Page 38 - Blog

Open floor plans remain popular for many home owners. It’s a trend that’s not going anywhere. In some cases, designers have brought the outdoors inside the home by incorporating more glass interior doors which seem to disappear after opening. This makes spaces even more open to give homeowners more flexibility in how they want to set up their home. Many homeowners believe that 100 percent of the floor space in their homes should be usable and don’t like things like cut-out areas for appliances, televisions or bookcases.

Buyers now arrive at the sales office with a list of “non-negotiable” features that they want in a home. For instance, airy and welcoming living, sleeping, and eating spaces across a flexible layout are key. In an NAHB report published last year, builders responded that the kitchen–family room arrangement is completely or partially open in 84% of the homes they build, with over half (54%) being completely open to the main living spaces of the home.

This means there is a

The small house movement started roughly a decade ago, but there have always been people who dreamed of living in a small cabin in the woods. It may have started when we read, “The Boxcar Children” in elementary school. Who knows? One thing we do know is that as people begin to re-evaluate their lifestyles, get closer to retirement, and seek peace, the idea of finding a quiet cabin in nature sounds more appealing every day.

For the lucky people who decide to make that move, it requires them to pare down their belongings to the basics and come up with innovative solutions to make the most of every inch. Many companies are coming up with creative ways to get dual uses (or more) out of furnishings to help make the transition easier.

Multifunctional furniture is now a category that’s getting plenty of attention from a generation who expect smart solutions, whether they’re seeking that comfy cabin or a stylish urban loft. Most Baby Boomers probably have (or got rid of) that heavy couch that

Last summer, my husband and I went shopping for a new refrigerator. We have a rather small kitchen, with a specific space dedicated to the refrigerator. After going to a dozen appliance stores and checking online options, we finally had to special order a refrigerator with the exact specifications. Took far too long for something that should have been really simple.

Luckily, some companies not only make it possible to customize items for your home – they make it easy.

One company, TVLiftCabinet, offered the ability to customize furnishings when they opened their doors 15 years ago.

Here’s how it works:

The in-house designer will create a custom TV lift cabinet of your dreams. Simply give them a call or connect online to bring your vision to life.

You can choose any wood and eco-friendly, durable finish to perfectly match your décor. The designers will send you color samples to make sure you know exactly what you ordered.

You’re in charge. Each cabinet is designed, engineered and

Storage, like sleep or bacon, is one of those things that nearly everyone yearns for. Whether you live in a tiny home, a small condo or a huge multi-level home, there just never seems to be enough storage.

Smart homes are all the rage. Simply speak or clap and you’ll never need to leave the couch. But when it comes to finding space for all the smart home paraphernalia, it can require some creative solutions. Luckily, there are some great options to consider.

Plenty of storage space!

Enter smart furnishings like TVLiftCabinet. The beautiful hand-crafted cabinets fit any décor, but for storage-challenged homes, each one also provides storage for all your entertainment “stuff.” Each TV lift cabinet features dovetail drawers, heavy-duty ball-bearing slides, high-quality lid hinges, and even ventilated shelving and panels to prevent your audio and video components from overheating. In addition, the motorized TV lift consoles feature built in cable-management as well as an integrated infrared

Huffington Post, House Beautiful and other design trend publications have called artisan touches for the home one of the biggest trends in 2018. But for TVLiftCabinet.com, it’s the only way we roll.

Homestead is a popular style that many customers choose to customize for their personal home styles.

When a piece of furniture is handcrafted by an artisan, rather than mass produced through a factory chain, that instantly adds a personal touch to any space. Handmade products require time, artistry and special skills. At TVLiftCabinet.com, Amish craftsmen create our beautiful pieces. In Amish tradition, they focus on using traditional woodworking techniques. The factories we partner with are the largest non-electric furniture manufacturer in Holmes Country, Ohio, a place famous for producing high-quality Amish furniture.

