June 2022

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5 Tips on How to Pick the Best Modern Furniture for Your Home

  • June 30, 2022

5 Tips on How to Pick the Best Modern Furniture for Your Home

Choosing the best furniture for your home can be difficult because it involves so many different aspects. Choosing the right furniture, including style and design that will last the test of time, can be challenging.

It might even make you feel uneasy because you don’t want to spend a lot of money only to discover that it wasn’t the look you really wanted. Following a few key shopping tactics will help you make better decisions before starting your journey toward creating a modern home design.

If you have a modern aesthetic in mind, choose pieces that are sleek and simple, without too many details. If you prefer a more traditional look, go with pieces that are ornamented but not flashy.

Here are some tips for picking the best modern furniture for your home.

  1. Consider your home’s style first. Modern furniture is sleek and minimalist, so it will look great in homes with contemporary or minimalist interiors. If your home has a more traditional or eclectic style, then modern furniture may not be the best fit.
  2. Consider the size and shape of the pieces you’re buying. Modern furniture is often geometric and angular, so make sure that the pieces you choose will fit in with the rest of your décor.
  3. Modern furniture is designed to be simple, sleek, and clean. Such pieces will most likely work best if you’re looking for furniture that can withstand everyday wear and tear.

There are many different types and styles to choose from when it comes to furniture. But with modern furniture, you will get a sleek, sophisticated look that’s perfect for a contemporary home.

Here are just a few reasons why modern furniture makes an ideal choice.

  1. It’s stylish and timeless.
  2. It’s versatile and can be incorporated in any room of
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Jun 24 | Fabulous Materials at FABulous Prices!

  • June 30, 2022

FabMo is having another fabulous sale–with tons of new stuff for sewists, makers and hobbyists.
This month’s features include:

  • Versatile marine-grade canvas in several colors, perfect for sewing grocery totes, beach bags, school backpacks and more
  • sturdy webbing-most 1 1/2 inches wide and some 1-inch wide in black, forest green, royal blue, navy and red.
  • Lots of cones of thin colorful yarn
  • And some VERY heavy canvas in both black and white (be forewarned, this may require a pretty heavy duty machine.
  • PLUS LOTS of fabric (pre-cut yardage or many on the bolt-both garment weight and home decor styles
  • Wallpaper samples (flat folds and by the roll)
  • Leather samples, wood trim, carpet squares and other home decor materials!
  • Tile in various sizes and shapes-glass, ceramic, marble…
  • Notions, patterns, yarn, and more!

June 23-35th
Thursday from 9 am to 5:15 pm
Friday and Saturday from 9 am to 2:30 pm
1240 Birchwood Drive, Sunnyvale
To guarantee entry, make an appointment at https://www.fabmo.org/events-calendar or drop-in anytime between noon and closing each day (space permitting)FabMo is 501c3 non-profit-dedicated to inspiring creative reuse. Every item obtained from FabMo means one less item in the landfill.

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Real Estate Experts Reveal the Best Money You Can Spend on Your Home

  • June 30, 2022
A worker installing hardwood floor in an American upscale home.

slobo / Getty Images/iStockphoto

Thinking about renovating your home? More than half (55%) of American homeowners are, too, according to a 2022 Houzz & Home Study.

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Home upgrades and remodels can be a great investment — if you choose a project that will eventually allow your home to sell for more. As the cost of labor and materials rise, here’s how real estate experts recommend making the most of the money you spend on your home.

First, Determine Your End Goal

Before choosing a project, decide why you’re investing in your home, says Allison Timothy, a buyer agent with Homie in Utah.

“Before beginning a home remodel or adding to your home, it’s best to know who you are trying to please,” she said. “Unique finishes that you really love are great if you plan to stay and enjoy them. However, if you’re remodeling to get ready to sell, look for new neutral trends that buyers are seeking right now.”

Experimenting with trendy colors is fine, as long as you do so with easily replaceable décor such as accent pillows, wall hangings or rugs. For permanent pieces or upgrades — like light fixtures, backsplashes, tile flooring or anything that’s glued or bolted down — Timothy recommends sticking with neutral colors.

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Next, Plan Your Budget and Choose a Project

Renovating and upgrading your home may be exciting, but don’t rush into a project too quickly. Take your time to research and map out how much you can spend.

“For those looking to improve their home, I would recommend first establishing what your budget is and make sure to

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Louisville Waterfont Botanical Gardens lands $1.5M for Japanese garden

  • June 29, 2022

A reimagining of two acres at Louisville’s Waterfront Botanical Gardens is coming, with new construction underway soon.

The project, the latest development at the popular attraction in Butchertown, has landed $1.5 million in funds from the most recent state budget for 2022, according to a release from the Gardens. The work to prepare the land for an authentic Japanese garden on a former garbage dump, an effort spearheaded by Japanese landscape designer Shiro Nakane, will begin later this year.

Nakane is working closely with the Waterfront Botanical Gardens team and Perkins & Will, the Gardens’ architecture firm, to build out the new space.

