Posts by : Rosette Garcia

Usually located just off the kitchen, utility rooms bridge the space between the outdoors and the indoors. Here family members can take off their muddy or snowy boots, store wet umbrellas and raincoats, and store bulky items that would otherwise clutter other spaces. A well-designed utility room will do all that and more. It can even house small appliances or seldom-used items like special occasion dishes, glassware and silverware.

A "bootility" room is both a utility and boot room. A bootility room is outfitted with storage cabinets; hooks for hanging coats, umbrellas and dog leashes; and a bench to use when pulling  on and off boots or shoes. The bench can also have shelves underneath ...

The movement toward spending more time working and exercising at home is being reflected in the latest home bathroom design trends. Homeowners are seeking bathrooms with more health club like amenities and less emphasis on functionality. Wellness is a priority, and designers are seeing greater interest among their clients in features such as steam showers, wet rooms, saunas and even cold plunges. Here are five top trending ideas for refreshing your bathroom no matter the size of the room or your budget.

Spa-like features

Nontraditional shower spaces are playing a key role in bathroom design. Wet rooms allow you to take a bath in the same space where you shower. As you are soaking in the...

PMI protects your lender in the event you default — but you have to pay the premium. Depending on the size of your loan, you can expect to pay $120 or more with each mortgage payment because of PMI. You can avoid this payment, though, with what is known as a piggyback mortgage.

First, understand how PMI works: You’ll pay PMI when you take out a conventional mortgage — one not insured by a government agency — and come up with a down payment of less than 20% of your home’s final purchase price. How much you’ll be charged can vary, but you can expect to pay from 0.5% to 1.5% of your original loan amount in PMI each year. For a mortgage of $300,000, you might pay from $1,500 to $4,500 a year...

Traditional interior design is based largely on 18th- and 19th-century European styles and conventional ideas of what a home looks like. The types of furniture, color palette and decor usually found in traditional homes reference the elegance of the past with little concern for what is trendy. Many Americans grew up in homes characterized as traditional and feel very "at home" with this comfortable, relaxed style. Because it is not rooted in any particular time period, traditional design can be adapted to include touches of contemporary elements while maintaining its understated aesthetic.

Here are some decorating guidelines for updating the traditional style of your home:

In the living...

After enjoying their moment in the spotlight, trends become outdated, and a new trend is always waiting in the wings to take their place. However, what was once considered passe now is enjoying a surge in popularity among a new group of appreciative designers and homeowners. One thing to keep in mind is that these styles have evolved over the years and may not look the same as when they first arrived on the scene. Here are five classic kitchen trends that are making a comeback to inspire your next renovation.

Natural wood tones

What could be more inviting and homier than natural wood? While painted kitchen cabinets are a timeless and budget-friendly option, designers are seeing stained ...

Lenders and banks check your credit before they approve you for new credit cards or loans. They do this to be sure that in the past you've paid your debts on time. If you have, you are more likely to pay your new loan or credit card payments on time.

When lenders check your credit in response to your request for a new loan or credit card,  it's known as a hard inquiry. These inquiries are listed on your three credit reports. And each inquiry could cause your three-digit credit score to dip by about five points.

Why? The more credit or loan debt you take on, the more likely you are to miss payments. Lenders are especially worried that if you apply for several credit cards or loans at onc...

Unlike many other elements in a home, millwork is not just meant to be functional. Instead, it is an aesthetic feature that makes a room feel secure, cozy and well-constructed. Above all, it is beautiful. Decorative millwork such as paneling, crown moldings and wainscoting has long been associated with the elegance of traditional English manor houses. Millwork is well known for its craftsmanship and attention to detail. The name comes from the fact that millwork is produced in a mill or a woodworking factory. Millwork includes a wide range of products made to fit specific spaces in a home.

Some examples of decorative millwork you are likely to find in well-appointed homes include molding...

Barndos are either refurbished or newly built barns made suitable for living. Constructed of wood and or metal, these homes feature a large, customizable open floor plan. The name itself is a combination of barn and condominium – a home that offers the best of both rural and urban living. One of the most attractive qualities of a barndo is the price tag. Although estimates vary, experts agree that barndos can be built for much less than a traditional house. People are noticing: It is estimated that some 1,000 barndos are being built each year in North America alone.

Soaring ceilings and large windows are two distinctive features of barndos. Their exteriors can be customized to include po...

Your home's primary bedroom is a sanctuary made just for you. Often combined with a bathroom for an en suite experience, the primary bedroom should be just as functional and beautiful as the rest of your home. Here is our checklist for creating the best primary bedroom to suit your needs:

Consider the bed

Sleep is essential to your health and well-being. Creating a space for a good night's rest is critical. Here are the essentials you need:

1. Bed frame: A sturdy bed frame that matches your design aesthetic should be chosen to fit the size and scale of your bedroom.
2. Mattress: Choose a mattress that works for your sleep preferences. Many options and materials are available, including ma...

The key feature of quiet luxury is an appreciation for high-quality, timeless materials such as solid wood flooring, marble countertops, natural stone and plush fabrics. It's all about creating a luxurious serene atmosphere without looking like you put too much thought into it. A room decorated in quiet luxury screams sophistication and simplicity at the same time. While it may seem expensive to implement, here are a few decorating guidelines to help you achieve the elegance of quiet luxury in your own home:

Keep it simple

The idea is to avoid clutter so that the eye is drawn to the important, high-quality pieces in the room. For decorative pieces, stick with natural materials like glas...

