Saturday, October 31, 2020
Friday, October 30, 2020
Don’t Trash That Gourd! 11 Clever Things You Can Do With Leftover Pumpkins
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While decorative gourd season may have spawned many memes, there’s no doubt that Americans go crazy for pumpkins in the fall, especially during the run-up to Halloween. In fact, according to the USDA, the U.S. produced more than 1.5 billion pounds of pumpkins in 2018. But what happens to those pumpkins when those jack-o’-lanterns are extinguished for good?
Before you fill your garbage bin with has-been giant squash, we’ve got some ideas for ways to recycle them. Check out these 11 ways to repurpose your pumpkins, and maybe you’ll be inspired!
1. Treats for backyard critters and birds
These days, we could all use more of the comical distractions of bushy squirrels scurrying about or perhaps the pretty songs of a nightingale to soothe our anxiety. Those jack-o’-lanterns are perfect for enticing (cute) backyard critters.
Uncarved pumpkins will work, too, but you can speed things up by cutting them in half. Of course, not all critters are welcome. The National Wildlife Federation says large animals such as bears might be attracted to your yard if you put out pumpkins, so if you’re in bear territory, beware.
Happy #NationalPumpkinDay 🎃! After Halloween, don't trash your pumpkins: there are several ways to recycle them with wildlife and your garden in mind. Learn more: https://t.co/0MyCAzI8Tc pic.twitter.com/uOVvKpsdB9
— National Wildlife Federation (@NWF) October 26, 2018
2. Composting
In March, as people were sheltering at home and avoiding grocery stores, “victory gardens” saw a surge in popularity in backyards across the country. Whether your garden is still growing or you’ve harvested your crop, you can enrich the soil by composting leftover Halloween pumpkins.
“If you want to use your leftover pumpkin and don’t have a composter, you can cut it into smaller portions and mix it into your soil,” says Meredith McAllister, owner of Compost Collective, in Kansas City, MO. “If you go that route, be prepared for a few volunteer pumpkins to show up in your garden next year.”
That could be fun to watch for next year, but if you don’t want any pumpkins sprouting and mingling with veggies next year, remove the seeds for roasting, or toss them out for critters to eat. You can also search for local composting facilities that accept pumpkins.
3. Gratitude pumpkin
Heather Schisler, heather@passionforsavings.com
One of the great things about pumpkins is that they have a long shelf life, as long as they are kept in a relatively cool and dry space. That includes the dining table.
Heather Schisler of Passion for Savings wanted to motivate her kids to look for things they could be thankful for on a daily basis (a great exercise in troubling times). Cue the leftover pumpkin for a festive and delightful way to mark Thanksgiving. A white pumpkin works great for this, but you can use any color. Just use a Sharpie to write on it the things that make you feel grateful.
“Everyone loved adding to the pumpkin each day,” says Schisler. “It really encouraged us to look for every little opportunity to be thankful.”
4. Ice bucket
Leftover pumpkins with a dual purpose? We’ll drink to that! Keep your wine or cider chilled with this charming pumpkin ice bucket. The Wine Cellar Group, in Walpole, MA, created this as part of its DIY series.
“This is a perfect fall decoration, plus it’s functional. We suggest using it to chill wine, of course. But you could also fill it with anything that needs to be chilled,” says Gina Martirano of the group.
5. Feed for rescue animals
Adorable barnyard animals are fun to watch on any day, but give them a pumpkin to eat, and we could watch them happily munch for hours.
Rescue pigs Vess and Dudley are living their best life at the Forget Me Not Animal Sanctuary in Las Vegas, as they enjoy leftover pumpkins. Sanctuary founder Kierra M. Johnson says chickens, cows, horses, goats, and sheep are just some of the animals that love this seasonal treat.
Contact your local sanctuary or shelter to see if it accepts pumpkin donations.
6. Autumn centerpiece
Elise Franklin, owner of Fleur Elise Floristry, Chelmsford, UK
We’ve seen hollowed-out pumpkins filled with flowers, but Elise Franklin of Fleur Elise Floristry in Chelmsford, in the United Kingdom, uses the pumpkin top to create a “spilling out” effect.
