Prep your home for spring by shedding its winter layers and bringing in nature and fresh colors!

Photo: Anita Martinz from Klagenfurt, Austria (Colorful spring garden) via Wikimedia Commons

Spring officially sprung on March 20, 2013 and now is the perfect time to begin prepping for the season ahead. From refreshing your decor and removing winter layers to performing needed home maintenance. The tasks on this checklist will get your house ready for spring inside and out.

Swap Home Accessories: after you remove its cozy winter layers, your house may feel a bit bare; take that as your cue to bring in spring color. A few bright throw pillows, a colorful glass vase and a fun printed rug are easy ways to wake up your rooms.

Switch the Bed Linens and Rotate the Mattress: give your bedroom a spring awakening by pulling off the heavy duvet or thick blankets and layering on lighter bed linens. Remember to have quilts and blankets cleaned before storing tem to avoid moth damage.

Freshen Your Entry and Mudroom: After a winter of snow, road salt, mud and grime; our home's entrances are bound to be a little worse for the wear. Mop the floors, wipe down walls and doors, and declutter. Now is also a good time to take a look at your doormats and consider rolling out fresh rugs for spring.

Spruce Up Your Landing Zone: take a moment to assess the place where you put your belongings when you come in the door. Remove anything that doesn't belong and make a neat spot for keys and mail. A green plant or small vase of flowers on a pretty tray and a dish for change are prefect finishing touches.

Remove Layers: in winter layering your home with textiles feels cozy, but spring is the time for streamlining and shedding excess. Roll up your fluffiest rugs in favor of flat-weave ones or bare floors, and put away throws and pillows that feel too wintry.

Rotate Toys and Books: after months of playing with the same toys, kids are primed for a room update. If you keep a portion of your child's toys and books packed away in a closet, you can rotate in a fresh selection every few months - without buying anything new!

Bring in Spring Branches: if you have blooming branches right outside your door, by all means clip some and bring them in. Displayed in a large vase or jar, they can last for months. Even if it will be a while before the flowers appear, branches with green buds or leaves can make a lovely arrangement. 

Clean Gutters and Inspect Your Home's Exterior: it's important to remove debris from gutters before spring rains and melting snow overload the system - you can hire someone to do this or take on the task yourself (carefully) with a good ladder. Now is also a good time to take a quick walk around the exterior of your home with an eye out for damage that may have gone unnoticed during winter, and if you use storm shutters, now is the time to remove them.

---

Your March Checklist for a Smooth-Running Home

February Checklist for a Smooth Running Home

Romancing the home includes fresh air, fresh flowers and fresh supplies - and taking timeless sickness prevention tips to heart.

Stay toasty warm at home while saving energy, enjoy the light of lengthening days streaming through your freshly cleaned windows and take a break to plan next season's garden over a cup of tea. From preventive (dealing with flu-season germs) to the purely fun (give your house a valentine), this checklist is filled with helpful tips to keep your home running smoothly all month long. 

Keep warm at home

You can stay toasty and conserve energy with a few simple actions:

• Close doors to unused rooms
• Move furniture away from heating vents
• Be sure the chimney flue is closed when it's not in use
• Use door snakes and door sweeps to stop drafts

Keep your thermostat set to a reasonable level and set out plenty of warm quilts and throws to snuggle under.

Clean the air

Refresh your home with green plants or even grass planted in wooden or zinc trays. Also be sure to crack a window or two each morning, if only for a few minutes (even when it's cold). Getting fresh air into your home is especially important in winter, when closed environments tend to increase allergens and illness.

Disinfect

Pay special attention to places where germs tend to congregate. Desks, phones, doorknobs, handles and remote controls top the list. And if anyone in your household is sick, be especially vigilant in trying to prevent it from spreading to everyone in the house.

Touch up walls and make windows shine

With lengthening days bringing a bit more light into our homes, now is a great time to polish up the windows and walls. Fill small holes in walls and touch up the areas with paint, use your vacuum attachment to clear dust from high corners, and wipe down baseboards and windows.

Protect bathrooms from moisture, mildew and mold

It can be hard to give bathrooms enough ventilation at this time of year, and unfortunately that can lead to mildew or even harmful molds. Now is a good time to give the bathroom a thorough cleaning, paying special attention to grout, the ceiling and any other areas showing signs of excess moisture or mildew.

Clear out the pantry and upgrade your emergency kit

Midway through winter is a great time to give your pantry a thorough sorting. Toss the forgotten tins of Christmas cookies, consolidate bulk items into airtight containers and wipe down shelves. While you are in there, be sure you have enough emergency supplies on hand - visit the American Red Cross website for a complete list of recommended supplies.

Start a project file

Take advantage of winter downtime to daydream about home and garden plans. Keeping your ideas organized will help you stay on track to complete your projects, so start by storing everything in one place. A paper file or bulletin board is great for tear sheets, but a basket or box is better for storing bulky samples. You can even create your to-do list in an ideabook. Choose what will work best for you.