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“This is a perfect example where the state invests funds to ensure the groundwork is laid, literally, for the future growth of a tremendous cultural asset,” Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers said in a release. “These gardens are a unique treasure in Kentucky and this authentic addition is sure to draw more visitors to fuel our economy.”

What parts of the Botanical Garden will the state money be used on?

The $1.5 million will specifically be used to make a construction access road for heavy equipment vehicles off the main driveway and into the gardens. Installation of a new pipe system is underway to improve drainage on the site, a former landfill.

“It’s wonderful to see more and more people from Louisville, across the state and from all over the world visiting the Waterfront Botanical Gardens,” Senate Majority Caucus Chair Julie Raque Adams said. “The educational programs and cross-cultural experiences the gardens offer are tremendous for both children and adults. It’s a point of great pride for Louisville to have repurposed this city space and create such beauty for so many to enjoy.”

The

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7 ways to make your house have a warm and cozy feel

  • June 29, 2022

Walking into a comfortable home after a tough day or long trip is one of life’s greatest pleasures. Did you know you can make small adjustments to increase that inviting, cozy vibe in your living space?

Whether it’s a house in the suburbs, a condo in the city or a place along the waterfront, small touches can make your home even more inviting — and there are cozy home decor items available for all types of budgets and styles. From swapping in some soft lighting to adding more texture to your sofa cushions, here are seven ways to create a welcoming ambiance.

Think Feet First

Adobe

Warm up your floor — and your feet — with small area rugs and runners placed throughout your space. If you have wood or tiled floors, you can set down a small rug in front of the kitchen sink and next to your bed, and put a runner in your hallway or entryway. The added texture warms up the atmosphere, and having an added soft layer underfoot can help keep your feet from getting too cold.

Adjust Your Lighting

Adobe

Whenever possible, it’s best to avoid single-source overhead lighting. Go with an abundance of task lighting, table and floor lamps instead to create clusters of illumination. If recessed lighting is your only option, consider changing the lighting temperature. Changing cool-temperature bulbs for warm-temperature bulbs adds a warm and cozy glow.

Incorporate Different Textures

Adobe

Whether it’s with a knitted pouf, a hand-woven pillow or a leather armchair, adding a variety of textures to a room can transform the space from feeling meh to warm and cozy. Pillows, bedding and rugs also offer great opportunities to incorporate layers of texture. Different fabrics, such as velvet, chenille and chunky knits create an inviting atmosphere,

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Canada’s home renovation boom under pressure amid soaring costs, rising rates

  • June 29, 2022

Hillary and Andrew Strack-Cheng with their kids Leland and Juniper in their home on June 22.Cole Burston/The Globe and Mail

Home renovations can be unpredictable and anxiety-laden at the best of times. But soaring costs, rising interest rates, cooling home prices and uncertainty about Canada’s economic outlook are increasing the financial risks associated with a major property uplift, some real estate experts warn.

Homeowners with large mortgage balances should “be careful with renovations right now,” said Nasma Ali, broker and founder of One Group Toronto Real Estate.

On top of sky-high materials and labour expenses driven by supply chain snarls and worker shortages, another squeeze on some home renovators’ budgets is coming from rising borrowing costs. Home equity lines of credit (HELOCs), which homeowners often rely upon to finance major improvements, generally come with variable interest rates, which have been climbing as the Bank of Canada has raised its benchmark rate to help fight inflation.

Those changing real estate and economic trends have caught some Canadians by surprise, mid-reno.

In Toronto’s east end, Hillary Strack-Cheng and her husband embarked on a sweeping home makeover September. They wanted to add two bedrooms and a bathroom to their small two-storey home to make room for their growing family. The couple had decided to renovate after calculating that a home extension would cost them less than selling the house and buying a bigger property in what was then a red-hot market.

But some nine months later, the project, which was temporarily derailed by a dispute with a contractor, is continuing. Delays and unexpected costs forced the couple to refinance their mortgage, which has a variable rate, and max out their HELOC.

While the family expects to move back home in August, Ms. Strack-Cheng said rising interest rates are adding a layer

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Walmart partners with Miranda Lambert for home decor line |

  • June 28, 2022

Walmart and three-time Grammy winner Miranda Lambert are teaming up for a new home decor product line, Wanda June Home by Miranda Lambert. According to the superstore, the home decor collaboration is inspired by warm and sassy Southern hospitality — featuring items to help craft a comfortable and casual living space. According to the country music icon, it’s a designer line three generations in the making.

“Wanda June Home is named after the two most influential women in my life, my mom Beverly June Lambert and my grandma Wanda Louise Coker, AKA Nonny,” Lambert told Walmart. “They both taught me everything I know about being a woman and how to make a warm home full of laughter, love and memories. That’s really the heart of my Wanda June Home brand. The products are a physical representation of a long line of beautiful memories with amazing women. I am thrilled to launch Wanda June Home with Walmart, where my grandpa was a greeter back in the day and where I’ve shopped all my life.”

