Grand View Builders

Spring might be halfway through, but remember it is never too late to tackle getting organized. We’ve shared tips for convention and unconventional spring cleaning, but now we are helping you transform your closet into your own personal clothing sanctuary. Summer vacations are on the horizon, which makes this the perfect time of year to get your closet in tip-top shape.

Get Rid of the Misfits

When was the last time you wore that blue dress in the corner? Maybe it doesn’t fit or is out of style. Take the time to go through each piece of clothing and decide if you really need it. As a rule of thumb, ask yourself if you have worn particular pieces in the last year. If not, add it to the donate pile.  Look for local donation centers in your neighborhood including Goodwill, Salvation Army and Purple Heart. Weeding out the clothes you no longer wear will help get rid of the clutter and make more room in your closet for your favorite pieces.

Separate by Style and Color

Organizing your clothes by styles will make it easier to find what you want to wear before work, a night out, to the gym, wherever! Create separate sections in your closet for dresses, suits, shirts, skirts, pants, etc…. Having your closet organized by style will make it easier to see all your options so you can mix and match with much more ease. If you really want to go the extra mile, you can organize each style by color as well to get even more organized.

Get the Proper Equipment

Splurge on matching hangars to make your closet feel more like your own personal in-home store. Having all your clothes on similar hangars will not only make each piece pop, but it will also greatly improve your closet’s aesthetic appeal. Getting proper equipment will also help maximize your home’s storage space. Consider replacing bulky plastic hangers with thin or stacking hangers, adding shoe holders to the back of closet doors or using storage boxes to put away winter clothes.

There are many ways you can maximize your home’s closet space for efficiency and visual appeal. Use these tips to transform your home’s average closet into your own personal style center!

It’s important to be environmentally friendly throughout your house and in your daily living habits. Scientific Energy reports that this generation will have the greatest impact on the environment within the next 50-100 years. We want to ensure that the generations to come can enjoy our planter, so we are sharing some tips on how to be more environmentally (and economically) friendly in your home.

Change Your Light Bulbs

Using energy saving light bulbs reduces your electricity use and also lowers your bill, which will save you money. There are a variety of wattages, brightness, etc. to fit the preferences of any household. According to MedStar, compact fluorescent light bulbs last 8-10 times longer than incandescent, use about 75% less energy, and produce 90% less heat while delivering more light per Watt. We still recommend you turn off your lights when you’re not home, though!

Collect Rainwater

Collecting and storing rainwater is an easy and beneficial way to water your lawn or plants, rinse your car or clean your patio. This is especially useful to have in case of a drought when hose water is limited. Collect the rainwater by placing bins around the outside of your house or by setting a bucket underneath your gutter, like in the picture below. We know this may not be the most attractive addition to your backyard, but if you check the forecast you can easily install these before a summer rainstorm.

Compost Piles

Making your own compost creates less garbage for landfills, produces your own soil for landscaping and gardening and is better for your yard than chemical fertilizers. Simple Mom shares some great tips on the benefits of composting, as well as what can and cannot be included in your compost piles. You can create your own with wiring, as pictured below, or you can purchase an actual compost bin.

Manage Your Thermostat

Keeping a consistent temperature in your home is an additional way to save on your electric bill. During the summer, set your thermostat to 78, or only deviate by two degrees. In the winter, leave it off or set it at 68. Just remember to dress appropriately for the season, so your air-conditioning is not doing extra unnecessary work. Electricity can come from a variety of sources, but they are all natural elements, so using less of it is always better for the environment.

The “Nest” is a new and efficient way to manage your thermostat. This device allows you to control and adjust the temperature of your house from your smart phone. You can turn on your AC on your way home from work without having it run all day; saving energy and saving you money on your electric bill!

How do you help the planet from your home? Share how you’ve ‘gone green’ on our Facebook page!

The sun is setting later which lengthens the day and invites homeowners to spend more time outdoors. You’ve planted your garden and cleaned the patio, so now its time to enjoy the fruits of your labor with these outdoor features.

Fire Pit

After you have finished dinner and homework duty, escape with a glass of wine for the fresh air in your own backyard sanctuary. Your children will love it for roasting s’mores but fire pits are not just for them to enjoy! Sitting by the fire can be very relaxing by yourself, romantic with your significant other and entertaining with a group of friends. The crackling of the twigs and the sounds of nature allow you to enjoy the outdoor space and the flames will keep unwanted mosquitos and bugs at bay. Fire pits come in many shapes, colors and sizes ensuring you can find the perfect complimenting one for your outdoors. If you’re feeling crafty and creative, build your own fire pit with help from HGTV!

Fun and Games

Help your children find distractions from technology and their everyday life in the outdoors. Encourage your children to play outside by finding the tall tree in your backyard and setting up a tree swing. Teach your children classic board games such as checkers, chess, dominoes and backgammon and play them outside on the patio, or create larger-than-life games such as the image below. In your landscaped lawn and using your fire pit, pitch a tent in your yard and spend the night looking at the stars, telling ghost stories and camping in your backyard.

