a modern and minimalist finish chrome could be the finish for you. You can buy new radiators with a chrome finish but also have them chrome plated at a later date.

    Chrome radiators are most commonly found in bathrooms, and sometimes kitchens. One other advantage with this is that it will help tie in your radiator with other features already in your bathroom or kitchen such as the taps which will likely be chrome finished as well. In small rooms, which bathrooms traditionally are, keeping a consistent style will help the room feel finished and thought out.

    For some people, and for radiators in different rooms, chrome is not the best option. Painting your radiators is the other popular option to give them a new lease of life. Depending on the colour scheme of the room, and your taste, you can be as bold or reserved with the paint colour you chose for your radiators. You can make them stand out or blend in with the wall colour of your room, or just change up the traditional white colour.

    via TC&D

    The nice thing with painting your radiator is that you can do it yourself. You can find lots of helpful guides on painting radiators online but remember it’s important to use specially designed radiator paint which is heat resistant.

    If you don’t want to paint your radiator yourself, you can look into having it powder coated. This is a process which uses dry paint powder sprayed from an electrostatic gun using compressed air. Professional powder coating services will produce a really durable and consistently smooth finish which can be applied in any colour.

    Finally, it’s crucial to ensure that the placement of your radiator in the room is correct. If you are renovating a house, don’t be afraid to explore the option of moving the radiator to another wall in the room. In some cases, this might not be possible, but if it is, it can really help open up the room and create more usable space while also looking better. You can also experiment with radiator covers which can be turned into extra storage or even seating depending on the size and placement of the radiator.

    via Everyday House

    How to get them working their best

    There is no point spending the time and money getting your radiators looking great if they’re not functioning correctly. Everything in your home should contribute in some form, and a radiator’s primary purpose is to add heat to a room. Keep this in mind when aiming to improve how they look.

    Two points to follow up on that were mentioned above are painting and covering. Whenever you look to add any form of radiator cover you need to be sure it is not going to block the heat from escaping or make the radiator inaccessible in the event it might require maintenance. When it comes to painting your radiator, some solutions can improve the heat output. Powder coating, in comparison to a polished metal finish, is much better at radiating heat than a mirrored surface. If you do have a larger bathroom, and the only way of heating that room is through a radiator, it’s vital to get as much heat from this radiator as possible, so powder coating may be something to consider.

    via Country Living

    Regularly cleaning your radiators will also help improve their performance. As radiators heat up, they also warm the air around them, causing the air to rise. This can lead to dust being drawn up from the floor and accumulating inside and around the radiator, creating a layer which acts as insulation. To avoid this, you can vacuum and wipe down the areas of your radiator you can reach to remove this dust layer.

    If you notice any cold spots on your radiator, this can mean that sludge has built up inside the system. You can check for cold spots by carefully putting the back of your hand on spots around the radiator when it is on, but you need to be really careful doing this as it could be very hot. If you do find any cold spots, it’s a good idea to reach out to a professional who will be able to help. You may also notice a general lowering performance of your radiator, and this could mean your radiator needs bleeding. This is where you let any air out of the systems. You can do this yourself, and there are lots of guides to help you do so online.

    Overall, if you take care of your radiators, they should perform well and provide you with a lovely warm room and facility to dry clothes or towels quickly. There are also lots of options that you can consider when changing the style of your radiator and bring it more in line with your design taste! Thanks to Stovrite for contributing!

  • Finding Peace and Balance Through Your Interior Design

    Finding Peace and Balance Through Your Interior Design

    When you’re feeling an imbalance in your energy, or you can feel low mood striking, it can be useful to look at external factors. There are many areas that contribute to low mood: for instance, whether you are getting enough exercise, eating a balanced diet, and also work-life balance. If you have considered these areas, but you’re still looking to find serenity, you may not have considered the part played by your home environment in finding your inner peace. 

    via Lisa Furey Interiors

    When it comes to creating an environment that is balanced and serene, there are a few ancient techniques that can be used. Feng Shui is a Chinese practice which balances our interior decor with the natural world to bring calm and serenity to our surroundings. Feng Shui focuses on the positioning of certain elements in a room, and uses elements of nature to create a space which brings peace. It is the original minimalism, and can help you to declutter and rearrange your apartment, which will in turn help to clear space in the mind. 

