Summer Renovation Ideas for Your Home

We all look forward to the summer months, so we can enjoy vacations at the beach or lounging under a tree in our backyard. But, did you know that summer is also a great season for home renovation?  If you want to upgrade your home, but were delayed due to the cold winter days and difficult weather, then summer is the perfect time for you.  Summer months have longer days, which means you have more daylight hours to spend on fixing the garage or painting the outside of your house.

If you are planning for a home renovation this summer, here are a few great ideas:

• Build a deck or a small porch. Wouldn’t you enjoy passing a lovely afternoon under the cool shade? Or, perhaps a clear night outside, gazing at the stars?  Having a deck in your garden or attached to your home can make that a reality. You can enjoy your time outside with friends or a good book in a comfortable way.
• Create a play area for the kids. You can install a small swimming pool for them to cool down and play in during the hot days or have a play station where they can jump, swing, or slide. A sandbox is also a great idea for toddlers who want to build their own castles. Summer is a much-awaited time for kids, so let them have a place of their own to enjoy it.
• Add a fresh coat of paint to your rooms. Painting is great activity to do during the summer because the paint dries faster.
• Construct an outdoor kitchen and dining area. It doesn’t have to be a big area…just enough room for a grill, food preparation, and a dining or picnic table for six. This offers you and your family a great alternative dining spot without spending much money.
• Repave your driveway. Hot days are ideal if you want to repave your driveway because there is no moisture to obstruct the setting and effectiveness of your new pavement.

Heather & Alan Davis
Oklahoma City Realtors

http://www.alanandheatherdavis.com

Centralized Enrollment Center Opening Soon for Edmond Students

Each year, hundreds of young students start kindergarten or transfer to a different school. This requires some adjustment for both the new students and their parents because they must learn the policies and procedures of the new school.

Because many questions often arise, the Edmond Public Schools District is opening a centralized enrollment center to give assistance to incoming students and transferees. The enrollment center will help students as they go through the new enrollment process, and it is designed to make the city’s schools feel more welcoming.

The new centralized enrollment center will be open to new students and transferees from June 24 until July 30. Parents who wish to enroll their kids in person at the center can go to Edmond Memorial High School, Monday to Thursday, from 8:00 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.  The school is located at 100 E 15^th St.

There are enrollment forms and requirements that parents need to complete prior to enrolling at the center. Parents can fill out the forms in advance by downloading them from http://www.edmondschools.net.

In addition, parents or legal guardians must bring two verifiable proofs of residency to show that both they and the student reside within the Edmond Public Schools District.  Parents also need to bring a photo ID of themselves, as well as the child’s legal birth certificate (for prekindergarten, kindergarten, and first grade) and immunization records.

Heather & Alan Davis
Oklahoma City Realtors

http://www.alanandheatherdavis.com

Best Tips when it comes to Furniture Restoration

Do you have old and worn out furniture at home?  Don’t just throw it away. Furniture is an investment that can last for years, and there is no reason to throw it away before its time has come.  The best thing to do is restore your furniture to make it look attractive and brand new, so you can preserve your investment by giving it new life rather than spending more money on something new.

When it comes to furniture restoration, there are certain tips that you should follow in order to make the project a success.

• Budget – Always set a budget when undertaking a home project.  There will be costs associated with buying new materials for your furniture, so give yourself a budget and stick to it.  Make your budget realistic based on the type of project it is. Also, make sure you keep your costs as minimal as possible, so you don’t end up paying more than what it would cost to buy something new.
• Schedule properly – Furniture restoration is not an easy or fast task. Most of the time, it requires making repairs, painting, staining, and drying. You will need to carve out time during the weekends or when you have time available in the evening after work.
• Know what you are doing – Restoring your furniture is a practical idea, but not knowing what you’re doing and risking doing something wrong is not a good idea. You need to properly research how to restore your type of furniture in order to make your task easier and produce high-quality results.
• Consider your safety – Doing the project yourself can open up the risk of hurting your eyes or cutting yourself.  Consider the proper safety gear and tools required before tackling the task. The project isn’t worth doing yourself if it is highly likely that you will injure yourself….in cases like that, it is better to hire a professional.
• Plan well before starting the task – Always take the time to plan in advance what you need to do in order to end up with the final result that you’re wanting. Planning will help you complete the task faster because you will have a written-out list of steps to follow.
• Hire a professional – If you think your skills fall short of what it will take to restore your furniture properly, hire a professional.