You finance a big purchase right before applying

When you apply for a mortgage, the lender looks at your debt-to-income ratio. This ratio measures how much of your gross monthly income is consumed by your monthly debts. Most lenders want your monthly debts, including your estimated new mortgage payment,  to be no more than 43% of your gross monthly income. If you finance a big purchase, such as a new car, that results in large monthly payments, your debt-to-income ratio will rise, which will give lenders pause. You might want that new car, but it's best to wait until after you've earned approval for your mortgage.

You pay your credit card bill late

When determining whether you qualify ...

Why does your credit score still matter after you retire? If you are still paying off your mortgage loan, you might want to refinance that loan one day to one with a lower interest rate. You'll need a solid credit score to do this.

Even if you've paid off your mortgage, you might want to move someday. Maybe you want to downsize, move to a warmer climate or relocate closer to your grandchildren. If you sell your current home for a high-enough price, you might not need a new mortgage. But if you don't, you'll need a new home loan. Having a high credit score will boost your chances of qualifying for the lowest interest rate on your new mortgage.

You might even want to apply for a new credi...

It's not called the Gilded Age without a good reason. The hallmark of this decor style is opulence and glamour displayed through ornate gold leaf furnishings and architecture. This over-the-top interior style is gaining interest among fans of both "Bridgerton" and "The Gilded Age." Of course, very few people live like that anymore, but nevertheless, designers are seeking ways to blend lavish Gilded Age style touches creatively and judiciously in sparser contemporary spaces. Here are some 19th-century-inspired decor ideas to help you live in grand Gilded Age style:

Front halls and vestibules

These are often overlooked today though they were once important places for receiving guests and ...

While it is possible — and sometimes desirable — to use a business loan to start a business, you can also use your house for the seed money. Two options are a home equity line of credit or a home equity loan:

A HELOC is a debt secured by your home. It is similar to a mortgage.
Home equity loans involve borrowing against your equity stake in your house. Your equity stake is the portion you own outright; depending on the lender, you may be able to borrow up to 80% of this equity.
Exploring the differences

With a HELOC, you can use the funds, repay them and then borrow again. The period during which you can borrow (or "draw") money is often 10 years. After that, you enter the repayment perio...

Enjoy being at the end of a quiet street but in a neighborhood that boasts close proximity to Market Common, Myrtle Beach Airport, and all the fun the Grand Strand has to offer. As you enter the home, you will adore the open floor plan and gathering in the well appointed kitchen with large pantry, stainless steel appliances, granite counters and a spacious island. The dining area and living room lead to a screened porch and wooded backyard for privacy and enjoying quiet afternoons. The first floor offers a guest bedroom, full bathroom, as well as a two car garage. Check out the virtual 3D Matterport Tour and schedule your appointment today!

Adrianne will be hosting an open house on Satur...

What could be more relaxing than spending summer days lazing by the pool and enjoying the company of family and friends? Those enjoyable summer months are the result of hard work and expense to maintain the pool throughout the year. So, is owning a swimming pool worth the commitment of time and money? Here are the pros and cons to consider in owning and maintaining a backyard swimming pool.

The joys of a swimming pool

Recreation and entertainment — There is no question that pool ownership takes the prize for providing the fun factor in home entertainment. Your home swimming pool is certain to become the social center for your family and friends. Some pool owners say owning a pool is a w...

Most mortgage lenders reserve their lowest rates for borrowers with FICO credit scores of 800 or higher. But what if your score is significantly lower? What are some reasons explaining why you are stuck with a FICO score of 620, 660 or 680? The answers can be found in your credit reports.

You have three credit reports, one each maintained by the national credit bureaus of Experian, Equifax and TransUnion. These reports list your personal and financial information. And the information included in them is what makes up your three-digit credit score.

Your credit reports will start with your personal information, listing your full name, current and past addresses, Social Security number, ye...

Bathrooms serve many functions including the place where we care for our personal hygiene as well as where we use the toilet. The Europeans have long had a solution for offering privacy to multiple household members using the bathroom facilities at the same time — the water closet. Many U.S. homeowners are discovering this and learning to embrace it. Here are the advantages of having a separate water closet and bathroom:

Increased privacy

A separate water closet provides an added level of privacy since it separates the toilet area from the rest of the bathroom. This can be particularly useful if you have guests in your home or you share a bathroom with others.

Improved hygiene

A separ...

March is the beginning of the Spring market and in coastal South Carolina, there was a lot of change!

According to the Coastal Carolina Multiple Listing Service, average sales price increased by more than $13,000 from $370,366 to $383,428.

Almost every metric went up: the number of homes that went under contract increased by 6.4 % and the number of closings went up in March by 14.3%.

Interestingly, the number of new listings being added to the market went up by 14.5% while overall supply dipped slightly. That means that despite more homes being added for sale, the overall net number of properties for sale didn’t keep up with consumer demand and went down.

What does this mean for selle...

Maximalist design is a bold and expressive style that embraces lavish colors, patterns, textures and decorative elements to create visually vibrant spaces. It's all about creating a sense of luxury, personality and eclecticism. Here are some tips on how to incorporate maximalist design into your home:

Embrace color

Maximalist design thrives on vibrant colors. Don't be afraid to use bold and contrasting hues throughout your space. Mix and match colors to create an energetic atmosphere.

Layer patterns and textures

Combine complementary patterns and textures to add depth and visual interest. Mix floral prints, geometric designs and textured fabrics to deliver a lively and eclectic look.