Homes

Published December 19, 2017

C&G Newspapers

Historical buildings turning into luxury apartments

DETROIT — The Broderick Tower building on Witherell Street at Woodward Avenue, which completed a $55 million renovation in 2012, is the site of luxurious apartments featuring open floor plans, granite counters and stainless steel appliances, along with amazing views.

Published December 11, 2017

C&G Newspapers

Inventory still lacking in housing market, may continue into 2018

METRO DETROIT — The housing market in metro Detroit continues to follow the recent trend of benefiting the sellers as 2017 comes to a close, as there isn’t enough inventory to fulfill the demand from buyers.

Published December 6, 2017

C&G Newspapers

Music and melodies drum up a merry Christmas at home

METRO DETROIT — Whether it’s decorating the Christmas tree, baking batches of cookies or hosting a family party, many people fine-tune the music inside the home to add to the festivities.

Published November 29, 2017

C&G Newspapers

Programs aim to help low-income households with utility bills

METRO DETROIT — Even though that cold spell is coming, not all individuals and family households can quell their financial woes. There are a few different options to help people who have fallen on hard times or live on fixed incomes.

Published November 10, 2017

Troy Times

Furniture trends toward shades of gray and movement

Published November 7, 2017

Grosse Pointe Times

Older home painting projects call for a brush with history

Published October 30, 2017

Macomb Township Chronicle

Smart home products are making life easier, from turning on lights to opening doors

Published October 24, 2017

Roseville - Eastpointe Eastsider

Firefighters say this one simple action could save lives

Published October 18, 2017

Farmington Press

Experts say storm doors offer protection, peace of mind

Published October 17, 2017

Advertiser Times

Nonprofits urge support for heat assistance funding

METRO DETROIT — Millions of people across the United States are kept warm each year thanks to funding from the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. However, declining federal appropriations means groups that receive money from this fund are finding it harder and harder to assist those in need.

Published October 11, 2017

St. Clair Shores Sentinel

Experts say now is the time for a yearly furnace check

METRO DETROIT — Although Mother Nature can’t seem to make up her mind as to whether the furnace or air conditioning is needed on any given day, the fact remains that as the calendar counts down to winter, more and more residents will need to switch on their heat.

But will it work?

Heating and cooling experts all recommend an annual check of the furnace to make sure a professional can catch any problems before the outside thermometer dips.

Published October 3, 2017

Shelby - Utica News

I howl, you howl, we all howl for Halloween

METRO DETROIT — You don’t have to howl if you don’t want to, but Halloween is coming, and for many it’s a time of excitement that circles around with the annual changing of the seasons.

The month of October allows many people to celebrate being a kid again with costume parties or surrounding themselves with cute or spooky Halloween décor.

Published September 27, 2017

Rochester Post

Tiny-home trend comes to metro Detroit

METRO DETROIT — The tiny-home movement has already taken over home improvement channels and is slowly starting to spread across the country, as more people are drawn to the idea of downsizing.

Locally, Scott Baker is hoping the trend will grow some feet in the metro Detroit area.

Baker recently started the company Cool Tiny Homes, based in Rochester, to offer tiny homes to people looking to bring a small cottage up north or to a hunting site.

“I like the idea of minimization to kind of get back to your roots,” he said.

Published September 20, 2017

Fraser - Clinton Township Chronicle

Kitchen countertops can modernize homes, improve resale value

METRO DETROIT — The most occupied room in a house is arguably the kitchen, so a nice countertop really goes a long way.

As the years have passed, times have changed. Many homes now forgo the old plastic laminate look in exchange for a more chic, yet classic, look.

Jena Anastasio, an interior designer at Transitions Remodeling in Farmington Hills, said she has noticed an influx in popularity in the quartz market.

Published September 13, 2017

Shelby - Utica News

Are you prepared for an emergency?

METRO DETROIT — It’s sometimes easy to forget in our modern, often comfortable lives that something could throw a wrench into our routines and bring life as we know it to a screeching halt.

September is National Preparedness Month, a timely educational effort amid the wildfires, hurricanes and flooding that have been filling the news of late.

Local experts weighed in on what residents in the metro Detroit area can do to make sure they are ready for emergencies, such as water main breaks or power outages, or disasters, such as tornadoes or flooding.

Published September 5, 2017

St. Clair Shores Sentinel

Take steps now to protect unoccupied cottages, homes

METRO DETROIT — Now that the Labor Day holiday weekend is through, many Michiganders’ thoughts are turning to one of two things: closing up the cottage or getting ready to close up the home before heading south for the winter.

Local safety officials say that in both cases, there are a number of things that should be done to protect an unoccupied house.

The first thing St. Clair Shores Police Community Resource Officer Chad Hammer recommends is making sure that the house appears to be occupied.

Published August 30, 2017

Macomb Township Chronicle

Sellers have advantage in crowded housing market

METRO DETROIT — The buildup to the start of school not only has parents scrambling for school supplies and a new wardrobe for their kids, but has also made the housing market in metro Detroit a busy one this summer.

A market saturated with buyers has made for a competitive atmosphere over the past few months, according to local real estate agents. There weren’t enough houses on the market to meet all the demand.

Published August 23, 2017

C&G Newspapers

Detroit residential developments create excitement

DETROIT — The city is coming back to life.

Abandoned buildings are being transformed into luxury lofts, and new construction is move-in ready in hot neighborhoods like midtown, downtown, the Riverwalk and more.

The second annual Downtown Living Tour, hosted by Hour Detroit and Detroit Home Magazine Aug. 11, delivered a first look at six new developments. Each is currently under construction or renovation, or recently completed.

Published August 16, 2017

C&G Newspapers

De-stress with interior design

METRO DETROIT — Your home is your special space to relax and unwind after the day’s stresses. But before you can sit down and let loose, is your décor living up to its safe haven obligations?

“Color definitely plays a huge role,” interior designer Carolyn Heikkila, of St. Clair Shores, said. “Color theory definitely plays on our emotions. For instance, red is known to cause high blood pressure, along with other bright colors.”

Published August 9, 2017

C&G Newspapers

College students share some advice to make a dorm a home

METRO DETROIT — One of the many opportunities that going away for college provides is an outlet to establish your own décor style. Whether you prefer a beach-bum style with “hang loose” and ocean posters or hope to create a bohemian temple with sunshine pillows and tapestry-draped walls, dorm rooms and college residencies are an open canvas.

Michigan State University sophomore Elise Tomaszewski, of St. Clair Shores, said that the most important thing to do when moving into your new home is to just be yourself.