Homes

Published September 27, 2017

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.

Published August 1, 2017

C&G Newspapers

Easy-to-care-for succulents can brighten up a room

By Samantha Shriber
C & G Special Writer

Succulents, plants that store water in their leaves and stems, have been popping up across the United States with the same heat as their desert roots.

Amelia Oke, of St. Clair Shores, said that succulents generate a cheerful and positive atmosphere for her household.

“My succulents at home are very healthy and happy,” she said in a Facebook message, explaining how they sit on counters and dresser tops with a lifelike happiness.

Published July 28, 2017

C&G Newspapers

Price, placement will help garage sale items sell

By Samantha Shriber
C & G Special Writer

Yard and garage sales fill the neighborhood as summer carries on.

There are various reasons to host a sale. For example, nonprofit organization Tigerlily Cat Rescue hosts an annual sale in Sterling Heights to raise money for feline rescue services.

Others put on sales in relation to moving, to create more space in their homes or simply to remove the burden of neglected items.

Published July 19, 2017

C&G Newspapers

Inspect equipment, surroundings before firing up the grill

METRO DETROIT — Summertime brings with it outdoor cookouts and giving in to your barbecue cravings.

Barbecue season also means it is a good time to review the hazards of firing up a grill, and how to avoid them. Flare-ups and grease fires are both outcomes that can occur from operator error and a lack of knowledge when grilling.

West Bloomfield Township Fire Marshal Byron Turnquist said that grills must be kept at least 10 feet away from any structure or combustible item, such as a piece of backyard furniture or litter.

Published July 12, 2017

C&G Newspapers

Bring a little magic to gardening

METRO DETROIT — Fairy gardens combine fantasy, imagination and gardening to create a summertime craft that can be enjoyed by all ages.

Rayna Burkhart, of Romulus, said via Facebook message that she had been collecting fairy sculptures for years before fairy gardening gained popularity a few years ago.

“It opened my eyes to a thousand possibilities. Gardening is the love of my life, and mixing the two together is beautiful and fulfilling,” she said.

Published July 5, 2017

St. Clair Shores Sentinel

Landline vs. cellphone

METRO DETROIT — Ready to cut the cord?

The decision to keep a landline telephone, to use a landline along with a cellphone, or to just have a cellphone is one that many grapple with as cellphones and smartphones become ubiquitous.

While ditching the landline may save money and cut down on calls from telemarketers, there are some things to take into consideration before making the jump.

Published June 28, 2017

Shelby - Utica News

How to reduce a common allergen: dust mites

METRO DETROIT — For some, the concept of dust mites alone is enough to send a disgusted shudder down their spine.

But understanding what they are, the symptoms of dust mite allergies and how to reduce them in your home may be key for many allergy sufferers.

Sanaz Eftekhari, a spokeswoman for the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America, responded to a series of emailed questions from C & G Newspapers.

Published June 21, 2017

C&G Newspapers

Experts offer advice to help keep your home safe during a vacation

METRO DETROIT — Vacation season has arrived, and the suitcases have finally been packed after a long winter.

But before you walk out that door, is your largest investment as secure as your travel schedule?

Lt. Eric Reincke, of the Clinton Township Police Department, said that one of law enforcement’s biggest concerns during the vacation season is breaking and entering.

“There’s a pattern, and people take advantage of that,” he said.

Published June 14, 2017

Shelby - Utica News

Beat the heat and save money doing it

METRO DETROIT — With summer heating up, local experts have weighed in on ways to stay cool while slashing utility bills and reducing your carbon footprint.

Teri VanSumeren, executive director of Consumers Energy’s energy efficiency program, offered seven tips to help reduce summer energy use.

If you have central air conditioning, she said to clean leaves and debris off the unit and away from the compressor, because they can block airflow. Dusty filters make air conditioners work harder, so she recommended cleaning the filter regularly.

Published June 7, 2017

Farmington Press

Condominium conflicts

METRO DETROIT — You can either stay or go. Sue, compromise, or get political by campaigning to join a condominium association board.

These are the pared-down options for a condominium co-owner unhappy with how things are operated, Kevin Hirzel, a Michigan condominium attorney with Livonia-based Cummings, McClorey, Davis & Acho PLC, said recently.

He added that co-owners can resolve their issues by joining the board to enforce rules that they feel are being broken or ignored.

Published May 31, 2017

Shelby - Utica News

Housing market tilts farther in sellers’ favor

METRO DETROIT — As the weather is beginning to heat up, local experts say that serious homebuyers are waiting to pounce on the best deals.

“We’re still limited on our listings,” said Kathy Coon, broker owner of Real Living Great Lakes Real Estate in Rochester Hills, West Bloomfield and Clarkston. “We’re seeing a few more with the summertime and the kids getting out of school.”

Published May 24, 2017

Shelby - Utica News

Experts provide tips to add value and help homes sell faster

METRO DETROIT — Preparing to sell a home can often seem like a daunting task. Many might balk at the thought. Where to even begin?

Local experts offered several easy and inexpensive tips to get the ball rolling that also could help homeowners sell their homes faster and at a higher price.

Corie Conroy, president of First Impression Home Staging, said the first things she notices as she walks up to a home are the walkways and landscaping, and whether or not they are well-maintained.