To get the look, carve a hole from the top of the pumpkin to make a lid and remove the seeds and guts. Line the pumpkin’s interior with cellophane to create a waterproof lining. Cut a chunk of floral foam to fit the inside. Make sure the foam extends a couple of inches higher than the pumpkin. Submerge the foam in water for a few minutes, and then place it in the pumpkin. This will help keep the flowers fresh. Stick the stems of the flowers and foliage on the edges of the foam only, to give it the spilling out effect. Finally, break four kebab sticks in half. Push four pointy ends into the pumpkin top’s underside, and the four flat ends into the foam. This keeps the top slightly suspended, allowing the flowers and foliage to spill out.
7. Gourmet treat of roasted pumpkin seeds
If you need motivation to dig through slimy and stringy pumpkin guts, this recipe for chile-lime-roasted pumpkin seeds should do it. These gourmet seeds go beyond the traditional salted and roasted seeds of our youth—and they’re healthy.
Nichole Dandrea, a registered dietitian nutritionist, says a handful (about an ounce) of pumpkin seeds has around 5 grams of fiber and 7 grams of protein—plus vitamins and healthy fats. She created this recipe using just four ingredients you probably have in your pantry: chile powder, garlic powder, salt, and lime juice.
8. Glitzy and glamorous tablescape
“Christmas is all about glitz and candlelight,” says Marielle Shortell, co-founder of housewares rental service Hestia Harlow in North Bethesda, MD. She loves the elegant pumpkin tablescape from Lombard and Fifth.
“I would spray-paint the pumpkins in a white gloss or metallic and then glue lace appliques for a unique finish,” Shortell says.
Don’t forget to paint the stem for a truly glamorous look.
9. Elegant holiday decor
“Chinoiserie ginger jars are really beautiful and popular,” says Shortell. She suggests painting the pumpkins to match your home decor, but if your painting skills haven’t improved since kindergarten, use leftover wallpaper from other projects or fabric scraps, and decoupage them to coordinate with your decor.
“This could also be a unique Hanukkah tablescape,” Shortell adds.
10. Pumpkin snowman
A snowman in the Sunshine State? Not a snowball’s chance in hell, residents would say. Yet Jenn Harris wasn’t about to miss out on making a snowman.
She created her snowman from leftover Halloween pumpkins, spray-painting them white and attaching them together with hot glue. She glued on buttons, drew on a cute face, and even repurposed the pumpkin stem for a nose.
“I used them as table and outside decorations during the fall, and I didn’t want to get rid of them as they still looked great when December came,” she says.
11. Pumpkin Rudolph
If you’re looking for a way to get on Santa’s nice list, use your pumpkin to decorate for Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas.
“We had decorated with several pumpkins and after Thanksgiving, they were still perfect and I couldn’t just throw them away,” says Kali Mooneyhan.
All it took to bring this kid-friendly idea to life was some paint, a Christmas ball for the nose, some ribbon, and two sticks for the antlers.
The post Don’t Trash That Gourd! 11 Clever Things You Can Do With Leftover Pumpkins appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
Tarek and Christina Prove That Even Professionals Can Mess Up a Flip
HGTV
Tarek El Moussa and Christina Anstead have renovated tons of homes on “Flop or Flop” (now in its 10th season), yet despite their experience, they can still make mistakes.
In the episode “Busy Flip,” these two buy a house in La Mirada, CA, that has a lot of issues. This home costs just $415,000, but it comes with a long to-do list, which includes fixing the electrical system, addressing plumbing issues, building a master bathroom from scratch, and expanding the kitchen. It’s overwhelming—these two know they’re going to need a big renovation budget in order to make this small home livable.
With so much going on, it’s no surprise that these two make one big mistake that almost ruins the house. Read on to learn how El Moussa and Anstead get their flip back on track. Plus, find out how they make a small house feel twice as big.
Don’t be afraid to use risky colors
HGTV
While the exterior of this home is in fairly good shape, Anstead knows that it could use a new coat of paint. She decides on a pretty straightforward design—light-gray stucco, dark-gray siding, and navy blue trim—but she surprises El Moussa by saying that she wants to paint the door yellow.
El Moussa hates the idea: “It’s going to look like a clown house,” he says.
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Still, Anstead decides to go ahead and paint the door. It’s a risky move, but once the exterior is done, the yellow door seems to fit.
When El Moussa and Anstead finally see the finished exterior, they both love the look.
“Even the yellow front door looks kind of cute,” El Moussa admits.
Reserve plenty of space for cabinets
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Sometimes trying to improve one space can detract from another. El Moussa and Anstead get into trouble when they fail to set a priority.
