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’I Can’t Afford a Remodel’ A

COAT OF PAINT IS CHEAP AND MAKES A HUGE

DIFFERENCE

Kristen Castillo Creators.com

Remodeling multiple rooms in your home could cost over $18,000, but there’s a much more affordable option for a transformation. Painting the interior of a 2,300-square-foot home costs between $966 and $2,727. Both stats come from HomeAdvisor, an online resource for home improvement tips, advice and connections.

“A fresh coat of paint is a low-cost, little-effort way to make a big change to the way you welcome people into your home — inside and out,” says Erika Woelfel, Behr Paint Co.’s vice president, color and creative services.

New Look

A new coat of paint can be a fresh start.

“When you change with paint, it feels like a completely new room or Remodel | 2

‘I Can’t Afford a Remodel’

Remodel | from page 1

house,” says Gentry Stafford, vice president of marketing and store development at Spectrum Paint, the largest independent paint dealer in the country. “That’s a lot more appealing to people than having to deal with an entire move.”

Not only does paint look great, but it protects the property’s interior walls from wear and tear and shields the exterior from sun, rain, snow and wind.

Sheen

Factor in the circumstances of each room. For example, if you have kids, pets or hightraffic areas, pay close attention to your paint.

Do you prefer a matte finish? Glossy? Semi-gloss? Stafford says sheen is typically a consumer’s biggest consideration.

“If you want a paint that hides mistakes and is easy to touch up, you’ll want some -

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thing with a flat sheen,” she says. “If you want something that’s a little more durable, you’ll want eggshell or semigloss sheen, though those will show more imperfections in the finish.”

Generally, it’s practical to select an eggshell finish for the walls, semi-gloss for the trim, flat finish for the ceiling and semi-gloss for the front door. Don’t forget to prep the walls and prime them, too, for best results.

Setting a Mood

Before choosing a color, consider how you want the space to feel. A lighter color will create an airy feel, while a darker shade can make a space feel cozy and intimate.

If you want a classic color scheme, choose neutrals like light beiges and grays. Use darker colors such as gray, navy and black for accents on doors, kitchen islands, bathroom vanities or the lower half of kitchen cabinets.

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“Choosing interior and exterior paint color should always reflect your personal taste and style,” says Woelfel. Still, when it comes to choosing an exterior paint, it’s a long-term investment. Look for a high quality, durable exterior paint. “You should choose a color you’ll love for years,” she says.

Smart Investment

A fresh coat can also be a selling point.

“Paint color is one of the least expensive and most visually effective tools sellers use to engage buyers when selling their home,” says home transition expert Caroline M. Carter, founder and CEO of Done In A Day, Inc.

When this happens, call the water damage experts!

Carter’s color picks include white, soft gray or light taupe for the interior walls, paired with white ceilings and trim. For exteriors, she suggests white paint with black shutters and a black door.

Basic colors can be appealing for buyers so they can envision themselves living in the home.

Carmen Smith, home decor blogger and owner of Living Letter Home, loves to show her readers how to “make small changes on a small budget and make a big impact.”

Paint is her No. 1 tip. She’s painted all of the interior doors in her home and loves the finished look.

“We also couldn’t afford a full kitchen gut job, so we just painted our kitchen cabinets to hold us over,” says Smith.

She also used coral-colored paint on a lamp in her daughter’s nursery; when the girl grew, Smith repainted the lamp navy.

“Paint is the best, budgetfriendly way to transform the feel of an entire room,” she says.

Pet-Friendly Pad

Diane Schlindwein Creators.com

Whether you already have a beloved pet, are getting ready to welcome one into your life or are relocating to a new house, there are many ways to make sure your furry friend feels happy and safe in your home.

“Puppy- or dog-proofing a home is an important part of being a pet parent,” says Debi McKee of Rescue Dogs 101. “I recommend going through your house on your hands and knees to see it at your dog’s level.” Remember, everything they see is fair game to exploring pets.

“Try to identify any toys, objects, medications, rubbish your new pet may accidentally or even purposely try to eat,” says Dr. Ivan Duong, a veterinarian. “Chewing on electrical cords can cause burns in the mouth, shock or even death by electrocution. It is important to tie up any loose electrical cords and wrap them in spiral cable wrap or plastic casings to prevent chewing.”

Another veterinarian, Dr. Rolan Tripp, says houseplants invite messes from cat and dog digging. “Cats prefer dirt to what’s in the litterbox. Some dogs dig for fun,” he says. “Chewing on house plants makes pets sick or worse. Azaleas, some lily flowers, tulip and hyacinth bulbs, sago palms, common philodendrons, named from a long list, are toxic to pets.”