    The use of natural elements can also be seen in traditional Japanese decor, which often incorporates bamboo and natural textiles to create bright, flexible spaces. The use of sliding doors allows rooms to flow freely between each other without obstructing space. The biggest difference between Chinese and Japanese design is the use of color. While Feng Shui encourages the use of color in order to create balance, Japanese design puts an onus on the natural, thus creating spaces which are often neutral in color, and therefore allow for a different type of serenity to Chinese design. 

    via Lisa Furey Interiors

    Looking after your mind is an incredibly important part of finding serenity in the home. If you are plagued by stress on a daily basis, it would suggest that there is a bigger reason for a feeling of imbalance. Speaking to a spirit guide or trying tarot readings can be a good way to get some perspective and bring yourself back to the present. TheCircle offers many different spiritual practices which can work alongside your interior design practice and bring serenity to your home.

    You don’t have to follow the strict guidelines of any school of interior design. Taking elements that suit your space and personality is the best way to create a home which provides balance. For example, interior designer and expert in tidying up, Marie Kondo, borrows elements from many different schools of thought in order to create the KonMarie method, which has taken off around the world. The KonMarie method takes the spirituality of Feng Shui and adds the minimalist touches of Japanese design in order to create a new way of thinking about space. 

    via Lisa Furey Interiors

    When life is bringing you imbalance, try to turn to your space to find a solution. Perhaps it might mean that you attack your space with a paintbrush and bring in new furnishings. It could mean that you spend a day sorting through clutter and moving the sofa to a space by the window. Whatever you choose to do with your space, finding inner peace and balance is easy once you understand the measures you can take to create a serene living environment. Thanks to The Circle for contributing!

  • How To Choose the Best Paint Colors for Your Home

    How To Choose the Best Paint Colors for Your Home

    When it comes to the emotions evoked by a location or an object, color accounts for 60% of an individual’s response. Therefore, it is extremely important to choose paint colors carefully for the interior of your home. Here are some suggestions on how to choose colors that you’ll be happy to live with for years to come.

    Design via Christine Markatos

    1. Design Around Existing Décor

    You likely have at least one piece of cherished furniture that you have, or intend to place, in each room you are planning to paint. Choosing one or more paint colors that complement the palette of your existing furniture can make the selection process a lot easier. In fact, a perfect color can make your existing furniture look awesome and fitting and change the look of the entire room. 

    Design via Christine Markatos

    2. Consider a Neutral Palette

    Neutral colors for interior paint may seem like a bland or boring choice, but they have a purpose to serve. The best neutral paint colors serve as a canvas that complement paintings and other bold design elements without distracting from them. Also, if you intend to sell your home in the future, neutral paint colors may make a more favorable impression on potential buyers.

    Design via Christine Markatos

    3. Think About the Feel of the Room

    Color can have a strong impact upon a person’s mood, so much so that there is actually an entire field of study devoted to “color psychology.” However, you don’t need a psychology degree to decide how you want people to feel when entering a room and pick paint colors to evoke that mood. Warm colors, like yellows and oranges, are cheerful and casual, while cooler colors like blues and greens are more calming and more formal.

    Design via Christine Markatos

    4. Don’t Be Afraid To Ask for Help

    The choices of indoor paint colors available are almost endless. It is easy for homeowners to become overwhelmed at the prospect of choosing a color for even one room. If you have multiple rooms to paint, the choice can become even harder. See how the best interior designers can translate your abstract wishes into definite color choices. Thanks to Julia Writer for contributing!