This house is compact, so when El Moussa and Anstead make space for a laundry room in the hallway, it takes square footage away from the kitchen. While they’re ready to sacrifice some space for a laundry, it seems that they go overboard.
When they visit the construction site one day, they find a huge jut-out on one wall of the kitchen. They realize that the laundry room is way too big.
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“Weren’t we supposed to do, like, uppers and lowers here or something? Now you can’t even put cabinets on this wall,” Anstead says, looking at the kitchen. “We just ruined the whole house.”
Fortunately, the house isn’t ruined. Although it costs extra, they decide to push the wall back, taking some space away from the laundry room and putting it back in the kitchen. And that was a valuable—if costly—lesson about trying to expand a small space!
An open dining space provides better sightlines
HGTV
Anstead and El Moussa work hard to make sure the kitchens in their flips are beautiful and functional—but what about the dining spaces?
Many buyers consider formal dining rooms a thing of the past, preferring more casual eating areas. Still, in a small home it can be hard to make room for even a relaxed dining space.
In this house, El Moussa and Anstead plan to expand the kitchen, taking over the dining space, so they’re left with only a little space for seating. They decide to put in a peninsula, so that they can create a breakfast bar while still providing space for storage. Then, to finish the dining space, they add a small table off of the kitchen.
In the end, this house has only small spaces for dining, which means throwing dinner parties may be difficult. Still, it’s plenty of space for the new homeowners to enjoy their meals comfortably.
When El Moussa first sees the finished house, he’s thrilled with the setup.
“It looks so freaking good in here,” he says.
Use paint instead of tile for a cheap fireplace design
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Anstead and El Moussa love covering old brick fireplaces with modern tile. The tiles they choose alway make the fireplaces look luxe, so Anstead is surprised when El Moussa decides to skip the tile in this house.
“This fireplace is actually in really good condition,” El Moussa tells Anstead. “What if we just blasted the entire thing a bright white, see how it comes out?”
He points out that skipping the tile on the fireplace facade will save them $2,000, and assures her that if it looks bad they can always put tile over the painted brick.
Anstead agrees to try the paint, and when the fireplace is done, they’re both glad they saved the money. The white fireplace surround looks beautiful, and after adding some light-colored geometric tile to the hearth, this inexpensive fireplace looks amazing.
Bold wallpaper can complement chic tile
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Anstead usually handles the designs for her flips with El Moussa, but this time she asks for help—from their daughter, Taylor.
When Anstead and El Moussa first see the house, it has only one full bathroom and one half-bathroom. So they decide to take over some closet space and turn it into a master bathroom. It’s a good investment because it makes the master bedroom feel more luxurious and helps this small house seem roomier.
In this new bathroom, Anstead wants to use a flashy wallpaper behind the vanity. However, she needs to be careful not to use a design that clashes with the more traditional gray shower tile they have already chosen.
She enlists Taylor’s help, who picks out a fun blue and black wallpaper design. Anstead loves the pick, and luckily the design complements the bathroom tile. The wallpaper and tile represent two very different styles, but they work together well.
When El Moussa and Anstead finally see the finished product, they love the look.
“It is gorgeous,” El Moussa says.
It seems like Taylor may have a future in design!
Is this flip a flop?
El Moussa and Anstead buy this house for $415,000 and expect to spend about $95,000 on the renovation. But they end up going way over budget, spending $145,200 on the renovation. But it was money well-spent.
With $25,000 in closing costs and commission, Anstead and El Moussa have a break-even price of a whopping $585,200.
El Moussa points out that, with the addition of a bathroom, their house stands out as the only four-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom in the area. So he decides to list the house at $650,000.
After only a few days on the market, the house gets multiple offers, which starts a bidding war. El Moussa and Anstead end up accepting an offer for $700,000, which would leave them with an amazing profit of $144,800.
That just goes to show that a flip can be very successful, even with a few mistakes along the way.
The post Tarek and Christina Prove That Even Professionals Can Mess Up a Flip appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
How To Get Rid of a Mattress Responsibly: Avoid These 4 Mistakes
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A mattress isn’t something you buy every day—thankfully. Researching the hundreds of options out there can be a long and confusing process. Experts say the average life span of a mattress is around 10 years, so this experience is inevitable. But once you find one that’s right for you and set it up in your bedroom, what do you do with the old one?