Heather & Alan Davis
Oklahoma City Realtors

http://www.alanandheatherdavis.com

Incorporating Rock Wall Designs into Your Home

Rocks are one of the most widely used materials for home construction. Oftentimes, they are used as part of the foundation, walls, or floors. There are many other ways you can use rock in the interior and exterior of your home, however.  Current home designers are integrating the use of rock wall designs to add more style and natural appeal to their homes. It is a great way to make a home feel more stylish and fresh.

Here are a few ideas:

• Create a lovely landscape foundation using rock walls. Build a small wall around your flower bed to add to its overall design. You can make it curvy or straight to create a gardening style that is all your own.
• Add rocks to your bathroom wall. We all want a bathroom that makes us feel comfortable and warm. Using natural materials inside your bathroom can achieve a more relaxing, spa-like atmosphere. Use a ceiling-to-floor rock wall by your vanity with varying rock sizes and colors.  Or, take it to the next level, and use stones as the floor of your shower.
• Build natural patio seats. Instead of using wood or other materials, use a low rock wall for patio seating. It will easily blend with your patio and natural surroundings.  You can even modify the top of your seats for added comfort by using a flat and smooth stone or customized cushions.
• Install a fountain on your courtyard. According to Feng Shui, adding moving water to your home can improve the flow of positive energy. A grand fountain at the end of your yard will provide a relaxing spot, where you can rest all day or meditate.
• Surround your indoor fireplace with a rock wall formation. Normally, we see homes with fireplaces made of cement or brick. Why not use an alternative material? Large rocks piled around your fireplace can create a breathtaking visual. It will help make your fireplace a greater focal point and more inviting, especially on colder nights.
• Build a multi-layer terrace outside your home. If you have ample space in your backyard,  build three to four layers of stone terrace to cascade down your lawn. Decorate each layer with blooming flowers of different colors and watch your landscaping transform before your eyes.

Heather & Alan Davis
Oklahoma City Realtors

http://www.alanandheatherdavis.com

This Year’s Summer Reading Programs in OKC Are Better Than Ever

School is over, but for parents who do not want their kids to stop learning over the summer, they may be looking for educational programs in which they can enroll their kids.  That is why summer reading programs continue to be popular in Oklahoma City. This year, the Metropolitan Library System will once again host summer reading programs to encourage children and teens to continue reading and learning, even during summer break. The theme is “Dig Into Reading”.

The summer reading programs are offered to children of all ages in the metropolitan area, ranging from early childhood to teens. Each program will include reading, fun activities, and rewards. This year, about 14,000 books are available for reading, and prizes are being donated by Sonic.

Program games for each category will have different criteria and goals. For early childhood, the program is open to children ranging from newborns to preschoolers. The goal is to read to your child or listen to a book for three hours. The older children category is open to kids from kindergarten to 6^th grade with the goal of reading or listening for 6 hours. The teen category is for 7^th to 12^th graders, and teens will need to read or listen for 8 hours.  Prizes await those who reach their goals.  Children will win a free book, coupons to area attractions, and backpacks.

Aside from the reading games, there will also be other activities and free music programs and concerts. Artwork and programming are also available. The summer reading programs run through July 31^st.