  • Beautiful and Classic interiors: Interior design by Kate Marker

    Beautiful and Classic interiors: Interior design by Kate Marker

    Kate Marker Interiors blends the old and the new

    I’m having a serious designer crush on Kate Marker Interiors.  As I’m sure many of you know, raising a toddler adds serious chaos to your life, both mentally and physically.  The constant picking up of toys on top of being there 24/7 to tend to your little one’s beck and call can be draining.  While there are many moments of joy to fill you back up, you also need an environment that decompresses, and for me nothing does that like a soothing, clean and serene space.  I think Kate Marker’s interiors do just that.

    Having a sleek and functional entryway helps you leave the day’s stresses at the door and helps prevent it when you’re trying to leave for the day! I LOVE the built-n cupboards and drawers

    As an order and organization junkie these bookshelves are such a sigh of relief.  I love the overhead lighting via the gold sconces too.  Using the shelves as a sort of gallery space for art is clever too!

    Nothing like a crisp white bathroom

    Peppering you house with meaningful vignettes is a beautiful way to decorate.

    Normally I don’t go for monochrome spaces but this dusty blue is so beautiful

    There is a soothing Shaker quality to this hall

    An intimate and light-filled seating area in the bedroom is a happy refuge

  • Modern Rustic Inspiration

    Modern Rustic Inspiration

    Growing up on a farm, I feel at home in a rustic interior.  That being said, I also like interiors that are uncluttered and have very clean lines.  One doesn’t easily find a straight line in nature, so in my eyes blending straight, clean lines with natural organic elements is an art form.  Here are some interiors that I think perfectly blend modern with rustic.

    Yes. Dark hardwood floors.  Tons of natural light. Textured wide wood plank ceilings. Sliding barn doors. YES.

    via Pinterest via Tidbits and Twine

    I think this is Meg Ryan’s kitchen.  Love all of the white and wooden beams.
    via DecorPad

    You can also successfully incorporate bright colors in a neutral palette.  I’d personally use the brights as accents or pops of color.
    via Home Adore

    Man oh man.  I’d be getting dirty A LOT just to spend more time in this bathroom.  Pepple tile on the floor, copper tub, wide wood plank walls, exposed brick….!!
    via Pinterest via BlogLovin

    This bedroom is styled to the hilt but I’m a sucker for a pretty bed.  The headboard brings in texture and an organic sensibility, while the window casings and moldings create a tailored look.

    via Pinterest via HomeEdit

    Are my stables just outside to the right?  That’s what I’d expect if this were my foyer. Exposed wood beams, stone floors, a mirrored wall..that amazing neutral and monochrome oriental rug!!
    via DecorPad

    Tired of the same old wainscoting and paint and wallpaper?  Consider shiplap or wood plank walls for a unique and rustic look.  The straight diagonals, verticals, and horizontals keep this hall and staircase crisp and clean.
    via Pinterest via Decoist

  • Why you shouldn’t neglect your hallways

    Why you shouldn’t neglect your hallways

    It’s not a new idea to utilize your hallways and not let them be wasted space, but some – myself included- are still guilty of this.  Now that the weather is cooling we will be spending more time indoors, therefore freeing up time to show your halls some love.

    A lot of the examples below are foyers, but entryways often pose similar design conundrums as halls, and similar solutions.
    via Pinterest 

     I love that this hallway is so glamorous but gets cheeky with the addition of a giant framed chalkboard.
    via Pic toViral

    Our hallway is narrower than this one, no kidding.  Wainscoting and a lovely collection of framed art give this hallway a studied feel.

     So, this hallway is all about amazing bones.  The vaulted ceiling is so pretty.  The horizontal shiplap creates a sense of length.
    via ?

     I love a round table in the middle of an entry.  It boasts – “hey look at all the space I have!”  It is not a boast I can make.
    via Fresh Designpedia

    If you have enough width in your hall to allow it, built-ins or shelves are a great way to display more than art or serve as additional storage.
    via Foter
    Traditional and pretty.

