Home Improvement

mindful living and our january/february magazine
Posted in

mindful living and our january/february magazine

As I flick through our January/February edition of the MFCH Magazine, it strikes me how many of the subjects tie in to my current obsession, namely ‘mindful living’.

Last year seemed to go by in the blink of an eyelid and this year I am determined to live more mindfully. To pay more attention to my special peeps; to declutter and restyle my home; and to continue to grow the garden as an extension to the house, a place to rest and enjoy, in harmony with the growing constraints of our changing climate.

The interiors we show in the January

…
Homeowners, Tell Us About The Home Improvement You Did, Big Or Small, That You Ultimately Ended Up Regretting
Posted in

Homeowners, Tell Us About The Home Improvement You Did, Big Or Small, That You Ultimately Ended Up Regretting

I bought my first home just about two years ago. All in all, it’s been one hell of a rewarding experience! I’ve completed a number of major and minor upgrades around the house that have been well worth every penny…and, ya know, the occasional blood, sweat, and tears. Emphasis on the tears.

Homeowners, Tell Us About The Home Improvement You Did, Big Or Small, That You Ultimately Ended Up Regretting

But I’d be remiss not to mention that I haven’t always been thrilled by the results of every single project I’ve attempted in my two-year stint as a homeowner.

Ross Yoder

The regrets have often been pretty tiny. Like installing this mid-century modern-ish chandelier in my kitchen! The

…
Tips for choosing White Paint Colors
Posted in

Tips for choosing White Paint Colors

Back in the day when my daughter was in high school, I was talking to her about needing to choose a color for a room makeover I was working on. And she said ‘Are you choosing another shade of white? Our house is nothing but shades of white.’

Tips for choosing White Paint Colors

I frowned a bit and said ‘No it’s definitely not only shades of white… I have color in the house…like…
everywhere. I have a green bench in the living room for example. That is colorful.

And then there is the bathroom– I mean- red toile wallpaper… come on. That is definitely
…
Cozy Winter Decor – French Country Cottage
Posted in

Cozy Winter Decor – French Country Cottage

January is one of those months that brings chilly winter temperatures outside and a whole lot of cozy touches inside. Cozy winter decor is a definite thing over here. Especially after the holiday decorations are full of so much ambiance- filling the house with warmth after the twinkle lights are packed away is key. While we all enjoy the clean slate a less busy house brings, it can tend to feel quite stark and lackluster. For lack of a better word.

Cozy Winter Decor – French Country Cottage

Today is all about simple, easy and quick ways to warm up the house for winter.

Fairy Lights

Those

…
Tax tips for homeowners 2022: Tax credits and breaks
Posted in

Tax tips for homeowners 2022: Tax credits and breaks

Homeownership comes with a lot of financial responsibility and a never-ending list of home improvement projects.

But for anyone who pays a mortgage, the good news is that you can deduct several home expenses come tax time — especially if you itemize your taxes — or enjoy other tax breaks as a home owner.

Here are the top tax tips for homeowners.

1. Mortgage interest deduction

While you can no longer deduct the cost of homeowners insurance premiums, you can write off what you paid toward mortgage interest — if you’re eligible and you itemize your deductions.

Start by looking

…
8 Top 2022 Trends With Home And Housing Wellness Impacts
Posted in

8 Top 2022 Trends With Home And Housing Wellness Impacts

What were 2022’s top trends with impacts on the wellness potential of our homes and housing markets? It’s worth noting them for their likely strength in the new year. Clearly, Covid is still playing a role in how homeowners choose to enhance their homes and how builders market them. Technology is

…
growing dahlias – my do’s and dont’s and learning as you go
Posted in

growing dahlias – my do’s and dont’s and learning as you go

I’ve been growing dahlias here for six or seven years now. It started with a tuber I found in a bargain corner at the garden center, and which turned out to be the most beautiful café au lait! I was immediately hooked, and have been growing them ever since, in increasing quantities each year.

Like everything else in the garden, there is an element of trial and error in growing dahlias. It took me a while for example to understand that I can leave some dahlias in the ground in certain parts of the garden, whereas elsewhere I have to

…
Are Home Improvements Tax Deductible?
Posted in

Are Home Improvements Tax Deductible?

Are Home Improvements Tax Deductible?

are home improvements tax deductible

If you’ve spent a sizable amount of money improving your residence, you may understandably be looking for ways to offset those costs and find yourself wondering if your home improvements are a tax deductible. Alas, in most cases, the answer is a clear-cut no. But there are a few exceptions where you may get a tax break that you can further investigate. Let’s take a look at what those exceptions are and what that means to you. You may want to also work with a financial advisor who can help you with all of your

…