Potted Plants

Many homeowners think that planting flowers as part of their landscaping is the extent of flowers in their outdoor space. Flower urns and vases are a beautiful way to fill an empty space and add a pop of color to your patio, deck or porch.

Bring the Indoors, Outdoors

Invest in outdoor pillows and cushions so you will fully be able to enjoy lounging amidst nature. Creating a sitting area that is comfortable outdoors is perfect for families or couples who entertain or who want to spend more time outdoors. Try using bright colors or geometric shapes that you may not use in your home to represent the playfulness of spring and summer.

Bring the Outdoors, Indoors

If you do not have space to create a luscious garden, build a fire pit or hang a swing, there are still many ways to enjoy the outdoors from inside. Outside your kitchen window, install a hummingbird feeder. The small buzzing birds look like large insects but are much more majestic and rare than unwanted bugs. You can make your own nectar for the feeder very easily with just sugar and water.

-Use one cup of sugar for every 3 cups of water
-Boil the solution for a couple minutes
-Allow the solution to completely cool before filling the feeder
-Refrigerate any extra solution to use a refill when your nectar is low

What is the favorite part of your outdoor sanctuary? Let us know in the comments below!

The Easter holiday often marks the gateway to spring. Families are gathering for dinner and celebrations, donning brighter, more lively colors.  Homes are full of new life and fresh air. If you are hosting guests to celebrate Easter or the start of spring, use some of these tips to make your dinner table one to remember.

Spring Flower Arrangements

Spring has sprung and we know you want to show it. Incorporating flowers into your table décor for Easter will add a natural pop of color and life that will create an inviting space for your guests to enjoy a meal. To keep costs low, try purchasing flowers from your local grocer and displaying them in pitchers or small vases. Use this guide for inspiration in creating exciting spring centerpieces.

Colorful Linens

In less than one week, spring will officially “spring”. Now is the perfect time to spruce up the landscaping around your home. We’ve compiled a few tips that will help improve your landscaping, adding even more curb appeal to your already beautiful home. This is particularly important if you’re in the market to sell, as studies show that buyers make quick judgments on homes based on their exterior.

Trees and Shrubs

Keep your trees healthy and looking great by pruning them as necessary. Trim the leaves, raise the undercarriage and clear out dead, damaged or infected branches.  This step-by-step guide will help you prune your trees, to keep them healthy and beautiful.

Take time to apply fresh mulch around all of your trees, shrubs, and bushes. Mulch helps your plants conserve moisture, and improves the fertility, keeping them growing healthy and strong. Selecting the right kind of mulch for your trees is essential.  Find out which mulch type is best for your yard here. With so many varieties and colors, you can pick mulch that is not only efficient, but also aesthetically pleasing.

Lawn

In the cooler months, lawns tend to grow a bit slower. For a healthy, green lawn in the spring, take time to lightly fertilize, and apply weed control treatments as needed. Use a spreader like the one pictured below to ensure that your entire lawn is covered completely.

Continue your routine maintenance. Mow, trim, edge and water your lawn as needed. Remember to water your lawn in moderation; over or under watering your grass can cause significant problems. Too much water can lead to fungal diseases and mold, which will cause your plant’s roots to rot, and eventually kill the plant. Since droughts and high heat are common in Texas, under watering your lawn can cause the grass to quickly burn, and die.

Planted Beds

Flowers can add a pop of color to any landscaping project. Prepare your beds by removing weeds and debris. Use a shovel to loosen the soil, and fertilize it as necessary. To give your flowers the best chance for growth, healthy soil is key.

Once your soil is ready, you can begin planting your flowers. Warmer temperatures are optimal for growth, so as the weather begins to change, you should begin to plant your install your plants. This guide will help you discover which plants are best for your yard, depending on the amount of shade and your climate.

Look out for any damage in your yard caused by insects or diseases. If you do notice any irregularities, treat it as soon as possible, or consult a professional. Try review sites like Angie’s List to help you find reputable landscaping services. If you’re interested in improving your green thumb, home improvement stores like Lowes also offer landscaping and gardening classes, at low to no cost! Learn more about them at your nearest store, or visit Lowes gardening guide here.

Here’s to a beautiful yard this spring!

It’s rodeo time in Houston, which means plenty of barbecue food, country music and enjoying a few drinks with good friends. Even if you are not planning on experiencing the rodeo at Reliant Park, we have gathered several ways for you to rodeo at your home!

Even those not attending the rodeo need a good pair of cowboy boots, they are a Texas wardrobe must-have. There’s a boot for everyone, whether you’re plain, fancy or traditional. When you’re ready to pick yours up, try one of the stores on this list of best cowboy boot stores in Houston.

While at the rodeo carnival, there are plenty of tasty food options to try: from fried Oreos to world-class barbeque. You can bring some of that flavor home with this grill from Texas Gas Grills. It is perfect for preparing your own barbeque and serving it to family or houseguests. We found this delicious ribs recipe for you to try for your rodeo gathering.

