Six Quick Fixes for a Winter Home Facelift

If the cold weather means you’re spending more time indoors, it can be easy to get cabin fever. So why not use a chilly weekend to give the inside of your house a little update with a few quick, fun fixes? Here are my ideas on how to breathe new life into your home on a budget.

The Pantone® Color of the Year is Greenery, a vibrant spring green that can easily lift the spirits of anyone suffering from the winter blues. I love the idea of bringing the outdoors inside during the winter months but if you’re not a big plant fan, you can create an energy filled accent wall or even refinish an old dresser with some mood boosting paint. Another great way to fill a room with nature is to update your artwork with some bold plant-based prints. A little green can go a long way.

A room can look completely different with a bit of furniture rearranging. Try something new by moving a few things around and spruce up the living room with a bunch of bright new throw pillows and a blanket. Also, it’s always a good idea to move furniture that you spend a lot of time in away from the windows. A bed or couch that sits in a drafty area could contribute to a nasty winter cold.

Give the kitchen a new look by updating your backsplash. Tiles can sometimes be expensive but there are tons of other options including pressed tin, wood, pegboard or paint. Cabinetry can also be refreshed with some modern, updated hardware.

Wallpaper is making a real comeback, with fresh designs that can make a bold statement in a small space. Self-adhesive wallpaper is easy to apply and can make a fun accent wall. You just peel off the backing and stick it to any painted or primed surface. It’s also a great way to give the kids room some personality without damaging the walls.

Adding a candelabra or cluster of pillar candles can add a warm glow to an unused fireplace, and replacing that dated 1970’s mantel can give a living room lots of life. Just make sure to choose one with enough depth to hold artwork, picture frames, and stockings for Christmas next year.

New winter drapes or curtains can really add some color to your living room and they also help to insulate your home from any drafts coming from old, aluminum windows. Choose a heavy fabric and have some fun with bright, bold prints.

Do you have plans to update your home this winter? What small projects do you plan on undertaking? I’d love to hear from you. Send me a message on Facebook at facebook.com/odonnellbros

Bob O'Donnell is the owner of O'Donnell Bros, Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro”. All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O'Donnell Bros, Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Winter Activities for the Whole Family to Enjoy

With snow in the forecast, now is a great time to start thinking about some fun winter activities to get you and your family outside to enjoy the brisk but beautiful weather. Winter is my favorite season, and when I’m not enjoying a weekend on the slopes in Vermont, you can usually find me around town enjoying some of the best that our area has to offer. Here are some of my favorite things to do to beat the winter blues:

Mountain Biking. You might be thinking that mountain biking is better suited for spring or summer but new fat tire bikes are all the craze and they make for an awesome winter activity. Check out what Bikers Edge has to offer and then head down to my favorite spots, Sessions Woods on the Bristol/Burlington line or the West Hartford Reservoir for a ride. Both places have great tracks for beginners right through to advanced riders and if you’re lucky, you might even spot some of the area’s amazing wildlife.

Skiing. There is nothing like having fresh snow under your boards to make you fall in love with winter. You can usually catch me up at Killington, but if you’re looking for a local place to ski or snowboard, you can’t go past Mt. Southington which is in good shape with a dozen trails open and better conditions to come with snow heading our way. Ski Sundown in New Hartford is another great spot to check out. Both are perfect for children and first-time riders and boarders.

Hiking. For a slower pace activity, Sessions Woods and Talcott Mountain State Park offer beautiful hiking where you can enjoy amazing views and a great opportunity to connect with nature. Don’t be intimidated by the cold, a good pace and the warmth from the sun will have you working up a lather in no time!

Sledding. Anyone my age will remember many a winter barreling down Deadman’s Hill on just about anything we could find that would go fast! These days, sledding is still very popular in the area and  Page Park, Nelson’s Field, and Rockwell Park all have great areas for the kids to get their adrenaline pumping.  

Ice Skating. When the local ponds freeze, ice skating is a great activity for the whole family. I love to pick up a hockey game, but just a leisurely cruise can be a whole lot of fun too. Rockwell Park is a great place to go and I love Malone’s Pond, also known as Pine Lake. Of course, ice skating can be a dangerous activity if the lakes aren’t frozen so be sure to check with the Park Department, who also builds a rink on Middle Street that’s safe for all to enjoy.

Make Your Own Activity. If you don’t feel like leaving home on a cold winter day, one of my favorite things to do is to light up the firepit with a crackling fire and have the family over for some hot chocolate and marshmallow roasting. On a chilly winter evening, there is nothing better than cozying up to a warm fire, laughing and telling stories with the people you love the most.

With that, I hope everyone has a very Happy New Year and I look forward to seeing you in 2017!

Bob O'Donnell is the owner of O'Donnell Bros, Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro”. All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O'Donnell Bros, Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Cute Birds Can Become Troublesome House Pests

If you see lots of sparrows around your house this winter, you might want to pay close attention. Sure, these cute little birds might seem harmless, but the truth is that they can be a real pain if they decide to make your home their home.

House sparrows depend on humans for food and nesting, which is why you may notice that they aren’t afraid to get awfully close when you’re enjoying a sandwich on a park bench. They originally came to the US from England in the 1850’s, when eight pairs were brought to Brooklyn to control a growing moth larvae problem. The little birds quickly decided that they liked their new home, and their population grew to the point where they are now one of the most popular urban birds in the United States. And guess what? They don’t eat moth larvae after all.

According to the North American Bluebird Society, the breeding season for house sparrows can start from midwinter and each pair of sparrows may produce up to four broods a season. Of course, before sparrows can breed, they have to build a home. The male house sparrow’s bond with his nest site is stronger than his bond with a mate. So once he finds some prime real estate, you’re going to have a hard time serving him with an eviction notice.

The reason contractors like me aren’t the biggest fans of sparrows is because they love building their nests in tiny, warm and well-insulated places such as people’s roofs. They construct these nests using grass, straw, feathers, weeds, string, trash and other highly flammable materials and aren’t afraid to get comfortable right on a heat source, such as the light fixtures on the outside of your home. They are also partial to house spots that offer a bit of shelter, such as gutters and downspouts which can easily get clogged and cause roof leaks. So you can see why these cute little birds can cause a real headache if they decide to take up residence with you.

So what can you do to prevent sparrows from cozying up to your home? Believe it or not, a sparrow can fit into a hole smaller than one inch. Do an inspection around the eaves of your home to look for holes that could make a proper shelter. If you find some, you might want to consider installing mesh to keep the sparrows out. Also consider installing stainless steel spikes to light fixtures, outdoor speakers or deep door molding. Place covers over vents and check the screening over louvers before birds find their way inside. Keep garage doors and sheds closed to prevent birds from entering, and avoid putting out roost boxes too early as sparrows are generally the first birds out of the gates. Finally, consider removing brush piles, shrubbery or other natural shelter to reduce the amount of nesting material available.

Have you encountered a house sparrow problem in your home? What are your top tips to remedy the situation? I’d love to hear from you. Send me an email or message me on Facebook at wwww.facebook.com/odonnellbros.

Bob O'Donnell is the owner of O'Donnell Bros, Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro”. All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O'Donnell Bros, Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.