home improvements

7 Things for a Beautiful English Cottage Room Makeover
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7 Things for a Beautiful English Cottage Room Makeover

Oh those English cottage rooms with layers of lovely patterns get me every time. When we visited the Cotswolds in summer last year, I felt even more in love with that quintessential English cottage charm and I started dreaming up a new design that brought in all those layers of beauty.

English Cottage Room

Though I am sourcing the elements for the new look yet-and there are many more elements in designing a room- there are 7 things I am planning on incorporating. Sharing a bit of inspiration today for Friday Favorites along with some elements to get the look.

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Construct CRM Launches First Completely Free Construction Management and Financing Software For All Home Improvement Trades
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Construct CRM Launches First Completely Free Construction Management and Financing Software For All Home Improvement Trades

BOCA RATON and MIAMI, Fla., May 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Construct CRM by Pro Platforms, a construction management and financing software platform, has announced the launch of its free version of the platform. The platform includes CRM, project management, scheduling and dispatch, payroll tracking, contracts, invoices, and pre-sale and point of sale homeowner project financing.

The paid version of the platform is currently being used by contractors from all 50 states across 30+ trades, including HVAC, roofing, and remodeling. Since its launch this year, over $34 million in projects have been created, and over $14 million in invoices and

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Manchester couple paid for home improvement jobs, didn’t do work
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Manchester couple paid for home improvement jobs, didn’t do work

MANCHESTER — A local couple who ran a contracting business have been accused of taking payments for jobs and not returning to do the work, show court documents.

According to court documents, Manchester residents Jason and Kathleen Lapointe took thousands of dollars from residents in Coventry, South Windsor and Vernon for jobs they never started.

Records show Jason Lapointe has been charged with two counts of second-degree larceny and violation of a home improvement contract, while Kathleen Lapointe has also been charged with second-degree larceny as well as violation of a home improvement contract and failure to refund a job

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soaking up spring and our may/june magazine
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soaking up spring and our may/june magazine

MFCH MAGAZINE MAY/JUNE
Cover photo by Frederic Ducout

May is one of the busiest moments in my year. The garden needs attention, our MFCH Tours pick up speed and social life here gets busy again after the quieter winter.

My favorite time of the day is when I can finally sit and relax and flip through the MFCH Magazine. The May/June issue is a particular favorite of mine because it is full of beautiful homes and gardens around France in the springtime. Putting our magazine together every two months is rather like making a large, colorful cocktail. We always try to include the

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BBB CONSUMER TIPS: How to make your next home improvement project a success | Local News
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BBB CONSUMER TIPS: How to make your next home improvement project a success | Local News

Do-it-yourself is an attractive way to save money on home improvement projects. Home centers stay busy each spring with people looking to improve their homes and yards.

Whether you are remodeling your home, making needed repairs, or sprucing things up to put your house on the market, the following tips will help make your next home improvement project a success.

• Come up with a budget and stick to it. Home improvement projects can get expensive fast. If you don’t want to break the bank, create a realistic budget to figure out how much you can spend ahead of time.

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How to Create a Beautiful Mother’s Day Table Setting
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How to Create a Beautiful Mother’s Day Table Setting

Do you wonder how to create a magic filled beautiful setting that is easy to do but looks effortless? One that is perfect for a special occasion or an any day occasion? All things flower filled are my favorites when it comes to entertaining and setting a pretty table- and with Mother’s Day just around the corner-perfect for a lovely Sunday brunch with mom too.

How to Create a Mother’s Day Table Setting

Mother's Day table setting with flowers and vintage place settings

I have to be honest. I cannot believe it is already May. And already the first week in May with Mother’s Day just a few days away.

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Nine tips for managing a French home renovation project yourself
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Nine tips for managing a French home renovation project yourself

The building market is starting to settle down after the post-lockdown boom, labor shortages and price inflation combined to make “getting the builders in” easier said than done.

As a result of frustrations dealing directly with builders, a new service industry has grown – project managers for small home improvement projects.

However, by drawing up checklists similar to the ones they use, you can make the task less formidable and still go it alone.

Here are some pointers:

1. Fix your aims and your budget

Builders complain that some homeowners ask for estimates with no real idea of ​​what they

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jeanne mckay watercolors and a giveaway
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jeanne mckay watercolors and a giveaway

Since the beginning of my blogging days, I’ve been fortunate to meet and make friends with some very talented and generous people. I was lucky to start blogging at a time when readers could sign up to follow their preferred blogs and before the days of the big newsletter blasts. There was more of an intimacy to the process, and the blogs were read differently, as our audience popped around to visit each of their favorite blogs each day. This is one of the big things about blogging, the way that it draws people together.

Jeanne McKay

Between women bloggers there has

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