  • Modern Rustic Inspiration

    Modern Rustic Inspiration

    Growing up on a farm, I feel at home in a rustic interior.  That being said, I also like interiors that are uncluttered and have very clean lines.  One doesn’t easily find a straight line in nature, so in my eyes blending straight, clean lines with natural organic elements is an art form.  Here are some interiors that I think perfectly blend modern with rustic.

    Yes. Dark hardwood floors.  Tons of natural light. Textured wide wood plank ceilings. Sliding barn doors. YES.

    via Pinterest via Tidbits and Twine

    I think this is Meg Ryan’s kitchen.  Love all of the white and wooden beams.
    via DecorPad

    You can also successfully incorporate bright colors in a neutral palette.  I’d personally use the brights as accents or pops of color.
    via Home Adore

    Man oh man.  I’d be getting dirty A LOT just to spend more time in this bathroom.  Pepple tile on the floor, copper tub, wide wood plank walls, exposed brick….!!
    via Pinterest via BlogLovin

    This bedroom is styled to the hilt but I’m a sucker for a pretty bed.  The headboard brings in texture and an organic sensibility, while the window casings and moldings create a tailored look.

    via Pinterest via HomeEdit

    Are my stables just outside to the right?  That’s what I’d expect if this were my foyer. Exposed wood beams, stone floors, a mirrored wall..that amazing neutral and monochrome oriental rug!!
    via DecorPad

    Tired of the same old wainscoting and paint and wallpaper?  Consider shiplap or wood plank walls for a unique and rustic look.  The straight diagonals, verticals, and horizontals keep this hall and staircase crisp and clean.
    via Pinterest via Decoist

  • Start your week off right: Elegant interiors with historic drama

    Start your week off right: Elegant interiors with historic drama

    I grew up in an early nineteenth century telescope house on the eastern shore of Maryland, so I LOVE homes with old bones and details that only existed when we had time for details.  The interiors below evoke the same nostalgia for me.  Enjoy!
    That ceiling with those herringbone floors and green walls?!

    Definitely Mediterranean.  The doors of Spain are works of art. 
    The floors and wainscoting are a bit dark for me.  But I love the wide doorways and the view into all of the rooms right down to the ornate fireplace surround.

    Knotty hardwood floors, exposed beams, a chair that also serves as an objet d’art.

    THIS really reminds me of the house I grew up in.  Colonial style furnishings, and chandelier lined hallways with rooms lined up one after the other.
    The patina of the walls and the old hardwood floors are dreamy.
    All images via Disc Journal
  • Beautiful and Classic interiors: Interior design by Kate Marker

    Beautiful and Classic interiors: Interior design by Kate Marker

    Kate Marker Interiors blends the old and the new

    I’m having a serious designer crush on Kate Marker Interiors.  As I’m sure many of you know, raising a toddler adds serious chaos to your life, both mentally and physically.  The constant picking up of toys on top of being there 24/7 to tend to your little one’s beck and call can be draining.  While there are many moments of joy to fill you back up, you also need an environment that decompresses, and for me nothing does that like a soothing, clean and serene space.  I think Kate Marker’s interiors do just that.

    Having a sleek and functional entryway helps you leave the day’s stresses at the door and helps prevent it when you’re trying to leave for the day! I LOVE the built-n cupboards and drawers

    As an order and organization junkie these bookshelves are such a sigh of relief.  I love the overhead lighting via the gold sconces too.  Using the shelves as a sort of gallery space for art is clever too!

    Nothing like a crisp white bathroom

    Peppering you house with meaningful vignettes is a beautiful way to decorate.

    Normally I don’t go for monochrome spaces but this dusty blue is so beautiful

    There is a soothing Shaker quality to this hall

    An intimate and light-filled seating area in the bedroom is a happy refuge