According to a 2014 study by the National Association of Realtors, 14% of all buyers are purchasing multi-generational homes. A 2014 Pew study estimates that more than 50 million people live in multi-generational homes. While cost savings (18%) and health/caretaking of aging parents (15%) are some of the reasons for the growth, the primary reason is children over 18 moving back into the house (38%).

Another study looking at habits of Millennials (born between 1980 and 1984), found that 90% move out of their parents’ homes by age 27 – and 50% of those individuals move back to their parents’ homes.

And everyone has an opinion of how they’d like to create their own personal spaces. Although every family has unique circumstances, there are a few things you can do to help make life a little easier for everyone.

Have one large gathering space

Providing a space where the entire family can get together is a good idea. Whether it’s a central living room or dining space, it should be large enough

We are happy to announce the winner of the Father's Day Sweepstakes is Ken Hallo. His special thoughts about his dad:

"My dad is wonderful. My parents were divorced and my dad was single for years. I remember going there on weekends and he always did his best to cook great meals for us, even though cooking wasn’t his strong suit!"

Congratulations Ken, and enjoy your Carousel TV Lift Cabinet and flat screen TV!

Your Dad means everything to you!

Tell us about that and…

You could win a TV Lift Cabinet and 42" Flat Screen TV from TVLiftcabinet.com.

The late Tim Russert one said, “The older I get, the smarter my father seems to get.” I don’t know about you, but I think he nailed it. Dads are sometimes the unsung heroes in our worlds, quietly supporting us through good and bad times. This year, you have a chance to do something wonderful for your dad by entering the TVLiftCabinet Father’s Day Sweepstakes for a chance to win a beautiful TVLiftCabinet and a 42-inch flat screen television – just in time for Father’s Day 2015.

“Father’s Day is a big deal in my family,” says Rob Buehl, CEO of TVLiftCabinet. “It’s the one day devoted to honoring our dads who work so hard to keep families strong. It’s also a day when dads get to control the remotes without arguments, so we thought we’d make it a very special day for one dad with our Father’s Day Sweepstakes.”

Here’s how it works. Starting May 1, 2015, enter

The less-is-more philosophy has come to the family home, with square footage taking a back seat to quality, functionality, charm and character. Lis King’s story for the Tallahassee Magazine last fall is a great reminder of a trend many designers are seeing in their businesses. Here are some of the points she shares with her readers.

• People are more interested in reconnecting with family and friends in deeper ways than in show-off houses, and the result is a trend towards smaller, smarter homes.
• The formal dining room has become a flex room. It can be a home office, a library, a downstairs bedroom. Also, the downstairs powder room is now becoming a full bath, so with the flex room you now have a first-floor master suite, very desirable today. With assisted living costs sky high, aging parents move in with their children.
• The new smaller home also emphasizes outdoor living spaces like never before.
• Simpler is better. TVLiftCabinet CEO Rob Buehl says that many people who are downsizing still

Minimalism is considered by some people to be one of the crowning architectural achievements of the 20th century. In a culture that has been taught that more is more, it’s becoming more common for many people to begin to purge the past and embrace a clutter-free lifestyle.

William Morris’ once said, “Have nothing in your house you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful.” With less clutter to plow through, you can enjoy the unique beauty of each piece of furniture or art in your home.

The trick is to take it room by room. Clear all clutter and don’t add anything back until you’re down to the flooring. Separate things into three piles: Things to donate, things to keep and things to throw away. Keep in mind that many things can be recycled. Your keep pile should be the smallest.

TVLift Cabinet - Moderna with Espresso Finish

Then, start with larger furniture. What do you absolutely need to be comfortable in your living space? A couch. A chair. A table. A TVLiftCabinet for the

According to the Recreation Vehicle Industry Association recently conducted research through the University of Michigan on the state of the industry. There are now 8.9 million households that own recreational vehicles (RVs), up from 7.9 million in 2005.

The reason: More and more people learn how RVing is a cost-effective and fun way to spend time with family and friends. The RV industry is addressing consumer needs by "right-sizing" RVs to offer the mix of amenities and price that consumers want. Some of the recent trends to get the RVs road-ready include:

• Greater use of light-weight construction materials to cut fuel consumption and make RVs more budget-friendly.
• Adoption of green construction strategies to minimize energy consumption, including more efficient thermal barriers, improved solar panels, tinted windows and installation of Energy Star appliances.
• Up-sizing kitchens and bathrooms to accommodate full-size appliances, full-size tub/showers and dual sinks.
• Use of picture and

Spring is the perfect time to remove clutter and excess from your home.  De-cluttering is THE buzzword this year when it comes to spring cleaning – though it should be common sense if you want to breathe easier every time you
walk in one of the most important rooms in your home. Clearing the clutter lifts a huge weight off your shoulders and home! It’s a great time to rediscover the hidden gems that are contained within your home and redistribute them accordingly. Or better yet – discover ways to reduce clutter and continue to live the way your family wants to live.

One area of the living room that’s a constant source of clutter is the entertainment area. Cords everywhere. Video game clutter. DVDs and CDs stacked precariously in a basket. And everywhere you look there’s dust. One way to take your family  room back and clear the clutter is to invest in a TV Lift Cabinet.  For many families, the television area is a focal point in the room, so it’s the place the eye typically goes to

Congratulations to Bradford Martin!

We can only call it "The Big Game" or we'll get in trouble with the lawyers.

But you know what game we're talking about, right?

The one on February 1, 2015!

You could win a TV Lift Cabinet and 42" Flat Screen TV from TVLiftcabinet.com.

Starting December 5, please post in the comments below your favorite memory of watching the Big Game with family and friends.

Fun recipes, surprises, half-time flag football...anything that makes you smile. When you post your comment below before January 10, 2015, you will automatically receive five contest entries. You can receive more entries by liking our Facebook page, or linking to this page from your blog or website.

It's easy to enter- simply click the LOGIN button below to enter to win!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Things you should know:

• You must live in the Continental United States to play.
•  The winner will be randomly chosen on January 11 and contacted by TV Lift Cabinet.
• Shipping will occur immediately after the winner is announced and contacted.

I don’t know about you, but as fall turns to winter every year, I have one goal: to make our nest as cozy as possible. So, in addition to fall cleaning and clearing out the clutter, I want to make sure our family areas are as warm and comforting as they can be.

Knowing that the biggest holidays and family get-togethers will be happening in the next few months, each room needs to be in tip-top form. Every type of seating gets a soft throw blanket – we live in Wisconsin, and getting the outdoor chill just comes with the territory. There’s always a side table nearby for beverages and snacks. We bring in extra lighting for the family areas to keep things bright and cheerful. And there’s always a candle or two glowing in the background.

The Banyan Creek TV Lift Cabinet is perfect for your family room!

One of the things our family likes to do is watch Packer games together, so the television in our family room is a major focal point, especially this time of the year. When I saw the TVLiftCabinets