Cats are also notorious for their curious nature, he adds. “Keep dryer doors closed to prevent cats from seeking warmth and escaping your sight when tossing in a new load. Tiny kittens can drown in some toilets, so keep the lids down.”

On the other hand, laundry rooms are good areas to set up pet feeding and washing gear, especially if you can include organizers for their supplies and a bathing station designed for them, says Jamie Gold, a wellness design consultant and author. She adds that whatever the room, open and easily tipped trash cans can be a danger to

both cats and dogs. “Consider getting a pullout model that you can easily close behind a cabinet drawer.”

Tripp says you should consider a dog kennel when you are unable to supervise. “There are attractive wooden kennels that can be placed by your bed as a nightstand. Put a comfortable bed inside unless a dog chews it. Keep on hand an enzymatic neutralizer ... to clean the kennel. Chemical smells make kennels unpleasant for dogs.”

Companion animal vet -

erinarian Heather Venkat also recommends a sturdy dog crate, as well as designating specific quiet eating and resting areas. “Designate their eating space with a floor mat away from high traffic areas,” she says. “Cats like a cat tree with plenty of comfy platforms to sleep on. For dogs, a soft bed will do best.”

Real estate agent Kathryn Landow of Warburg Realty has advice for keeping your home pet-friendly and clean, too. “Try to avoid shaggy carpets and keep carpeting to a

minimum. If your dog is crate trained, a crate can be kept in a corner and custom crate covers can be made to match your apartment.”

“For people looking for dogfriendly apartments, know your walk-up limit,” says another Warburg agent, Rebecca Brooksher. “I’ve warned dog owners that a fifth-floor walkup is one thing as a human and quite another as a dog, having to climb up and down those stairs every time you need to go to the bathroom. And, of course, the owner would be making those treks, too.”

Nicole Ellis, a well-known certified professional dog trainer, concludes dogs especially just need time to adjust to a home, whether it is new just to them or the whole family is moving. “A new home is like a foreign country — new sights, new sounds, new smells, (and with a new pet) a new routine with new people and often other fur and feather friends. Understanding how your dog processes and adjusts to all these novel stimuli will help ease the transition for everyone.”

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Next Day Moulding Doors & Stairs Has something for every project

By Evan Walsh Reporter

SHREWSBURY – Next Day

Moulding Doors & Stairs offers a wide variety of finish and building products. From door casing, to baseboard, to handrail — Next Day has it in stock.

Next Day Moulding Doors & Stairs focuses on helping every customer. The company seeks to assist everyone — regardless of previous experience or project size — find the perfect material. Both first-time customers and experienced contractors can find what they’re looking for at the company’s conveniently located Shrewsbury showroom (614 Boston Turnpike).

“We set ourselves apart. Some competitors will only sell to contractors or industry professionals — we welcome everyone in our doors. We’re willing to help with any project — doesn’t matter the size,”

Store Manager Anthony Caruso told the Community Advocate.

When you walk into the showroom, you’ll see the company’s wide selection of different boards, mouldings, doors, and stairs. Not only does Next Day Moulding Doors & Stairs have the largest stock of moulding in New England. They focus on providing expert guidance

with fast turnaround for projects of all sizes.

Although an expansive selection may be difficult to navigate, the company makes it easy.

“Inside our showroom, we’ve branded a single wall in each of our stores that we refer to as the ‘Wall of Moulding.’ It has all of our stock products listed by species, size, color — it’s an actual

applied display of the products,” said Caruso.

If there are any questions, the staff at Next Day Moulding Doors & Stairs are there for you. According to Caruso, the company’s experienced staff can be assets to the customer.

“Experience is huge. The more you know, the easier you can assist your customer – we’re here to help… We’re very customer-focused, working with customers to get material to job sites as it’s needed. We have strong core values of communication,” he said.

The company’s vast selection is also readily available by phone, email, or on their website.

All of the stock products are available for same-day pick-up, any order placed before 2:00 p.m will be eligible for next-day delivery, and orders over $150 get free delivery. The company makes around 80 deliveries

throughout the state daily. The company is called “Next Day” Moulding Doors & Stairs for a reason.

“Just like our name says, we aim to deliver products quickly, accurately, and safely every time. We work directly with professional builders, remodelers, architects, designers, and homeowners, tailoring our services to meet any specific needs,” said Caruso.

