This ‘Bargain Mansion’ Has One Awesome Upgrade Home Buyers Never See

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Tamara Day of “Bargain Mansions” knows how to breathe new life into cheap, old fixer-uppers—and her latest renovation reveals one upgrade we’d bet most buyers have never seen, or even heard of before.

In the Season 2 episode “Race to the Finish,” Day has bought a four-bedroom house in Leawood, KS, for $425,000, and invests $300,000 to fix it up. Once renovations are done, she plans to list the property for $960,000.

What merits such a steep markup? Read on to find out the upgrades that make this house so special, which might inspire some improvements to your own abode, too.

With kitchen islands, bigger is often better

This living room is large enough for a big island.

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The kitchen is often a family’s favorite gathering place, so Day wants to make sure this kitchen can accommodate even a large family.

Luckily, this home has a large kitchen area, so Day decides to install the biggest island she’s ever built. This massive, 20-foot oak island is certainly a statement piece in this home. It spans the length of the dining and living spaces, effectively connecting the rooms and giving the home a gorgeous flow. It just proves that the right-sized island can do wonders!

This island is bigger than the dining table.

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When the island and the kitchen are finished, Day is impressed with the design.

“This is one of those spaces that’s definitely a selling point because not every home can hold a 20-foot island,” she says.

Book-matched slabs create a gorgeous fireplace

This fireplace needed an update.

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When Day first sees the family room’s outdated fireplace, she knows she has an opportunity to update this feature in a unique way.

“I like how wide it is and substantial,” Day says, looking at the original fireplace, “but I feel like it is kind of wasted being just painted stone.”

The slabs give a butterfly effect.

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So she removes the stone and replaces it with a feature that most home buyers have never seen or likely heard of before: book-matched slabs. This means the veining in each porcelain slab is identical—and, when placed side by side to mirror each other, creates a Rorschach butterfly effect.

These book-matched slabs steal the show, bringing some grown-up style to this now elegant family room.

Use color to give a mudroom personality

Bright colors look great in this mudroom.

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Storage is important for most home buyers, especially when it comes to storage for coats, shoes, and bags.

Day knows the addition of a mudroom would certainly be appreciated by any home buyer, so she steals some space from the living room to make some cubbies and cabinets.

When renovations begin, Day explains that the secret to creating a mudroom is to use lots of fun colors that’ll make the small space feel fun and full of personality.

“Mud spaces are one of my favorite parts to design, because I can go over the top with the color—and this one is no exception,” Day says. She ends up with green cabinetry paired with bright white and yellow wallpaper. The space looks bright and youthful, and it provides lots of great storage.

Ombre herringbone tile is a hot new trend

This ombre style makes the bathroom look unique.

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Day wants the master suite to look elegant. To do this, she upgrades the bathroom with a glamorous soaking tub with an ombre herringbone tile design behind it.

“I love the idea of the herringbone going up this wall, but I wanted it to be a little bit more interesting,” Day says. She uses a beautiful limestone tile that stretches across the bottom of the wall and then fades into white marble tile in the middle.

The ombre effect looks elegant and unique, especially behind the clean, white tub.

Add a desk to the bedroom

It’s convenient to have a desk space in the bedroom.

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With a stunning master bathroom, Day wants to continue making the master suite feel extra special. So when she finds some unused space between the closets, she decides to turn it into a desk space. This new built-in desk is beautiful and functional. It provides an extra workspace in the house, far from the activity of the family room.

“In today’s world you can never have enough spaces to work from home,” Day says, “and having a beautiful desk right here in the bedroom is the perfect addition for the space.”

There’s plenty of space on this desk.

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The post This ‘Bargain Mansion’ Has One Awesome Upgrade Home Buyers Never See appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

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How To Stay Warm While Working From Home This Winter—Without Spending a Fortune on Heating

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As the cooler weather sets in and people continue to work from home, keeping your home warm throughout the day has never been more necessary. But continuously running the heater can rack up a big heating bill.

The U.S. Energy Information Administration projected that most U.S. consumers will spend more to heat their homes this winter than last year, as more people remain home to work and attend school due to the coronavirus.

Keeping the heating bill down without sacrificing warmth is possible, though.

“Energy-efficient home upgrades can really add up and have a big impact on your family budget,” says New Jersey–based celebrity home improvement expert Anthony Carrino.

