Nearly 83 percent of taxpayers will get money back from Uncle Sam this year, with refunds averaging $3,120. While you can’t go wrong saving the cash or using it to pay down debt, the money may be enough to cover a smaller home improvement project that could add value to your house or, more immediately, improve your quality of life. Now that you’ve finally gotten that tax return filed, it’s time to start planning what you’ll do with your refund. Photo: taxrefunders.com Even if these smaller fixes won’t suddenly make your house much more valuable, they can help maximize the enjoyment you...

With the transition to warmer weather and longer days, you may be itching to prepare your dwelling for the months ahead. Spring offers some bountiful opportunities to work on your home and update its appearance both inside and out. The following are some spring renovation project ideas that can boost your home’s functionality and aesthetic. Say Yes to Kitchen Improvements A kitchen remodel may sound like a costly and major renovation project for spring. However, a few little tweaks can turn your kitchen from drab to fab in no time. If you don’t feel like getting new cabinets, there are...

Open kitchen shelving provides handy storage and visually expands a kitchen space. A popular kitchen trend is to remove existing upper cabinets and install open shelves in their place. The shelves are often found in the form of floating shelves. Floating shelves may have traditional brackets, which are seen. We love the new industrial look of these shelf brackets.  Photo: The Original Granite Bracket Brackets can also be hidden in the wall before Sheetrock goes up so that the finished result gives an illusion of floating. The brackets are installed in such a way that you never see the bracket...

We believe the kitchen is the heart of the home. Therefore, in the midst of the house party season, you may be looking at your kitchen and wondering how it can work better when you’re the host. Entertaining comes with its own set of challenges and needs, and if you have guests over often, it may be worthwhile to adjust the form and function of your kitchen to account for a crowd rather than simply for your immediate family. We have given you seven ideas to consider when creating a perfect party kitchen. Open the floor plan Nothing stifles the atmosphere of...