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Recent Spaces Articles

Unpacking the places you live inside and out.

Some purchase and cultivate compost bins in their gardens, others designate a space for an open pile of vegetable ends and grass clippings. Whatever the method, the process can be rewarding for plants and the general environment surrounding the house.

Spaces-House ScarsI have been doing some spring cleaning around my house.  With the windows open and the sunlight streaming in, I am motivated to dump the drudgery of winter that had accumulated in closets, drawers, and cabinets.  The brilliance of sunlight does a marvelous job of highlighting the dust-bunnies and fingerprints that are dulled by the short cloudy days of winter.

Spaces-Introvert CroppedWomen who lean toward a more introverted outlook are not necessarily shy, and needing a little calm in each day does not make them less likely to go out and meet new people. Stephanie Wagner considers herself introverted meaning she values her quiet time and prefers to work alone. Even in college when her friends were out, she preferred a movie night in. Now Stephanie is a design consultant, decorator, and business owner, and she is finding ways to incorporate her preferred climate of calm into the spaces of her home.

"In my own home, you can imagine that finding quiet is a challenge. I am surrounded by extroverts looking to me to meet their needs. My son and husband are both live-out-loud people who thrive on social interaction–the louder, the better.  Amid the spinning, dancing, twirling, and bouncing that is my kitchen, I need to find an oasis or I can’t function," Stephanie says.

Spaces-Zsuzsanna KilianWater heaters are second only to household heating when it comes to biggest energy drain on your home, and if your water heater is old, it's probably sucking up more energy than necessary. Educate yourself on the statics and logistics of purchasing a new, energy efficient water heater.

Determine how much energy your water heater is using each month. When you're looking into purchasing a new unit, consider Energy Star-qualified water heaters that save in money and energy use each month. Some energy efficient utilities also qualify homeowners for a tax deduction or in-store rebates.

When we moved into our house seven years ago, I fell in love with the front bedroom. We sit up on a country hill, and the room is filled with morning sunlight and a generous view of rolling hills, evergreen trees, and running horses. My son was gifted this room at first because he was too little to be far away from the Master Suite.

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