We know that the Amish tradition is to celebrate the wood, the people and the land. Our partners and their dedicated artisans who make up the award-winning companies, work closely

RV shipments through October 2017 totaled 426,932 units, an increase of 17.6% from the same period in 2016. This continues seven consecutive years of shipments growth as the industry has bounced back from effects of the great recession.

If you’re one of the thousands who purchased these RVs and plan to hit the road this spring or summer, it may be time to think about adding some smart furnishings for your home away from home (or for some full timers, your home, period).

More and more companies are offering new designs that provide comfort, style and specificities for life on the road. There is much more opportunity for customization than ever, and many more ways to get what you want and need to live your best RV life. For instance, heavy built-in wooden elements are being replaced by alternate designs using synthetic foams and paper. People want all the amenities of home, it just takes a little engineering and creativity.

Companies like TVLiftCabinet are also stepping up, offering

Baby boomers retiring in droves. The tiny house movement. Downsizing to reduce your carbon footprint. It’s tough to pick up a magazine or read a trend article about how many people are seeking to downsize and simplify their lives.

Whatever the reason, many homeowners are realizing how much money they could save if they have less square footage. (e.g. heating, cooling, electricity, etc.). Most understand that smaller homes help them become more energy efficient and create less pollution.

This is especially important for retirees. According to the Washington Post, 10,000 baby boomers retire each day. Most are active seniors who prefer to spend their money on travel or other things that are important to them. Smaller spaces and less maintenance give them the time and money they need to live life on their own terms.

Downsizing is also becoming popular with millennials who prefer to keep their lives simple and clutter-free. Many of these individuals are part of the “gig” economy where temporary

The family room is one of the hardest rooms in your home to keep neat. The space gets used a lot – and doesn’t usually offer much storage. Some of these spaces have bookcases and a small television console, but let’s face it, there’s not much space for hiding clutter.

This January, it might be a good time to tackle the problem permanently. To do this you need to:

1. Decide what items are absolutely necessary in the space and find a permanent home for each item.

2. Purge those items that aren’t necessary.

3. Assess whether you need to invest in furnishings to keep the space neat and tidy.

The best place to start is to empty your bookcases and television console. Place your items on a temporary table (e.g. card table). Sometimes it’s tempting to just move clutter around, which just transfers clutter around the home and doesn’t deal with the actual substance. Don’t forget the electronics, remotes, gaming systems items, etc.

Get three empty storage bins and label them: Keep. Donate. Toss.

Then,

The holiday season is a time that is supposed to draw out good cheer and compassion toward each other. For some, however, the demands of the holiday season can be overwhelming as more and more tasks get added to already busy schedules.

If you’re feeling the stress, we urge you to take a few moments to yourself and take a deep breath. Then take another deep breath. Then exhale slowly. Let this be a time to celebrate all the things that are right in your world. Focus on the positive and remove things that add stress to your life. Walk away from the smart phone and spend quality time with people you enjoy.

And as 2017 draws to a close, we find ourselves reflecting on the past year and those who have helped to shape our business. It’s been quite a year for us all. We hope that the year has been just as memorable for you and your loved ones. There is no greater joy than an opportunity to reflect on what really matters. May your holidays and New Year be filled with the joy and peace of the season.

If you’re a football fan, no. It’s never too early to think about the biggest game of the year. In fact, many super fans start planning the next Big Game party. More than 111 million people tuned into the 2017 game. It’s one of the most anticipated television events of the entire year. And it’s just a few short weeks away (sure, there’s Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year’s Day in between), but if you’re a Super Fan, the wheels are already turning on how to make this year’s Game Day memorable.

First thing on the list? Do you have enough space to host the party this year? Is there a central location where people can watch the game, chat with everyone (or no one) and grab some awesome food? Look at the numbers and scope out the best place in the house to maximize viewership and entertainment.

One way to enhance the Big Game experience is to have your television on a 360-degree swivel – so you can change the viewing with the flip of a switch. What? You can’t do that right now? Have you ever