Bundling up in a blanket works for those days when you don’t have meetings, but when it comes time to look professional on a Zoom call, you’ll want to make sure your house doesn’t feel like an icebox. Here are some tips from design and home improvement experts on how to prep your house so you can stay comfortable at home throughout the day.

Seal up your home

Cold air can seep into your home through cracks and small openings.

“Insulate windows and doors with weatherstripping and caulking,” says Carrino. A simple way to check the heating loss of your window insulation is to light a candle and slowly move it around the edges of the window. If the candle flickers, it means outside air is penetrating that area.

Carrino says a DIY fix for air seeping in through your windows is to take a razor knife and cut the bead of caulking, and then gently remove the trim with a small pry bar.

“With the trim off, you can use a can of Great Stuff expanding foam ($3.78, Home Depot) and seal around your windows. Let the foam set, cut off any excess that expanded too far, and replace your trim,” says Carrino.

He says homeowners can also consider replacing old windows. And be sure to use the sun to your advantage.

“Capture natural heat by opening curtains on south-facing windows during the day and closing them when the sun goes down to keep the warmth inside,” Carrino says.

Ensure your heating system works

Experts recommend homeowners test their heater in advance of the colder months each year, and consider scheduling a service check to confirm your heating system is running at its best.

“Keeping your furnace clean, lubricated, and properly adjusted can save about 5% on heating costs,” says Breegan Jane, an interior designer in Los Angeles. “An HVAC pro can assess your system, suggest any repairs it might need, and make sure you are ready before the coldest temps arrive.”

Replace your furnace filter

Regularly changing the air filter in your furnace can extend the life of your heating system and prevent dust, dirt, mold spores, and allergens from circulating in the air in your home.

“A dirty HVAC filter restricts airflow and increases energy usage as your system works harder to push air through it,” says Carrino. “Replace or clean filters every season. And when the system is being used most, you might want to inspect your filters once a month to ensure that air can pass through freely, especially if you have pets.”

Carrino says newer homes typically have less air leak or less air being changed over from outside to inside, which makes the home run more efficiently. However, it does mean homeowners should still be diligent with their filters “to make sure they have good, safe indoor air quality, especially with how much time we are all spending at home right now.”

Consider a multizone HVAC system

During the winter you may be spending more time in certain rooms than others. So why heat every room? A multizone system allows you to heat different parts of your house at different times, ultimately giving you more control over how much energy you’re using throughout the day.

“You have separate thermostats that control different temperature areas—for example, the upstairs and downstairs,” says Carrino. “That way, if your bedrooms are upstairs and you won’t be using them all day, you can lower that zone so it is running more efficiently, and keep the other zone, where you are working and living during the day, at an ideal comfort level.”

Set your thermostat at the right setting

The ideal room temperature has surely caused many a disagreement. Should it be set to a cozy 70 degrees or a more conservative 68?

“Agreeing on where to set the thermostat isn’t easy. But to save money, set it as low as possible while still maintaining a comfortable temperature, usually between 65 to 70 degrees,” says Jane.

If you aren’t home during the day, you can lower the temperature even more. And if your family can manage it, Jane says to lower the thermostat by 10 to 15 degrees at night to save even more on that utility bill.

“Compromise with the family by placing warm throw blankets on the couch, adding layers of bedding, and investing in fuzzy socks,” Jane says.

The post How To Stay Warm While Working From Home This Winter—Without Spending a Fortune on Heating appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

We Drastically Reduced Our Kitchen Waste With These 6 Ridiculously Easy Methods

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If there’s one thing to know about reducing waste, it’s that all of us can improve. And what better place to start your sustainability efforts than in the kitchen? Not only is this the place where we’ll be spending a lot of time over the next couple months, but it’s also where—arguably—we produce the most trash as we make meals (or just dump takeout onto plates) and store food.

Minimizing how much garbage your family creates might sound like a herculean task. But like anything else, a few small (and ridiculously easy) changes really can make a big difference. We spoke with several sustainability experts to get these six tips to help you reduce kitchen waste.

1. Find plastic alternatives

By some estimates, plastic can take up to 1,000 years to decompose—so it’s no wonder that finding alternatives is the first item on our list. Unlike paper and other easy-to-recycle products, plastics are one of the main culprits clogging up landfills and creating “garbage patch” islands the size of France in our oceans.