Treat your house to fresh flowers

Give your house a special valentine by bringing home cut flowers every week this month. In February most markets have great deals on cut blooms, so scoop up an armful of whatever is on sale. Experiment with new ways of arranging your flowers once your bring them home - cut them short, divide them up into bud vases of different heights, plunk them in pitchers or teapots... get creative!

*You are reading an article from an ideabook originally posted on houzz.com

12 Days of Christmas DIY

From pine cone garlands to recycled coffee-cup ornaments, we've gathered 12 easy-to-do Christmas DIY projects to brighten your holidays.

Photo: BobVila.com

Ornament Garland

Who said ornaments had to go in trees?

String together leftover ornaments - or pick up some new ones - to make this beautiful holiday garland.

Simply thread lightweight twine through the hook hole of each ornament and then cluster them tightly.

In no time, you'll be decking the halls.

Photo: BobVila.com

Ice Luminaries

Fill a plastic container two-thirds of the way with water, cranberries, and greens.

Then place a smaller container (filled with water for weight) inside the first.

Pop the whole thing in the freezer and once frozen, run it under hot water until the plastic containers separate.

Insert a votive and strike a match!

Photo: BobVila.com

Bell Jar Ornaments

Separate the stem and flute from the bottoms of plastic wine glasses, trimming down their stems with a Dremel or utility knife.

Glue small figurines to pieces of chipboard, then glue the wine glass (flute-side down) onto the chipboard, over the figurines.

Once everything dries, funnel in glitter to complete the winter scene.

Photo: BobVila.com

Paper Christmas Tree Skirt

Cut six large concentric circles out of craft paper and layer them on top of each other, each layer slightly smaller than the one underneath.

Next, cut a smaller circle - large enough for the trunk of the tree - out of the center of these circles. 

Glue each layer together around this opening and cut fringe around the edges for a charming and unique tree skirt!

Photo: BobVila.com

Candy Lights

Just when you thought Christmas lights couldn't get any cuter!

Clump together colored cellophane and a section of twinkle lights.

Place inside a light, clear container (e.g., corsage box). 

Wrap colored cellophane around the outside of the container and squeeze pipe cleaners around each end to create the look of a candy wrapper.

Repeat as many times as you can along the string.

Photo: BobVila.com

Paper Ornaments

These are DIY ornaments you can make while drinking your morning coffee!

Cut newspaper - or any paper - into thin strips.

Fold the strips into loops.

Hot glue the loops together in a circle.

Add chipboard stars to the center for flair.

Photo: BobVila.com

Stenciled Mugs

Everyone loves mugs!

Stencil a message or design of your choosing on a plain mug using glass paint.

Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Fill with presents or keep for yourself - get that hot chocolate ready!

Photo: BobVila.com

Pine Cone Garland

A pine cone garland can bring in a rustic sense of the outdoors, especially this time of year.

Simply string loops to the base of each pine cone and then tie each loop to a long string.

Step by step tutorial

Photo: BobVila.com

Christmasy Candle

Put a branch of greenery in the bottom of a Mason jar.

Fill two-thirds of the way with water.

Then add some cranberries and a floating candle for a simple and charming accent to invite holiday cheer.

Photo: BobVila.com

Cupcake Liner Christmas Trees

Not every tree needs branches!

Pin layers of holiday cupcake liners to a foam cone for a fun and easy tabletop Christmas tree.

Photo: BobVila.com

Holiday Potpourri

Make your whole house smell like the boughs of a Christmas tree.

Spritz some wintery pine cones and greenery with a spray made from a mixutre of distilled water and essential oils.

I can practically smell it from here!

Photo: BobVila.com

Evergreen Wreath

Start with a hoop, either plastic or made from a branch.

Place a clump of greenery on the hoop and secure it by tightly wrapping wire around the stems.

Layer a second bunch over the first, being careful to conceal the wire.

Repeat all the way around the circle... and you've got yourself an evergreen wreath!

Holiday Home Improvement Projects

The run-up to the holiday season is a good time to be taking care of home improvement projects. Friends and family will be dropping by a bit more frequently, so they'll be able to see the fruit of your labors.

Even if your home isn't a major social setting, if you're like most of us, you tend to spend a bit more time indoors in the winter, so you might as well be making the most of your home for the people living in it: you.

Seal the driveway and fix those cracks in the sidewalk

Salt on the roads and frequent temperature changes can break down your entrance ways. Make a good impression on the outside of your home and avoid curious looks from guests thinking "was that crack always there?"

Home theatre area

You've got a big screen television and a great sound system. But what about the stand the TV rests on? How about the decor? You may want to look at custom cabinets or storage for your DVDs and related items. Is the couch your guests will be sitting on looking a bit worn? Upgrade and replace as needed. You may also want to consider mounting your flat screen television on a wall for more effective use of space and a sophisticated look. 