Well, think twice before abandoning it on the curb. It turns out, there are right and wrong ways to dispose of an old mattress.
“About 20 million mattresses end up in landfills every year,” says Erin Rossi, editor at SimplyRest.com. “Since the materials used in most beds are not biodegradable, they can take decades to break down. As they do so, mattresses release toxic chemicals that pollute our soil, water, and air.”
Some states like Connecticut, California, and Rhode Island require mattress manufacturers to provide consumers with a convenient way to dispose of old mattresses. And the Mattress Recycling Council operates a number of recycling programs throughout the country. But these options aren’t easily available in every city. Therefore, it’s important to know the proper ways to dispose of your mattress, no matter where you live.
Here are some of the biggest don’ts when it comes to getting rid of your mattress.
1. Putting it on the curb with a ‘Free’ sign
While it may sound like a good idea to invite people to take advantage of a free mattress, there’s no guarantee anyone will pick it up. And leaving your old mattress next to a commercial dumpster is no better.
“Many people think if they just place a mattress out on the curb, someone or the city will take it,” says Lori Barnes, the council’s manager of industry communications . “Check with your local government about how bulky waste is collected in your area. You may need to schedule an appointment.”
If your mattress is not stained or infested with bed bugs, you can also look into recycling it at one of the mattress recycling facilities across the country. Barnes says around 75% of a mattress, primarily parts such as metal springs, wood, and fibers, can be repurposed to manufacture new items.
Bye Bye Mattress, a program offered by the council, provides a nationwide list of known mattress recyclers.
You can also list your mattress for sale or offer it for free on sites like Craigslist, Facebook Marketplace, Freecycle, Nextdoor, or OfferUp. That way you can make sure your mattress actually gets picked up.
Just make sure you know the rules of selling a used mattress in your state. Many states have stipulations about clearly labeling the condition of the mattress and whether it needs to be sanitized. And in Kansas, it’s actually illegal to sell a used mattress.
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Watch: Step by Step: How to Clean a Mattress
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2. Burning the mattress
Burning an old mattress is not only unsafe (as the fire can get out of control), but it can also harm the environment and may be illegal in some areas.
“Flame-retardant chemicals are in almost all mattresses sold in the United States. Setting your used mattress on fire would release those chemicals into the air,” says Barnes. “Once in the air, the chemicals do not go away and could be harmful to you, the environment, and those around you.”
“A bonfire is always a good time, but not when it starts with a mattress,” warns Jason Brown, chief marketing officer for LoadUp, a nationwide full-service junk removal and hauling company.
He suggests asking the company where you purchased the new mattress if it can haul away the old one.
3. Illegally dumping it
“Tossing your old bed out on the street may seem like the most convenient option, but it will only cause you more problems in the long run,” says Rossi.
You may be charged with an “illegal dumping” misdemeanor, punishable by community service and some type of restitution.
“If ticketed, fees can cost up to one thousand dollars,” she says.
Rossi says most local trash services will take large items only on a designated bulk-item pickup day.
She adds that if the mattress sits outside for a long time, it can become a breeding ground for pests and rodents, making it an environmental and health hazard.
4. Donating a bad mattress
Charitable donations are always a good option, but you never want to donate a mattress that has stains or strong odors. The same goes for an uncomfortable mattress.
“If a mattress isn’t giving you a supportive and healthy night’s sleep, it’s probably not good enough for someone else either,” says Barnes.
The best way to dispose of a tarnished mattress—whether the damage is due to bed bugs, liquid, or anything else that renders the mattress unusable—is to wrap it in plastic wrap or shrink-wrap it in the bedroom.
The objective is to seal the mattress so you don’t spread anything as you drag it out of your home. Since a mattress is considered a bulky item, you’ll need to schedule pickup with your local department of sanitation or a private junk removal company.
The post How To Get Rid of a Mattress Responsibly: Avoid These 4 Mistakes appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.
Thursday, October 29, 2020
The Property Brothers Reveal a Clever Hack To Hide a Huge TV
HGTV
Drew and Jonathan Scott know that owning a home often comes with some expensive surprises. And in the latest episode of their HGTV show “Property Brothers: Forever Home,” they face a doozy: A huge storm topples a tree right onto the house, in the middle of the pandemic no less!
