Home is Where the Money Is

With so many questions about what our future holds, there has never been more focus on life at home. A place for us to work, play, and rest, homeowners are becoming increasingly interested in a multi-functional space that can feel both comfortable and luxurious at the same time. Factor in soaring real estate prices and our investment in where we live makes a lot of sense. Thinking about an upgrade yourself? Here are five home design trends that aren’t going away anytime soon. 

Entertaining Spaces

While the state is open for business and the worst of COVID-19 seems past us, there are still many people who are limiting their time in public places. Intimate dinner parties and gatherings at home will be more popular than ever before, especially as the weather cools and the holidays get closer. With people spending time in their houses, focusing on dining rooms and spaces within the home to gather is an interior trend that we’ll be seeing a lot more of. 

Home Offices

Even though many businesses are back open, plenty of office workers will be staying put, opting to work from home at least part time. Home offices will continue to be a focus for families who need a place to work quietly away from the happenings in the rest of the house. From converted closets to basement renos to small additions, this is a trend that people value both from a real estate and a sanity perspective.

Indoor Outdoor 

Warm weather has given us plenty of opportunities to relax, dine, and entertain outside. But as we all know, these Connecticut summers fade into autumn quickly. I have been getting a lot of calls for french doors and large scale windows, which make rooms look bigger and give the feeling of the outside indoors. Recently, I helped my son-in-law rebuild a three-season porch for an extra living area that will serve their family well into the fall. For many people, nature brings a feeling of calm which we could all use plenty more of.

Bright Accents

Incorporating yellow into your home decor is a great way to brighten up a space without having to commit to a major overhaul. Taking inspiration for the 2021 Pantone Color of the Year, Illuminating, many interior designers are loving a pop of sunshine indoors. From throw pillows to artwork, using bold yellow as an accent is sure to lighten the mood. 

Supporting Local

COVID has had a huge impact on small business owners and local craftsmen, which makes now the time to support the people in your area who are building, making, and creating. In addition to having something in your home that is handmade, you also get an opportunity to allow local talent to keep doing what they do best. The next time you need supplies, decor, or materials, consider a small scale operation in your community.

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 http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Crabgrass Begone

With a ton of rain, very high humidity, and hot temperatures, weeds are having a veritable field day this summer. For those of us who love a beautiful lawn, crabgrass is enemy number one and it’s loving every bit of the weird and wild weather we are having.

Crabgrass is just like other weeds in that it likes to take over. Once crabgrass gets its roots down, it spreads quickly, killing healthy grass in its path. Of course, crabgrass dies on its own when it starts to turn cold, but not treating it means it’s more likely to come back. Here’s what you can do today to get rid of it and keep it from ruining your lawn next year. 

The best course of action for crabgrass is a pre-emergent, but that’s only good in the spring before the crabgrass starts to grow, so if you missed it, it looks like you’ll be pulling by hand. That’s right, get out that kneepad because the best way to remove any weed is to pull it out, ensuring the roots come with it. The recent rain should have loosened those roots up a bit so now is as good a time as any.

Once you have the crabgrass out, you can fill in the bare spots with healthy grass seed and plenty of water. It’s important to wait to reseed if you’ve recently sprayed your lawn with weed killer. Water is also key here because the heat does make it tough for grass to grow. 

Now for your mowing. It’s best to keep the grass a bit longer and to let the clippings stay in place to give some nutrients and shade back into the lawn. Three inches is a good, healthy length for both old and new grass.  

If you’re looking for a chemical solution, you can use a post-emergent, but this can be tricky as the wrong product will kill your grass. When in doubt, it’s best to leave this job to a professional landscaper who can advise you on the most appropriate course of action. You don’t want to accidentally burn your whole lawn while trying to save it. 

Don’t forget, treating your lawn with a pre-emergent in the spring is the best way to avoid crabgrass in the first place. Crabgrass starts to germinate when the soil reaches 55 degrees, so it’s a good idea to get out there in April to ensure that your hard work is worth the effort.

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 http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Five Ways to Protect Your Home From Moisture

This month’s intense rainfall has made for some messy clean-up in homes all around our state. From basement flooding to leaky roofs, lots of rain can cause serious issues if your house isn’t properly maintained. As summer continues and our weather becomes more unpredictable, it’s worth being prepared. Here are five key things to think about to protect your home from damaging moisture and the mold and mildew that come with it. 

Inspect Your Roof

Everything might seem ok with your roof but shingle damage or a chimney that’s not properly flashed could be allowing water to come into your home. These issues can be hard to spot from the outside, but leaks are a lot more obvious from the attic. A leaking roof is a problem to be taken seriously because water that’s entering the attic can easily penetrate into the walls and ceiling of the rest of the home. It’s also an easy place for mold to grow without being detected since we don’t spend time in our attics as we do in the rest of the house.

Clean Your Gutters

Gutters are a key part of proper home water removal. Most people think it’s enough to keep their gutters free from debris, yet few actually do it since it’s a messy job. I recommend installing gutter guards to cut down on maintenance and to ensure that gutters are clear so water can move freely away from the roof. I also highly recommend downspout extensions to homeowners who have suboptimal drainage conditions. A downspout extender allows water to drain an extra few feet from the house, ensuring nothing collects around the foundation. 

Change Your Landscape Grade

Whenever I walk around the perimeter of a house, I always make a mental note of the way the landscape meets the foundation. You always want soil to slope away from the home, ensuring that rainwater is draining away from the house instead of sitting at the foundation. Many homeowners actually have less soil at the foundation line, leaving the home susceptible to basement flooding. 

Use a Basement Dehumidifier

In these humid summer months, I find myself dumping my basement dehumidifier at least twice a day. You always want to have the humidity level in your home at around 50% and that goes for the basement too. Even a finished basement tends to be higher in moisture since the space is below ground so if you don’t have a dehumidifier, it’s time to get one. An appropriate unit will pull excess water from the air and reduce your exposure to mold which thrives on dark, damp places to grow.

Don’t Forget the Exhaust Fans

Finally, make sure you’re using your exhaust fans during showers and while using the stove. Exhaust fans help to pull water from the air in highly used areas such as the bathrooms and kitchens. Not using them will allow mold to spore, which can cause health problems such as allergies and asthma. Just make sure all fans are directed outside and not into the attic. The same goes for your dryer vent. 

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 http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.