“The solution is to stop using plastic whenever possible,” says sustainable lifestyle blogger Brittany Merriman, of BonVoyageBrittany. “Plastic alternatives include bar soaps rather than bottled, beeswax wraps for food, glass of any kind, and tin foil.

“Many people forget that tin foil is not only recyclable but great to reuse in the house several times over,” Merriman adds. “As long as it doesn’t rip, it’s reusable indefinitely—simply wash it!”

2. Shop sustainably

“A big way to reduce waste in the kitchen starts at the store,” says Merriman. “Avoid delivered meal services when possible—they drastically up your food waste. Instead, shop for unpackaged fresh foods at your locally owned supermarket or farmers market.”

If you have to buy prepacked food, Merriman suggests getting things that have been packaged in cans and cardboard, rather than plastic, whenever possible.

Finally, remember to skip the plastic or paper bags at the checkout and bring your own reusable ones instead. (Some supermarkets are limiting the use of reusable bags during the pandemic, so check before you shop.)

“You can even bring reusable bags for your produce,” says Merriman. “I make my own out of T-shirts, but they’re also easily found on Amazon.”

3. Buy in bulk

Buying in bulk will also reduce the amount of plastic or other packaging you end up with at the grocery store.

“When you buy in bulk, such as bags of spices, you avoid small packaging that immediately goes into the trash,” says David Cusick of House Method. “Use refillable bottles for your spices and other bulk purchases instead. In addition to reducing waste, you’ll also save money since bulk purchases are generally cheaper.”

4. Keep food waste in check

Now that you know a bit more about avoiding plastics and unnecessary packaging, let’s talk about curbing actual food waste—you know, all the meals that aren’t finished and leftovers that get tossed.

“One of my top tips is to plan your meals ahead,” says executive chef Kevin Templeton, from San Diego’s barleymash. “When you do this, you can create meals throughout the week where all items are used several times.

“For example, you may cut up carrots for a salad topping, roast them for a dinner side, or dip them in hummus for a snack,” he adds. “Cross-utilization is key in reducing food waste, and reducing the chance of your produce spoiling before you use it.”

5. Start composting

Since some food (even if it’s only small scraps) will inevitably get thrown away, it’s good to start getting into the habit of composting. You don’t necessarily need a yard; many major cities offer composting services for residents.

If you do have some outdoor space, consider building your own compost pile. Throw in all of your non-animal product food waste like vegetables, fruits, bread, cereal, and even old coffee grounds.

“Coffee grounds and iced tea grinds help break down the compost faster by supplying nitrogen to the system,” says Templeton.

Not only will composting reduce the waste that ends up in your local landfill, but it also makes a great natural fertilizer for your garden.

6. Reuse and recycle

This one might sound obvious, but bear with us.

Recycling isn’t as foolproof as it may seem, which is why it’s not only important to get it right, but also to reuse nonrecyclable items as much as possible.

“What most people don’t realize about recycling is that we rely on it far too much,” says Merriman. “A lot of people recycle incorrectly, and although recycling capacities differ between municipalities, several types of plastic simply cannot be recycled.”

Merriman explains that the best way to determine if you have a recyclable item is by checking the number on it.

“Most plastics with Nos. 1 or 2 are generally recyclable everywhere,” she says. “However, Nos. 3, 5, and 6 are commonly used in the kitchen and aren’t recyclable in many cases.”

So what do you do with those nonrecyclable plastics found in the kitchen? Reuse them as much as possible.

“Type 2 plastics and type 5 plastics—which include things like yogurt containers, ketchup bottles, and milk jugs—are all reusable,” says Merriman.

So before you go out shopping for brand-new plastic food containers, take a second to find out what your community actually accepts for recyclables, and then make a plan for reusing the rest.

The post We Drastically Reduced Our Kitchen Waste With These 6 Ridiculously Easy Methods appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

These 5 Trending Looks Will Make Your Dining Room So Instagrammable This Thanksgiving

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OK, we know Thanksgiving seems like a real bummer this year. With many state and national authorities discouraging travel and gatherings due to COVID-19, it’s yet another holiday in a long sequence of holidays we’ve been forced to “celebrate” in quarantine.

But even though you aren’t doing a 20-person spread (right??), that doesn’t mean you should give up on Thanksgiving altogether. In fact, isn’t half the fun of this holiday taking photos of the beautiful presentation of food on your dining table and posting them for all to admire?