In this episode, “When Tragedy Strikes,” homeowners Chris and Charlotte are hoping the Scott brothers can bring some retro midcentury style to their Toronto home. They have a $185,000 budget—which seems ample, at least until that wayward tree comes crashing through their roof.
Still, despite delays and added repair costs, the brothers are determined to turn this house into a forever home. Here’s how they pull that off with some design moves you might be inspired to try on your own abode, too.
A wood balcony railing adds a natural look
HGTV
In the wake of the wayward tree, Jonathan does an amazing job repairing the house. The house looks just like it did before the storm, with a few key changes.
Drew and Jonathan decide to give the home a fresh coat of paint on the exterior, painting the top floor gray instead of brown and darkening the white windows and doors. But perhaps the biggest change is with the old balcony railing.
The old iron railing had made the home look dated, so the brothers replace it with a railing made of wood.
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The new railing is a welcome addition to the exterior, adding some dimension and a natural style that complements the trees surrounding the property.
“What started out as a tired, dated-looking house is now a stylish modern home,” Jonathan says of the exterior.
Ditch the large TV in favor of a projector
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Charlotte and Chris love their first-floor living room, but they each plan to use the space in different ways. Charlotte sees it as a lounging space with lots of book storage, while Chris wants to use it as a media room.
“Charlotte really wants a quiet place to curl up with her books, while Chris wants the total opposite: a giant home theater screen and projector,” Drew says.
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Luckily, the brothers are able to give both Chris and Charlotte what they want. They build a beautiful bookshelf around the fireplace and then install a projector with a screen that comes down from the ceiling.
While many family homes may have a TV above the fireplace, this screen provides a better solution because it gives the space a more classic feel when the projector isn’t being used. Meanwhile, when the family does feel like watching a movie, they have a screen that’s bigger than any TV they’d be able to put over the fireplace.
Dark cabinets can work if the rest of the kitchen is white and bright
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Chris and Charlotte want their home to have a midcentury modern look, so Drew and Jonathan decide to go with a retro style in the kitchen: dark cabinets.
Dark cabinets are practically unheard of these days, with most homeowners preferring light cabinets for a brighter, more modern look. However, Drew and Jonathan are careful to avoid making this space seem too dark and dated. They choose a light flooring that makes the space look larger and install a bright backsplash that makes the retro cabinets appear fresh and interesting.
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“I love working with statement backsplash tile,” Jonathan says. “An interesting shape or bold color can add a healthy hint of design interest and texture to an otherwise neutral space.”
In the end, the kitchen looks amazing. The midcentury-style cabinets look warm and inviting, and bright kitchen accents keep the space feeling contemporary.
Bathroom tile should be interesting but not overwhelming
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Drew and Jonathan do a great job choosing the kitchen backsplash, so the pressure is on to find a bathroom tile that also provides a dramatic look.
Luckily, the tile they settle on is perfect. Made of multicolored triangles, this tile is bright and bold while also keeping with the theme of the house. It’s unique and, since it doesn’t cover the whole bathroom, not overwhelming.
“That pop of color is so nice,” Drew says of the tile. “It’s dramatic, but it’s not too in your face.”
Add some greenery to your backyard
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Chris and Charlotte’s house is surrounded by large trees, but their small backyard is boxed in by a cement wall.
The brothers know that they need to improve this space, so they paint the wall white and add a trellis with vines. The paint makes the space look brighter and more open, while the greenery connects the yard space with the surrounding foliage.
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“It felt like a prison yard before; it was just all concrete,” Drew says of the revamped yard. “Now it actually has style.”
After dealing with the stress of the storm damage and the frustration of trying to renovate in a pandemic, the Scott brothers know that Charlotte and Chris deserve a special space where they can relax. This stylish yard is now the perfect place to unwind, and it may even be a good place for Charlotte and Chris to reconnect with nature after the stressful tree damage.
“We wanted you guys to replace any bad memories of a tree falling with great memories of an entertaining space,” Jonathan says.
Do the Scott brothers deliver?
While Drew and Jonathan start with a healthy budget of $185,000 to fix up this home, they admit that their budget is blown out of the water when a tree comes crashing down on the roof. Still, they are able to repair the house and give it the stunning midcentury modern style Charlotte and Chris love.
While the project takes three months instead of the estimated seven weeks, the homeowners are thrilled when they finally see their new home.
The post The Property Brothers Reveal a Clever Hack To Hide a Huge TV appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.