The kitchen: the most used room in the house

When you've got company over for the holidays, even if the main event may be in the living room, people naturally gravitate towards the kitchen for an extra cup of cocoa or a gingerbread cookie from the pantry. Think about new cabinets, solid slab countertops or a coat of paint that brightens up the room can create a welcoming feel. And if you've upgraded your kitchen utilities like your dishwasher, you'll have an easier time after the party is done.

Bathroom fix-ups

New tiles and re-grouting can add a fresh look to your bathroom. Maybe it's also time to add touches like a new mirror, shower curtain or bathroom mat.

Designer fireplace and maintenance

A lot of holiday parties tend to center around the fireplace. Custom fireplaces that double as art installations are becoming more popular. More homes are also including them in other parts of the house besides the living room, such as in the kitchen or master bedroom.

If installation is a bigger job than you were thinking and you've already got a working fireplace, at least get your maintenance done, cleaning it up, checking connections and ventilation and ensuring cracks in the mantle or other areas get sealed properly.

Give yourself a home improvement schedule

You're not going to want to deal with dust and packaging from home improvement projects while your guests are arriving. Give yourself plenty of time to work through your improvements, and don't bit off more than you can chew. Give yourself a realistic list to accomplish and if you can't get it done before New Year's Eve, well, there's always next year.

November 2012 Newsletter

To subscribe to our monthly newsletter click here

American Cabinet & Flooring, Inc. | November 2012 | Newsletter      NEW! In-stock Cabinetry Attractive. Economical. Simple We are pleased to announce our new in-stock Merillat Cabinetry has arrived! Featuring a clean, modern style with a traditional overlay door and a flat center panel design these in-stock cabinets provide you, our valued customer, straightforward choices that can create exceptional looks. All at a price that makes them practical and extremely simple. Visit our website to see our complete selection of in-stock Merillat cabinets! 20 Holiday Essentials to Get You to New Year's   No matter how much we prepare for the holidays, something usually slips through the cracks. And without fail, it goes unnoticed until the exact moment that we need it. Avoid last-minute scrambles this year by stocking up on these essentials. Photo & Article Source: Houzz.com   1). Brown kraft paper can be used for wrapping gifts, covering up the kids' (or adults') table, making place settings, as a table runner or for gift tags. 2). Colorful tape makes any wrapping job more fun, stock up for birthdays while you're at it. 3). Twine in cheerful colors can be used for wrapping pretty presents and packages, tying tags, hanging decor and more. 4). A gold pen can be used to dress up brown kraft paper and colored gift tags or make a thank-you note look extra special. 5). Scissors - consider buying a colorful pair for extra holiday cheer.  6). A hole punch and colored paper to make gift tags and confetti, at the same time! 7). White twinkle lights can make any room look festive, keep these on hand for quick decor. 8). Candles in all shapes and sizes should be on hand. Stock up on scented candles for bathrooms, decorative candles and votives for table settings, and Hanukkah candles for those eight special nights.  9). Matches should be ready for all your candles, a cozy fire and maybe a New Year's Eve sparkler or two. 10). Cloth napkins make even impromptu meals feel formal, and can take the wear and tear that comes with heavy holiday meals. 11). A serving tray will present your annual holiday cheese ball in style. 12). Tide pens will take care of those inevitable red wine and gravy spills. 13). A bottle opener. Don't be the host who has to run to the store 15 minutes before the midnight toast! 14). Coasters strategically placed on every table to protect your furniture. 15). DIY drink tags in holiday colors help your guests keep track of their glasses. Just trace the bottom of a wine glass on a piece of paper and trace a dime in the center. Cut both circles out with a silt between and use your gold pen to label each one. 16). A doormat in a bright color can help remind guests to wipe their shoes before coming in. 17). Thank-you cards. A handwritten note is a great way to show family and friends your appreciation. 18). Holiday stamps announce the arrival of a special invitation or note before the envelope has even been opened. 19). Cleaning supplies will take care of any pre- and post party messes.  20). Whether you're sore from late-night dancing or have a headache from too many Christmas carols, you'll want to keep a bottle of ibuprofen around this holiday season! Have a safe and happy Thanksgiving holiday from all of us at American Cabinet & Flooring! We will be closed on Thursday, November 22nd for the holiday but will be open on Friday, November 23rd. Come see us for Black Friday shopping and take advantage of the great promotions currently running before they expire! Forward to a Friend GE Capital Fast. Smart. Simple. Quick Credit Decisions Simple & fast application process Low minimum monthly payments Come in & see a Sales Associate for program details and apply today! We want to hear from you! We value feedback from our customers and want to hear how we did on your project. You can easily submit a review as well as see what others are saying about American Cabinet & Flooring by clicking on the following links: Angie's List Facebook Google Local CitySearch Yahoo Local Yellow Pages DexKnows Houzz

To subscribe to our monthly newsletter click here