Blog - Home Renovation

Wood vs Gas Fireplaces

Crisp autumn winds have begun to blow throughout Middle Tennessee, and many homeowners will light their fireplaces as soon as the first frost arrives. If you are planning to purchase a home with a fireplace or are considering installing a fireplace in your current home, you may be waffling between choosing a wood-burning or gas-powered fireplace. We’re here to help with our exploration of the pros and cons of wood vs. gas fireplaces for homeowners!

Let’s break this down.

Wood-Burning Fireplaces

Pros

1.) Soothing Aesthetics

Nothing compares to the familiar aesthetics of a wood fire. From the crackling sounds to the waves of color moving across the embers, curling up in front of a wood-burning fireplace is the epitome of cold-weather…

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To Pool or Not to Pool?

If you are in the process of looking for your next home or considering upgrading the home you have currently, you may be deciding whether or not a pool is right for you. Homeownership can be complex, and adding a pool to the mix is certainly an additional complication. There are pros and cons of having a pool, and we recommend weighing them carefully before you decide to dive in or bail out!

The Pros

1.) Pools make a splash when you host backyard parties!

Who can resist an invitation to a pool party? Anytime it’s hot enough to swim, your entertainment practically takes care of itself. Add a grilling session, chests full of ice-cold drinks, and some chill music, and you have a memorable party on the ready.

2.) Pools are excellent for…

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How to Start a Home Renovation

Home renovations are a common undertaking for homeowners who wish to expand, update, customize, or change the floor plan of their home. Have you been considering launching a home renovation in 2025? If so, it’s time to start planning in earnest. You have a lot to decide on: your general plans, the contractors from whom you want to secure bids, how you will fund the project, where you plan to stay (if you cannot remain at home), and what you’ll do when the work takes longer than you and your contractor planned.

Take a deep breath. You’ve got this! Remember that more than half of all homeowners in the US will complete home renovation plans this year, and you are just as capable of doing the same. Middle Tennessee is home to incredible contractors,…

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Home Improvement Tips for Saving Time, Money, and Your Mental Wellbeing

Fixer-uppers are DIY projects by nature. Elegant mid-century homes require plenty of TLC; even once-new homes require maintenance and upgrades over time. No matter which type of property your home may be, you likely feel a sense of accomplishment and even pride when you tackle and complete a repair, upgrade, or full section of a renovation.

The key to successful DIY is threefold: research, preparation, and follow-through. The kiss of death? Eyeballing a project, assuming you have the knowledge and technique figured out just by doing so, and diving straight in. The results will range from catastrophic (in the case of water or structural damage) to merely ugly (like an eyesore wall patch.)

The cost of repairing a catastrophic outcome will be far…

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Affordable Alternatives to a Standard Pool

The weather in Middle Tennessee makes swimming a dream from Memorial Day right through Labor Day. The downside of this optimal swimming region is that every public pool worth visiting is packed when you want to take a dip! Sure, you can drive out into the wilderness to swim near a waterfall, but if you’re like the rest of us, you find yourself fantasizing about how much you and your family would love to have your own backyard pool.

Unless you have a hefty savings account with an extra $80,000 to spare, it can be difficult to justify spending that much to secure access to a peaceful swim anytime you please. Hold off for a moment if you’ve been mulling over swallowing your pride and ordering an above-ground pool for the summer. We have some ideas…

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Signs It's Time to Renovate Your Home

If you're like most Americans, your home is your single most significant investment. Consequently, properly caring for your home is a high priority for you. Routine maintenance, minor improvements, and major repairs must occur as needed. Unless you're a homeowner whose home is brand new, you will encounter clear signs when it's time to renovate your home on a larger scale. 

Renovating when it's not necessary can be a financial black hole, but allowing your home to fall into an outdated, dowdy state is also a missed economic opportunity. Improving your home to such an extent that it far outshines the surrounding properties can make it impossible to recoup your investment. In contrast, doing nothing while your home slowly drifts into the bottom ten…

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Is That Fixer-Upper a Dream or a Money Pit?

You might have heard about the allure of fixer-upper homes. They come with a promise of potential and an opportunity to create your dream space. But, before you commit, let's figure out if that fixer-upper is a hidden gem or a money pit in disguise.

The Adventure of Buying and Renovating a Fixer-Upper Home

The Quest for the Perfect Home

Picture this: You're scrolling through home listings, and there it is—the perfect fixer-upper home. It's got character, charm, and a price tag that's friendly to your budget. The excitement is real, but before you let your dreams run wild, it's time for a reality check.

The Inspection Adventure

The first step on this journey is getting a thorough home inspection. A qualified inspector will unearth the…

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Garage Conversion Tips

Just a few decades ago, homeowners tended to use their garages as storage and parking spaces, feeling accomplished if theirs were at least organized and well-lit. Today, it’s increasingly popular to renovate or repurpose garages, using them as extensions of the cohesive indoor spaces rather than ignored, neglected zones. If you are preparing to take the leap and upgrade your garage, our conversion tips will help you at each stage of this complex task.

Ultimately, your goal of enjoying a chic, modern garage is absolutely achievable, so don’t give up! The results will be well worth the hard work. Whether you want your garage to boost your creativity, serve as a customized play space for your children, or give you space to host your friends for your…

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Best Outdoor Tech Upgrades

The height of the year’s outdoor entertainment season is nearly here, so what better time than now to level up with our recommendation for 2023’s best outdoor tech upgrades? With products to improve your security, lawn health, and even your pool’s chemical balance, we are confident you’ll find something for yourself or a loved one below.

Best Outdoor Security Cameras

Arlo Pro 4 Spotlight Camera
$199.99

The Arlo 4 Spotlight Camera packs an impressive suite of features into an affordable, small product. Its 2k video is clear around the clock thanks to color night vision, auto-zoom, and motion tracking. It integrates with Siri, Alexa, Samsung’s SmartThings, and Apple’s HomeKit.

Because the Arlo Pro 4 is entirely wireless, it is a breeze to…

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Should You Hire an Interior Designer?

If you plan to purchase your dream home this summer or want to transform the appearance of your current home’s design, you may be wondering if you should hire an interior designer. A skilled interior designer will have the ability to evoke moods, themes, shapes, textures, and proportions throughout your home based on a series of interviews with you and your family.

While this working relationship could be the stuff of dreams for one homeowner, it could be a clear mistake for another. With that in mind, let’s examine the most common matters you should consider before hiring an interior designer for your upcoming overhaul.

Service Packages vs. Hourly Rates

Throughout the process of interviewing several designers (or simply devouring their…

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