Windermere Blog | Category: Living

August 22, 2016

How the American Home has Evolved

Posted in Living by Shelley Rossi

Owning a home has been an American tradition from the start. But the home itself has changed dramatically over the years. For example, you may be surprised to learn how much the size of the average American home has increased since the turn of the 20th century—especially when you compare it to the size of the average family during the same time period.
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August 19, 2016

Why So Many Americans Are Either Upsizing or Downsizing

Posted in Buying, Selling, and Living by Shelley Rossi

According to two recent surveys that took industry watchers by surprise, many family homeowners are putting frugality aside and upsizing to new houses that average as large as 2,480 square feet (an increase of as much as 13 percent from the year before), and sometimes exceed 3,500 square feet in size.
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August 12, 2016

How Long Is Your Contractor Liable?

Posted in Houzz.com and Living by Houzz.com

Constructing or remodeling a home is a complex, expensive endeavor. Ideally, everything goes as planned, and when the dust clears, the homeowner can settle in and enjoy the new home — and never think about the building process again.
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August 08, 2016

6 Smart Home Gadgets Perfect for Summer Fun

Posted in Living by Kelly Schwarze

Tell your friends and families to clear their weekend schedules throughout the entire summer—your house is the place to be for fun all season long. If you sloughed through winter with visions of making your house the hangout spot of the summer, you’ll want to bookmark this page. We’re outlining the gadgets you’ll need on hand to turn your home into a modern entertaining destination!
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August 05, 2016

25 Ways to Make the Most of Small Spaces

Posted in Living by Shelley Rossi

Suburban homes—with their large spaces, big yards, and separate bedrooms for every child—will always be popular with families, especially families of four or more. But there’s also a contingent today that’s eager to live in a dense urban setting: a high-rise condominium in the downtown core, a small home in an urban neighborhood, a small apartment, or even a shared housing arrangement.
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July 22, 2016

6 Alternative Flooring Solutions to Refresh Your Home

Posted in Houzz.com and Living by Houzz.com

Feeling ho-hum about classic hardwood floors? Here are six alternative floor solutions that can give any room in your house a fresh sense of personality, whether you’re starting from scratch or looking for an inexpensive DIY update.
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July 19, 2016

The Timeless Appeal of the Equestrian Life

Posted in Living by KiamaLise Herres

It struck me, in the midst of a big bustling city where the only horses are the giant stone ones gracing the façades of old buildings and the few scattered cart horses pulling excited tourists through Central Park, that no matter who you are or where you live, the equestrian lifestyle has ubiquitous appeal.
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July 18, 2016

Refinancing: What you need to know

Posted in Living by Tara Sharp

Thanks to all-time-low interest rates, the number of homeowners refinancing their mortgages is at an all-time high. Of course, no one should refinance just because everyone else is doing it. But, for many homeowners, the benefits are simply too hard to ignore any longer.
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July 15, 2016

3 Garden Alternatives for a Patchy Lawn

Posted in Houzz.com and Living by Houzz.com

I’ve met with more than one client while standing on a struggling lawn. “I keep trying,” they tell me, “but the grass won’t grow.” I tell them that maybe this means there’s another option, something even better than a lawn. Maybe it’s time for a garden. And it’s as if I’d just told them the secret to eternal happiness and long life.
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June 29, 2016

A Home Addition: What to Consider Before Starting to Build

Posted in Selling, Living, and Architecture by Tara Sharp

Adding on to your current home may be your best bet if you’re short on space, but you don’t want to move or can’t find another house in the area with all the qualities you’re seeking. It’s also an attractive option if the house you have is lacking just one significant element (a family room, another bedroom, a larger kitchen, a separate apartment, etc.).
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