That’s why this week—in our regular series of trending decor on Instagram—we decided to focus on the dining room for some design inspiration.

So don’t let the size of your celebration get you down this year. These popular looks are sure to make your dining room Instagram-worthy, no matter who’s sitting around the table.

1. Organic-inspired chandeliers

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Nothing makes a room stand out quite like a statement light fixture, especially if we’re talking about this chandelier featured by @june.and.blue.

“Organic-inspired light fixtures are a popular choice because of their shapes, earthy tones, and handcrafted aesthetics,” says Kobi Karp of Kobi Karp Architecture & Interior Design.

“This type of lighting works well in certain spaces because it mimics shapes, textures, patterns, and colors found in nature, and can really bring a room to life, as well as creating a warm and inviting ambiance,” adds Karp.

Get the look: Shop this Capiz lotus pendant shade from World Market.

2. Southwest-style rugs

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A post shared by Carla Natalia (@carlanatalia__)

You might not be able to travel anywhere this Thanksgiving—but you can sure feel like you did with a gorgeous Southwest-style rug, like the one in this photo from @carlanatalia__.

“Southwest-style rugs are popular for their ability to easily match almost any decor or aesthetic,” says Karp.

“These rugs, with their varying graphics, help create an entire world of their own while helping to showcase the furniture within the area. They’re also a surefire way to add color and texture to the dining room, anchor the space, and layer the room’s decor,” adds Karp.

Get the look: Anchor your dining space in bright and earthy tones by shopping Walmart’s nuLOOM Rochelle Aztec area rug.

3. Cozy armchairs

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Holiday dinners mean more time spent at the table, which is why it’s so important to have seating that’s both stylish and comfortable. Enter these elegant and cozy dining armchairs featured by @oakhomeinteriors.

“These Chesterfield-inspired armchairs are a great way to add some formality and flair to a space,” says Ash Read of Living Cozy.

“The Chesterfield style is timeless, and the tufted design with a soft, cozy fabric makes these chairs a beautiful addition and work well in the center of a room where they can capture the attention they deserve,” says Read.

Get the look: Bring some extra glam and coziness to your dining table by shopping these Roundhill wood tufted parsons dining chairs from Walmart.

4. Whimsical wallpaper

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Want a quick and easy upgrade for your dining room this season? Look no further than this whimsical wallpaper featured by @brabbu.

“Whimsical wallpapers are a quick and cost-effective way to really transform a space,” says Karp.

“They’re decor that delivers both form and function, and they’re also an easy way to add character to a room and make it feel like your own, without taking up any surface space,” adds Karp.

Get the look: Make your dining room pop with this Styrbiorn peacock feathers wallpaper from Wayfair.

Not into wallpaper? Just as quick and no less stunning are these gold LED ring lights, which will bring not only form and function, but also a heightened sense of luxury to your space

5. Farmhouse dining table

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If it’s the main event that needs replacing, then we’ve got the perfect solution: a classic farmhouse table like this one featured by @klinteriors.

“Farmhouse dining tables provide a laid-back feel and are a staple piece of furniture for people who love country motifs,” says Karp. “They celebrate rustic materials and are designed to ground the space as family-friendly and approachable, making it perfectly ideal for modern industrial and country-styled homes.”

Plus: “Farmhouse home decor is an immensely popular decorating style right now, which means it’s easier than ever to find the perfect table,” Karp adds.

Get the look: Upgrade your dining aesthetic while still keeping things casual with this Better Homes & Gardens Bryant dining table from Walmart.

The post These 5 Trending Looks Will Make Your Dining Room So Instagrammable This Thanksgiving appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

Tarek and Christina Take a Risk Well Worth Seeing

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“Flip or Flop” stars Tarek El Moussa and Christina Anstead are used to taking some big risks with their flips, but the renovation on the latest episode has us wondering if they’ve made too large a leap of faith.

In the episode “Far Out Flip,” El Moussa and Anstead buy a 1935 Spanish-style home in Hollywood, CA, for $950,000. They’re determined to preserve the home’s classic character while updating it for a modern family. Here’s how they strike that balance, and the take-home lessons that might apply to your own abode, too.

Arched doorways can provide lots of charm

Christina Anstead and Tarek El Moussa love this arch.