Next Day Moulding Doors & Stairs also has showrooms in Braintree, Woburn, and Sharon. To learn more, visit https:// www.nextdaymoulding.com/ or call (781) 843-6666.

To contact Anthony Caruso directly, please email acaruso@ ndmoulding.com

Business Profiles are advertising features designed to provide information and background about Community Advocate advertisers.

Next Day Moulding Doors & Stairs has a Shrewsbury showroom at 614 Boston Turnpike.

New Season, New Decor

Kristen Castillo Creators.com

Are you looking to give your home decor a refresh but living on a budget? You don’t have to sacrifice style for price. Simple cosmetic touches like a fresh coat of paint or color accents can provide a fresh start without breaking the bank.

Paint

“Never underestimate the power of paint, especially if you’re willing to do it your -

self,” says Cristina Miguelez, a remodeling specialist for home remodeling website Fixr. “You can paint everything.”

Miguelez loves budget decorating and appreciates the versatility of paint, including countertop paint, appliance paint, floor paint, and wall and ceiling paint. She suggests choosing one focal point in a room, such as a great throw rug or window covering, and then pulling an accent color from that item to use on an accent wall and instantly create a cohesive design. Next, use a

color that sits next to that accent color on the color wheel and lighten it up as much as you can for a trim or ceiling paint. “This really brings things together but not in a dramatic way,” she says.

Paint works for updating furniture and other household items, too. Interior designer Kayla Goldstein advises looking for secondhand items and revamping them with spray paint.

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Feel confident and satisfied you’ve chosen the right products for excellent results.

Low-effort Home Efficiency Ways to keep your home running smoothly for less cash

Teresa Curto Creators.com

With the advent of products and technology, it’s become easier and less expensive to run a more energyefficient home. Make just a few simple changes and you can help your wallet and the environment at the same time, saving up to $500 a year on utility bills and cutting carbon pollution.

Being choosy about which systems and appliances you have in your home can greatly affect your energy costs. Do you really need a second refrigerator in your garage if it’s only filled with leftover beverages or condiments? Do you have fans that you leave running in rooms no one is in? Do you need an air conditioning unit when you live by the beach and have a cool sea breeze? For

each appliance you can eliminate from daily use, you’ll be rewarded on your energy bill. For the appliances you do need in your home, upgrading to those with smarter energy use is smart for your pocketbook. Energy Star, a program run by the Environmental Protection Agency, has helped Americans “save energy without sacrificing features of functionality” and “avoid $30 billion in energy costs” with its line of products. You may not be able to replace all of your older appliances with Energy Star-rated ones, and neither should you, if the ones you have function well. But major appliances like your water heater, washer and dryer use the largest percentage of energy, so when one of them bites the dust, have energy efficiency be a top consideration as you shop around.

How you use your appliances and electronics also makes a difference in energy waste. Though smaller appliances, such as toasters, printers, and televisions, make up a smaller percentage of energy use, unplugging them still has an impact on your energy bill. Chargers continue to use electricity even when they’re not charging a device, so unplug them when not in use as well. It may take some practice at first, but eventually, it will become second nature.

Replacing incandescent light bulbs with compact fluorescent lamps, or CFLs, is one of the top tips experts give for reducing energy consumption, for they use almost 70% less energy. At about $3 compared with 50 cents, the CFL bulb may seem to cost more than an incandescent light bulb, but you’ll need about 10 incandescent bulbs to equal the lifetime of just one CFL bulb. The biggest return on investment comes in the results that you’ll see over time on your energy bill. According to Green Home Guide, you can expect to shell out an estimated $80 annually with CFL bulbs and $350 annually with incandescent bulbs, a big difference.

Water-conscious home practices protect one of our most precious resources and

your budget. Luckily, some efficiency changes are relatively effortless and inexpensive. Replace your showerheads with low-flow ones, which come in a variety of flows to suit your comfort. Some come with a pause button so you can temporarily stop the flow as you lather up or shave. You

Thinking

water to handle liquid waste and solid waste. Both save you from wasting unneeded water with every

take many forms, but not many upgrades improve quality and durability while actually benefitting your finances. Whether you’re able to sweep the whole house for more energy efficiency or start with one small change at a time, every choice counts, and going more green is a win-win.

Unwanted Creatures Autumn pest prevention

DiAnne Crown Creators.com

As temperatures fall, bugs and rodents seek warm shelter in homes across the country. If that cozy new accommodation also has a handy source of food and water, all the better. Make sure yours doesn’t.

