Waukesha County Home

November, 2015

Homes Plus

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By Sara Rae Lancaster HOMES PLUS CORRESPONDENT It's time to deck the halls ... and maybe the kitchen ... and the bathroom ... and maybe that spare room you've been meaning to turn into a guest room. This holiday season, make your home feel merry and bright whether your budget and timeline is a lit- tle or a lot with these helpful tips from local home renovation and design experts. Plan ahead "If you're planning or wanting to do a larger-scale project, my advice is not to rush yourself," said Paulette Sodemann, a designer with Callen Construc- tion Inc. in Muskego. If an addition, a completely renovated kitchen or an updated bathroom is on your wish list, it may be too late for this holiday season. Most larger projects take at least six months to complete. But it's not too late to begin plan- ning for next year. Now is the time to gather your ideas, create your budget and, if working with local contractors, begin pricing out bids. When planning your renova- tions, whether large- or small- scale, focus your attention on the rooms and spaces you and your guests will be using most, Sode- mann suggested, like the kitchen, the family room and guest bed- rooms or bathrooms. Weekend warrior solutions If you must refresh a room before this holiday season, focus on weekend-sized projects, said Michael John Weber, interior designer with Collaborative Design Waukesha. Paint is one quick fix that can make a big statement. "The quickest way to update a room, and easiest for a do-it- yourselfer, is paint," said Weber, who is often hired just for paint consultation to help clients choose a good color flow through- out their home. In his opinion, opt for a single background color that can be used on all four walls (the trend to paint one wall a strong accent color is on its way out, he said). He recommends Benjamin Moore's Historic Colors and Williamsburg's collections to clients. The classic hues allow for seasonal tones — oranges, reds, purples, blues, greens, golds and silvers for example — to add pops of color and interest. In lieu of replacing kitchen or bathroom cabinets, consider painting them, Sodemann sug- gested. C O N T E N T S Fall and winter are great times to plan a drought-tolerant xeric garden Home inspections augment rather than replace professional work. One tip: Switch off the circuit breaker before you inspect the fur- nace. A publication of the Waukesha Freeman and Oconomowoc Enterprise • November 2015 Your Guide to Homes, Home Improvement, Lawn & Garden and MORE! HOMES HOMES WAUKESHA + Sprucing up for the holidays Keep it to a weekend and think refresh rather than remodel Creative Outlets Silvers and blues remain popular seasonal accents. If making one fast change, one designer recommends a new chandelier because the upcoming holidays often revolve around food. See SPRUCING UP/Page 2 A GREAT RATE TO MAKE YOUR HOME YOUR OWN. Home Equity Line of Credit as low as 3.75 % APR * Variable Rate* Not a Teaser Rate, No Closing Costs or Gimmicks! *Annual Percentage Rate (APR) is variable and will adjust according to the U.S. Prime Rate (as published in the Wall Street Journal) + 0% with a minimum APR of 3.75% and a maximum APR of 18.00%. A loan commitment fee of $ 36 with autopay or $ 50 without autopay is waived for the first year. An early termination fee of $300 may be assessed if the home line is terminated within the first 3 years. There will be no fees imposed to open the new home line. Property insurance will be required. This special offer is valid only for new home lines of $ 25,000 - $ 250,000, or existing home lines with an increase of $ 25,000 or more, with a loan-to-value (LTV) not exceeding 80% and subject to credit approval. Other financing options may be available to customers that do not meet the terms of this special offer, including LTV ratios as high as 105%. The interest on the portion of the credit extension that is greater than the fair market value of the dwelling is not tax deductible for Federal income tax purposes. Consult a tax advisor for further information regarding the deductibility of interest and charges. Other conditions or restrictions may apply. Member FDIC.

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