For obvious reasons, this stand-alone grill is one of our favorites and will be a favorite of your guest as well! What better way to grill rodeo-inspired barbecue than on the great state of Texas?

Your home entertainment system is good for more than just watching movies. Use the surround sound system to play your favorite rodeo music. 2013 performers include country favorites Tim McGraw, Kenney Chesney and Blake Shelton, as well as other music genre representatives, such as Bruno Mars, Demi Lavato and Pitbull.

This home bar is perfect for entertaining. Celebrate responsibly! Enjoying a few of your favorite rodeo drinks at home is safer and reduces or eliminates the cost of taking a cab.

If you change your mind and decide to experience Rodeo Houston live at Reliant Park, these transportation options will get you there safely, and inexpensively! You can take advantage of the Metro Rail, The Wave’s $20 round-trip shuttle service from Armadillo Palace or just call Yellow Cab at (713) 236-1111.

Traditionally one of the biggest events of the year, The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo is one event that you don’t want to miss out on. However you choose to experience it, find out more about all that the Rodeo has to offer by visiting the official website.

Freestanding bathtubs have become increasingly popular in recent months. Unlike their built in counterparts, freestanding tubs offer a change in status quo. The reasons behind this are obvious:

Freestanding tubs are stunning and add more drama and elegance to an otherwise plain bathroom. Artistic tubs, like the claw foot example above, draw eyes to the center of the room making it more visually appealing.

The open space near at the bottom of the tub can make a bathroom appear larger. Having the illusion of more space is all important, especially in smaller bathrooms.

Adding a stylish tub like the modern one above can be a way to incorporate functional art into your home.

A stand alone tub offers more opportunity for customization. The addition of a freestanding tub can make the process of adding color in the bathroom that much easier.

Whether you’re looking for a touch of modern style

Or vintage character,

…a freestanding tub can provide endless options for your bathroom.

Every year Pantone picks one color to be the stand out shade for the year, a color to be incorporated in jewelry, clothing and the home. Pantone describes this year’s color as, “Lively. Radiant. Lush… A color of elegance and beauty that enhances our sense of well-being, balance and harmony.”

2013 is the year of Emerald. The energizing, invigorating green will be popping up everywhere from your favorite department store to home good stores.

Here are 3 tips to include the color of the year into your home:

Use emerald accents: like pillows, picture frames and vases. This will add a shot of color to your home but won’t be overwhelming. It’s a nice subtle touch of green to brighten a room.

Paint your door green: This is a little more out there than just green accent but it is an inviting color that is just the right kind of bold.


Go all out and paint a wall or a room green: This one is a big commitment so be sure you are in love with the shade of green you choose before you get started. A green room is a room full of life and creates a nature vibe that could help out a home.

January 10^th is National Cut Your Energy Costs Day! In celebration, here are a few great tips for keeping your energy costs low while staying warm in the cooler winter months!

Reconsider How You Heat & Cool Your House When No One’s Home: Heating and cooling an empty home is one of the biggest energy draining practices that most people don’t even consider. Try installing a programmable thermostat, so that when you’re not home, you’re not wasting energy. You can also set the thermostat to adjust during the overnight hours!

Keep Your Shades Open On Sunny Days: This is an excellent natural way to warm up your house while you’re home, without having to turn up your heater.

Change Your Relationship With Lighting: Try replacing your incandescent bulbs with compact fluorescent ones, as the latter use way less energy! It’s also helpful to switch off lights as you’re leaving a room. This may seem simple, but you’d be surprised how many people forget!

Upgrade Your Appliances: If you’re in an older home, you might consider replacing your appliances with newer, energy efficient ones. You’d be surprised how much you can save on your energy bill by simply changing out the appliances you use.

Have any tips for keeping your energy costs low? Share them with us!

Although we may not have the harshest winter in the nation, the change in climate that comes with the winter months does lead to important winterization steps. One of the tasks that are most suited to fall is insulating your pipes. There is nothing worse than having a pipe burst on a cold, winter night and having to deal with freezing water! Get pre-slit pipe foam (available at most hardware stores) cut to size and fasten in place with duct tape. A few more tips below will help to get your home ready for Jack Frost!

Seal it up! – 10-30 percent of heated air escapes in the average duct system. Therefore it could be beneficial to hire a professional to inspect for any problems. You should also add a draft snake to the bottom of your door – a rolled bath towel does just fine! Lastly, use caulking and weather striping to close corners where different materials meet.
Winterize your water lines – Drain any water hoses and air conditioner pipes and make sure you don’t have excess water pooled in equipment. If your a/c has a water shutoff valve, go ahead and turn that off.
Run your fans in reverse – Your fan is set to run counterclockwise and produce a cool breeze. Make sure to switch it to run clockwise and ensure that air pooled near the ceiling is pooled back into your living space.

The most overlooked winterization project is actually remembering that you can receive Federal Tax Credits for Consumer Energy Efficiency. The federal government will reimburse you for 30 percent of the cost, up to $1,500 for highly efficient insulation.

We sent the above information to one of our favorite sister blog, eLocal. Check back in there for continuous homebuilder information!