Heather & Alan Davis
Oklahoma City Realtors

http://www.alanandheatherdavis.com

How to Extend the Life of Your Home and Allow It to Age Gracefully

When you know you can settle into your home for many years to come, it makes you feel particularly comfortable and secure.  Your home is a great refuge, where you can relax and remove yourself from the stresses of work and everyday life.  You can incorporate any sort of decor or design into your home, knowing that it will stay with you for many years.

Unfortunately, not all homes are in a state where they can guarantee a long future, and homes can deteriorate due to poor maintenance and improper planning. There are many ways you can extend the life of our home, however, and here are a few tips for enabling your home to age gracefully:

• Check and repair any damage as soon as possible. No matter how minimal the problem is, if you take the time to repair it before it becomes too big, you will guarantee a longer lasting home. Gradual deterioration of a house starts with small damage, so address issues as soon as possible.
• Paint your home every 5 years. This will add a new layer of protection to your home and keep it looking fresh and alive.  You can hire someone to pain your home exterior, or you can do the job yourself to avoid labor costs.
• Open your home interior to possible repurposing. Your family’s needs are constantly changing, depending on how many children you have, how old they are, and if you have older family members move back in with you, etc. Take the time to repurpose old rooms to accommodate the needs of every family member.  That may mean turning a spare room into a nursery or transforming a guest room into an office. This way, you are able to address all of your needs without having to move to a bigger house.
• Constantly keep everything clean.  This does not only apply to your rooms and floors, but also to hidden corners or unexposed spaces. You need to regularly clean your chimney, garage, and gutters to keep them working properly and prevent easily avoidable damage due to dirt accumulation.
• Renovate your home. Add a fresh coat of paint to your walls or rearrange your living room furniture. You can also even add a deck or mini-porch to your backyard.  These renovation projects will beautify your home and also make you feel more comfortable and at ease inside your house.

Extending the life of your home is an investment worth making. Not only will you be able to maintain a beautiful home that you can enjoy long term, but it will help preserve memories for generation to come.

Heather & Alan Davis
Oklahoma City Realtors

http://www.alanandheatherdavis.com

Useful Guide for Buying Antique Furniture

It’s fun to experiment when it comes to home decorating and renovation. When we decide to reinvent the look of our home, we usually either go with a new trend or back to the past. Incorporating antique furniture is a great way to achieve a successful blast from the past, and there are many stores, and even websites, where you can find them. However, most people fail to buy the right kind of antique furniture and they either end up spending more than they should or they bring home something that doesn’t actually fit their home.

When buying an antique, there are certain guidelines you should follow, so you buy the right thing for your home. Here are a few tips:

• Know where to shop. There are thousands of antique furniture options, but unfortunately, not all of them come from a good source. Some of them are only replicas or low-quality knock-offs, so what you get isn’t what you pay for. Visit reputable antique shops or go to auctions to find the real deal. Remember, antiques can be priceless and therefore may require a good investment. So, be sure you know that what you’re paying for is real.
• Know what you want. Prepare yourself before you begin your search by considering what kind of antique furniture you actually want. There can be many different options for an antique chest, for example, so you need to have an idea of which size, which color, which style will look best in your home.
• Know your budget. Antique furniture can be expensive, and if you only follow you heart, you will end up with an empty bank account. Always set a budget before you start looking for antique furniture. This way, if the price is beyond what you are able to pay, you can move on before you become too attached to a piece. There are still other options.
• Know more about the antique you want to buy. That will put you at an advantage, especially if you are buying from an antique shop because you will be able to ask knowledgeable questions to get more information about a piece. Familiarize yourself with the age of the furniture you’re looking for, the patina of the wood you like, its history, imperfections, etc. This will give you an idea on what you are wanting to buy and bring home.

Antiques are excellent addition to a classic home, and their distinctive beauty can make your home more elegant and unique. Learn more about antiques to find the best piece for your home at the right price.

Heather & Alan Davis
Oklahoma City Realtors

http://www.alanandheatherdavis.com