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Anstead and El Moussa love the character in this old home, but they’re not used to renovating classic houses. They know they’ll have to be careful choosing what to keep and what to change when it comes to style.

“We’ve got to figure out a way to modernize it but then keep all the old character,” El Moussa says, noticing an elegant but dated archway to the dining room.

This archway looked so good, they added a second one!

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While he admits that they’d usually remove an archway in favor of better sightlines, they decide that this feature should stay.

“The arch is part of the design of the house,” El Moussa says.

So they keep the arch and, for good measure, add a second one leading to the kitchen.

Use dark cabinets for a classic Spanish look

This kitchen needed a new look.

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When it comes to kitchen design, Anstead suggests using dark cabinetry. But right away, El Moussa is skeptical.

“Now this is the risky move right here,” he says. “I mean, we’re talking about putting almost-black cabinets in a kitchen.”

However, Anstead defends the choice by saying that Spanish-style homes are usually darker and that, when paired with the other materials they’ve chosen, like the colorful backsplash, the cabinets will fit right in.

Dark cabinets are risky, but they look great in this kitchen.

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“Spanish Revival design is about combining rustic elements with traditional motifs,” Anstead explains. “The dark cabinets and flooring mixed with the patterned backsplash totally completes the Spanish look.”

When the kitchen is finished, it looks amazing. The kitchen is modern but has a style that’s reminiscent of the old days. Dark cabinets may have been a risky choice, but they certainly paid off!

Update a bathroom for modern comforts

This bathroom had a classic look, but it wasn’t functional.

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When it comes to renovating an old home, it’s smart to keep the new design era-appropriate. Still, Anstead and El Moussa know that it’s OK to go a little more modern in the bathrooms.

When these flippers first examine this home’s restrooms, they’re unimpressed.

“I see the original character,” El Moussa says in one of the bathrooms, “but in here, it’s screaming to just rip it apart.”

This bathroom is modern, but it still fits in with this home’s classic look.

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Anstead agrees that sometimes functionality wins out over classic charm. They decide to completely renovate the bathroom with a more modern look.

With blue shower tile, a dark vanity, and white walls, this bathroom looks brand-new. Still, Anstead and El Moussa are careful to make sure this modern space doesn’t look too stark or cold, ensuring that it has enough character to fit in with this old home. The use of color gives the bathroom charm while the mosaic floor tile adds a classic look.

Adding a bathroom in an old home adds value

Another bathroom is much more valuable than closet space.

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With the existing bathrooms being updated, El Moussa starts thinking about adding another one.

Old homes don’t always come with many bathrooms. So El Moussa comes up with the idea to convert two small closets at the front of the house into a powder room.

“With permits, it’s going to cost us about seven grand, but we’re going to see a much bigger return because of it,” El Moussa says of the new half-bath.

Anstead and El Moussa choose muted tones and a simple but elegant style. In the end, this bathroom increases the value of this old home and brings some modern convenience to the space.

A guesthouse should complement the main living space

While the main house has a more classic kitchen, Anstead and El Moussa choose a contemporary look for the guest space.

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When Anstead and El Moussa first tour this house, they’re thrilled to find that the detached garage has been converted into a guesthouse. But they need to choose a design for this space, and that proves to be tricky.

The guesthouse doesn’t have the Spanish style of the main house, so these flippers can’t exactly give it a style that matches the home. Still, they don’t want it to look too different.

“Let’s carry some elements from the main house,” Anstead says, suggesting that they give the guesthouse its own style while still connecting it to the main house with the same finishes.

They use the same bathroom floor tile, which looks great. When the house is finished, the space feels like a more modern version of the main house. It complements the space without being too matchy-matchy.

They used the same tile here as in the main house.

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Is this a flip or flop?

After spending $200,450 on renovations and setting aside $50,000 for closing costs, commission, and staging, El Moussa and Anstead realize that their break-even price is about $1,200,450. They decide to list the house at $1,650,000.

While El Moussa and Anstead know this home’s classic charm and guesthouse will be big selling points, by the end of the episode, they’ve had the house on the market for weeks without any offers.

In the end, El Moussa admits that he may need to lower the price in order to sell it—suggesting that this classic style, though gorgeous, might be a risky gamble that might not pay off.

The post Tarek and Christina Take a Risk Well Worth Seeing appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com®.

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