Prevention

According to pest control expert Lisa Jo Lupo, you should “seal your home against insects.” Weatherproof windows and doors. Caulk cracks along bathroom and kitchen fixtures. And “check your home for light leaks.” An easy way to check is for one person to walk along the outside of the house and shine a flashlight onto the house and another person to walk along inside to watch

for any light shining through holes. Mice can get through a hole slightly larger than a

quarter-inch, according to pest professional Simon Berenyi. Fill any gaps that can’t be re-

paired with steel wool.

According to Boyd Huneycutt, co-founder of Mosquito

Squad, firewood should be placed at least 20 feet from your house. That way, any ants, termites or other bugs that may live in the pile won’t easily transition to your house. For the same reason, keep trees and shrubs well-groomed and away from your house.

Clean and Defend

Clean up leaves, mulch and any other debris that might provide hiding places around your home’s foundation, says a Family Handyman article titled “14 Ways to Keep Out Fall Pests.” Also inspect your crawl space and basement for “large, obvious nests of shredded material,” which indicates the presence of rodents.” And install a chimney cap and screen to keep away rodents, birds and other creatures you don’t want inside your home.

Be sure that all dishes and inside surfaces are thoroughly cleaned each day and that all food products are tightly sealed and stored.

Thoroughly rinse recyclables, and store them in bins outside your home.

Vacuum the house at least once a week, and be sure to seal all trash bins that aren’t emptied daily.

Cleanliness is the key, according to an article by Michael Pomranz for Grandparents. com. “Cockroaches hate light and love the smell of paper, so try to avoid (creating) clutter areas where bugs can congregate, especially things like stacks of magazines, boxes or bags.”

Place moth traps near but not inside food pantries and clothes closets to catch moths without attracting them to the very places you want them to avoid. To use borax or diatomaceous earth as an organic alternative to toxic pesticides, simply sprinkle the powder across door thresholds and in susceptible corners of your basement, pantry and attic, where bugs are likely to enter, congregate and travel.

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Dry Up!

Mice need water. Make sure that pipes in kitchen and bathroom sink base cabinets don’t leak, that basement drains are dry and that sinks are emptied of all dishes, food and water before bed each night. Even condensation on pipes is attractive, according to Family Handyman.

Bedbugs, Termites, Lice or Fleas?

If you notice red, itchy bites on your arms and legs, piles of wings or droppings, nits in anyone’s hair, or other signs of particularly pesky problem bugs, it may be time to call a licensed professional. These problems spread fast and are hard to get rid of. Know when to call for help.

New Season, New Decor

Sprucing up | from page 7 thrift stores, garage sales and flea markets,” she says. “Almost anything has potential, and spray paint is phenomenal in bringing it out. You can find items for $30 or less and spruce them up and reimagine them.”

She advises investing in good-quality picture frames so you can dress up your walls with inexpensive artwork and photos, even creating your own gallery wall for a glam look.

Details

Paying attention to details can have big impact. Consider replacing kitchen and bathroom cabinet hardware, like knobs and draw pulls, with a fresh, affordable alternative. Many of these accents start at a few dollars.

Arizona designer and Realtor James Judge recommends adding trim to your walls to enhance your space. For example, you can choose wainscoting for a classic look or

add a grid pattern using basic 1-by-2-foot panels from a local hardware store.

“It’s a great way to make the space visually appealing,” says Judge, noting the whole project takes a few hours and costs under $100.

Throw rugs and runners can add visual appeal to the floor and warm up your place. Lighting can add oomph as well. Judge recommends adding wall sconces in an office or bedroom to make the space cozier without adding clutter.

Or simply replace lampshades. Also consider changing your light bulbs. “Sometimes we have a light that’s too blue and yellow would make the room cozier, or the opposite,” says Goldstein. “Make sure your light bulbs are light enough

and the right degree of warmth for the use of the room.”

Accents

When it comes to accents like throw pillows, decide whether you want them to blend with the main color scheme of the room or add a bold pop of color that perhaps opposes the color scheme.

You can rotate decor accents as needed, being mindful to limit clutter. Add festive seasonal touches to your space like different pillows, blankets, candles, table decor, table runners, placemats and more. Even though these items aren’t permanent, they add personality and allow you to experiment with colors, textures and patterns in small amounts. These creative interior design updates are quick, easy and inexpensive yet impactful. Keeping your home decor refreshed and up to date will help you fall in love with your home all over again.