The decor line went live last week with more than 80 kitchen, bar, tabletop and home decor items. Pricing starts at $12.97 and reaches as high as $170, with most of the pieces being priced around $30.

“The Wanda June Home line is a truly authentic collaboration that’s only available to Walmart customers, and we know they are going to love Miranda’s approachable, charming take on entertaining essentials and home décor at fantastic values,” Anthony Soohoo, executive vice president, Home at Walmart, said in a press release. “It’s our mission to build the easiest place to shop for home design by allowing our customers to save time, effort and money. The Wanda June collection is the latest example of how Walmart is continuing to expand and elevate

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Tips to make your living room appear bigger

  • June 27, 2022

With growing urbanisation, many people are left with smaller spaces. Learning the concept of ‘less is more’, therefore, is pertinent. “Decorating a small space can be equally amusing if you are passionate about designing. Small spaces can be a quick investment, and can easily be decorated without much thought involved – you can also keep changing the décor time and again as it goes easy on the pockets!” said architect and interior designer Paushika Gupta, founder of Paushika Gupta Architecture+Design.

Simply declutter

Start choosing the right kind of pieces for the room, so that they are useful instead of just taking up space. The habit of decluttering frequently will make the area appear more spacious. To add more items to your living room, you must get rid of old ones. You may also go for modern furniture pieces which take up less space and offer more compartments —  like a sofa-cum-bed, a chest of drawers that comes with a TV unit or a foldable table. You will finally make extra room for useful items.

Insignificant, but significant

Either buy small pieces of furniture like an ottoman, an armchair, or a low table or go for more elongated and tall units and place them against the wall surfaces. This will ensure they are not taking up much space, yet will create a balance in the room. These statement pieces should not be placed in and around the circulation paths. The overview that way would remain clear and the room would appear bigger.

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Lighter shade

Well crafted furniture when paired with subtly coloured walls creates the perfect combination for quaint places. Choosing colours like beige, light grey, mint green, baby pink or baby blue – make the

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Botanical gardens | Columns | thecourierexpress.com

  • June 27, 2022

My main experience with botanical gardens is in visiting the Phipps Conservatory in Pittsburgh several times over the years. It is truly a unique and inspiring experience.

Each room is like a fairyland. Flowers are everywhere, expertly arranged in a unique floral landscape to showcase a specific theme. There are even delicate little touches like fountains, stepping stones and a small footbridge over an indoor stream.

Every room has a theme and even the overall flower show itself has a theme.

I remember the first year I visited the theme was “Singing in the Rain” and they even had a large TV in the lobby continually playing the Gene Kelly classic song and dance scene.

Each room was like a wonder land or a travel machine that endeavored to transport you to another place in the world. Rooms showcase plants from the tropics, from primeval times, Hawaii, world deserts, the Mediterranean and more. It was a unique adventure when I visited as a child, and I am still in awe when I think of the botanical gardens today.

These are the kind of rooms children would love to explore as a place of adventure. What could be more exciting than exploring an indoor jungle with ponds, streams and waterfalls? Even adults could get lost among all the vegetation and winding paths.

It made me think of how nice it would be to have an indoor flower garden as a part of your own house. It is a very romantic idea to have the fresh, clean, perfumed smell of flowers always around you.

Wealthy businessman Henry Phipps gifted the conservatory to the City of Pittsburgh in 1893. These days it boasts of being one of the “greenest” greenhouses in the world and keeps its plants as “environmentally sustainable as possible.”

Before

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At Home Marks Company Milestone with 250th Store Opening

  • June 27, 2022

PLANO, Texas–(BUSINESS WIRE)–At Home, The Home Décor Superstore, opened its 250th store today in Amherst, NY. Located at 3151 Sheridan Drive, it is also the company’s first location in the Buffalo market. The store’s Grand Opening is Saturday, July 2.

“Today’s milestone is a significant step toward our long-term potential to grow the brand, increase market share and strengthen our position as the leading retailer of home décor,” said Lee Bird, Chairman and CEO. “We continue to strategically expand our footprint across the country and are on track to grow to at least 700 stores nationally.”

The majority of At Home’s locations are second-generation retail. The company looks for stores in high-traffic retail nodes adjacent to other best in class retailers, with great access and near its core customers.

At Home is a unique home décor concept that offers the biggest in-store selection of home décor styles at an incredible value. At Home sells up to 45,000 home décor items for every room, every style and every budget — from furniture, rugs, wall art and housewares to tabletop, patio and holiday décor — in stores averaging just over 100,000 square feet.

As the leading destination for home décor, At Home gives customers a wide variety of style ideas, a continually updated assortment, the latest trends and exciting seasonal products. Hundreds of items arrive each week to provide fresh inspiration and shoppers will discover new collections from designers Ty Pennington, Grace Mitchell, Laila Ali and Tracey Boyd.

A time lapse video of the Amherst store’s construction can be found here.

About At Home Group Inc.

At Home offers up to 45,000 on-trend home products to fit any budget or style, from furniture, mirrors, rugs, art and housewares to tabletop, patio and seasonal decor. At Home is

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June 2022
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