One of the best things about living in Northeast Ohio is enjoying each of the four seasons. The dramatically different times of year each offer unique beauty and a time to reset and refresh. Fall is particularly beautiful in Northeast Ohio. The blue skies and changing foliage, the cooler weather, and the cozy seasonal vibe all have us thinking about making small changes to reflect the mood of the season.
As home remodelers we are always thinking about our homes and how to make them the best reflection of ourselves and the way we want to live. When we think of fall, we think of welcoming front porches, clambakes on the back patio, football games on the big screen, and gathering with friends and neighbors to soak in all the best of the season while we can.
Some simple but impactful updates you can incorporate into your fall design plans include fall touches for indoors and out.
Front Door and Porch
Set the mood starting at the front door. Hanging a wreath with fall foliage or ribbons with fall colors and textures is an easy place to start. Change out your summer planters adding colorful mums along with pumpkins or gourds, decorative sticks and branches, and ornamental grasses. You can layer the look with different plant and pottery colors and different planter heights to add interest.
Change out your front door rugs and doormats layering different patterns and sizes for a stylish seasonal welcome.
Does your exterior lighting need an update? A cleaning or fresh coat of paint might be all that is needed, or maybe it’s time to have an electrician swap out your old lights for something new and eye-catching. You can even upgrade to gas lanterns for a really dramatic welcome.
Add a variety of decorative lanterns and battery powered candles to warm up the walkway and steps leading to the front door.
If you are lucky enough to have a covered front porch you can create a small gathering spot with a porch swing, bench, or a bistro table and chairs. You can even add small cushioned couches and chairs if you have the space. This fall, swap out your summer pillows and add warm tones and throw blankets to your outdoor furniture.
Backyard Patio
Fall is a great time of year to gather on the back patio. We have created some amazing spaces with our clients in recent years featuring well-appointed outdoor kitchens, stone fireplaces, and covered outdoor living rooms creating unique gathering spaces for year-round use.
Our projects have featured professionally installed outdoor audiovisual systems for game day gatherings. Outdoor kitchens are a must-have for many clients, featuring built-in grills, smokers, prep sinks, and bar refrigerators. A well-designed outdoor setup allows the home chef to stay close to the action without running back and forth to and from the kitchen.
To bring in some fall flare in the backyard, add some cozy throw blankets and pillows to your outdoor furniture, along with scented candles on a tray with fall pumpkins and gourds and fall foliage.
Check out our outdoor living gallery by clicking this link >>> Exteriors and Outdoor Living
Kitchen and Bath Updates
A quick trip to any home decor store can transform your space with simple natural touches to give your home a warm fall vibe.
You can add new kitchen towels, warm wood cutting boards, and fall foliage in neutral oversized vases to update counters and add color and warmth. Warm scented candles and layered candle sticks in warm metallics, wooden, or slate black designs can warm up even an all white kitchen.
Changing out flatware and dishes to reflect the season is a splurge, but if you love a fall tablescape, it’s a very satisfying update.
Don’t forget the powder room. Simple natural textures and colors in new towels, soap dispensers and trays, and fall candlelight can make the space meet the mood.
Fall is a Great Time to Plan your Basement Design
Although we want to hold on to this beautiful fall weather as long as possible, it’s time to think about where you will spend time indoors when the weather turns. Fall is a great time of year to plan a basement remodeling project. Having additional indoor space to spread out or entertain friends and family is a wise investment.
It’s important to work with a professional design team to make sure all of the items on your basement wishlist are creatively addressed. Having an experienced construction team to ensure all the complicated challenges that come with lower level living are addressed is equally important.
Basements can offer endless possibilities from movie nights, custom bar areas, guest suites, workout rooms, home offices, golf simulators, full kitchens, to game rooms and playrooms. We have designed unique spaces with an array of design aesthetics.
Check out our basement gallery by clicking this link >>>
Basements
As home remodelers we talk to homeowners all year and every season brings a different focus. Fall is a great time of year to take on a remodeling project or some simple design projects to bring that same warm and welcoming vibe to your home and get ready for the colder season ahead.
And speaking of getting ready, don’t forget to tackle all the important fall maintenance to get your home ready for the cold winter days ahead. The dramatically changing seasons can be tough on your home but if you keep up with regular maintenance and repairs you can save money and avoid some aggravation.
A quick checklist for fall home maintenance:
Outdoor Checklist
Shut off all outdoor water spigots. Even if you have a frost-free water spigot it is still a good idea to shut off the water over the winter. The shut off valve is typically in the basement ceiling just below the location of the outdoor spigot. Each spigot will have its own valve inside the house. Once you turn off the water at each location, go back outside to drain any remaining water from the pipe. This process will eliminate any water that could freeze inside the spigot or pipe and cause damage.
Bring all hoses into the garage to avoid the dramatic temperature changes. This will extend the life of your hoses over time. We recommend a wall mounted hose wheel to keep hoses off the garage floor and out of the way.
Clean the gutters. You may have to do this more than once this fall. Any water that pools in clogged gutters can freeze, potentially damaging the gutter, the roof or siding, and even cause ice dams which can leak right into your home and cause extensive damage.
Remove screens and replace them with storm windows if you have them. Rinse the screens and bring them into the garage or basement for winter storage. Screens left up all winter can be damaged and are expensive to replace. In the spring you will be able to clean your windows before you put the screens back in place.
Clean and dry your patio furniture. If you don’t have storage space in your basement, shed or garage, cover the furniture with a heavy tarp and strap it down with bungee cords or tie downs. Make sure all outdoor vents are clear of debris and covered with screens to prevent insects and rodents from moving in looking for a clean dry place to sleep over the winter.
Make sure the garage is stocked with shovels and rock salt for your driveways and walks.
Prepare your snow blower for the first snowfall by changing the oil and replacing the spark plug. Move your snow blower and shovels to the front of the garage or shed for easy access.
Hang and test your Holiday lights while it’s still warm out. They will look great when the snow falls but being on a ladder on a snowy day is not a great idea.
Clear a spot in your garage for your car. A lot of families use their garage for storage and parkoutside. Keeping your car inside so you don’t need to scrape the ice and snow off of it in the morning is a much better way to start the day – definitely worth the effort now.
Inside Checklist
Have your furnace inspected. You don’t want to find out during the next ‘Polar Vortex’ that your furnace needs repair. A professional inspection can save you money and headaches later. And while you are thinking about it, change your furnace filters for maximum efficiency.
Make sure your CO2 alarms and smoke alarms are installed and in good working order. Check all your doors and windows for drafts. It may be time to replace them or maybe all you need is to caulk around the edges or add new weather stripping.
Have a professional inspect your fireplace to ensure it is venting properly and is structurally sound. This is worth doing for wood burning and gas fireplaces. Also make sure you have durable fireplace screens and tools to keep the fire where it belongs.
You’re done!! It’s time to build a nice fire in the fireplace, sit back and relax… at least until the
first snow flies and its time to shovel the driveway