For those who don’t require a lot of living space, cottage house plans are a good choice. Though they don’t offer everything you might find in a family-sized home, and they will never compare to a mansion, cottage floor plans are designed to be comfortable and accommodating. Small in nature, cottage home plans are well suited as a primary residence for a single person or a couple and provide all the comforts of home without all the fussy extras. Furthermore, they make great vacation homes and are even a nice selection for a mother-in-law suite or guest house on a large estate. Cottage house plans are sometimes referred to as English cottages. They are quaint, but deliver plenty of outward charm. Though the floor plan is usually simple in design, cottages usually enjoy decorative exterior details and trim such as a railed porch, window shutters and flower boxes. Their interiors are neatly decorated as well. These small houses typically provide basic accommodations including one or two bedrooms and baths, an open floor plan with combined living and dining areas, a modest kitchen and occasionally, a space for a stacked washer and dryer unit. Cottage designs blend nicely in a variety of settings from the side of a peaceful country road to a cozy and peaceful neighborhood. The House Plan Shop’s cottage collection features floor plans that offer no more than 1200 square feet of living space and do not include a garage. Because of their small nature, cottage home plans are closely related to cabin floor plans. Known for their charming designs and cozy accommodations, cottage house plans deliver comfortable and relaxed living year-round or just on long weekends.

This article brought to you by The HousePlanShop, LLC, the home of the best selling house plans from the best designers!

Tags: cottage floor plans, cottage home plans, Cottage House Plans, cottage living, cottages, cozy cottage, home plans, house plans

Summer is just around the corner. It is time to get your home ready for the hotter months ahead.

There’s a long list of things you can do to make sure you are prepared including: window, appliance and even drain cleaning. Also if you want to change a bit your garden and you don’t know what to do yet, Then another great addition to the garden has to be fruit trees as they just look great and provide free fruit so we always buy fruit bearing trees for gardens that we manage. Below is a checklist of things to do in your home to prepare for summer.

1.    Open windows on warm spring days. Let the fresh air flow through your home and let natural light fill as many living spaces as possible. Remove fouled corners and lawn edges with a battery grass trimmer to make your garden look clean and fresh. Open curtains and blinds. The sun’s ultraviolet rays will do more than fill the home with cheer. They are lethal to many harmful bacteria that may have found their way into your home throughout the winter.

2.    Pull the refrigerator away from the wall. Vacuum the coils carefully sucking out dust and anything else that found its way behind or under the refrigerator.

3.    Take some time to wipe down, dust or clean space heaters. Check electric chords and plugs to make sure they are still in good condition. Store units that are in good working condition for next year.

4.    Now is the time to prepare the furnace for the off season and get ready for next season. Inspect the furnace filter and change it if it is dark and dirty. Vacuum openings and grilles at the heating vents, registers and ducts, this last one is a must, air duct cleaning reduces the dust that would otherwise circulate throughout your living space, landing on your furniture, your bedding and flooring.

5.    Before cranking up the air conditioner change or clean the filter and check your ac installation. Remove the pan from the bottom of the unit and clean and replace it. Trim shrubs surrounding the unit allowing for proper ventilation. High Performance HVCA provides maintenance services, see the Trane Air Conditioner Reviews. If your unit needs maintenance make sure to contact an ac repair company. 

6.    Make the transition from winter to summer by having your furnace and air conditioner serviced by a professional from the air conditioning services in layton ut. Make an appointment early to avoid the summer rush and have a better choice of appointment days and times.

7.    Clean the windows, window coverings and trim inside and out. Start by brushing away dirt with a soft-bristle, dry broom. Then get down to business washing each window with a rag or sponge and warm, soapy water. Don’t forget to remove and wash curtains or dust the blinds.

8.    Clean and repair windows screens. Remove the screens for the windows. Brush off dust with a rag or clean, dry paintbrush. Then, gently scrub each screen with a soft-bristle brush and warm, soapy water. Rinse the screens with the hose. Check for rips and tears in the screens. Many can be mended with a needle and thread. Replace the entire screen for those that cannot be easily mended.

9.     Hire the Commercial and Residential Drain Repairs to check hoses, sprinklers and other irrigation systems. The freezing and thawing of winter can crack pipes and hoses so turn on the water and see how your watering system is working before the temperatures rise and you need to use it. Check for leaks, puddles of water, breaks in the lines and hoses, and broken sprinklers and clogged sprinkler heads, do your due diligence with drain cleaning to make sure they are healthy and ready for operation. Repair or replace what needs to be fixed before you have to worry about your grass and other landscaping turning brown in the heat of summer. 

10.  Examine the outside of your home. Trim trees and shrubs that may be touching the siding or brick, windows or trim can be done by Tree Removal Service in Phoenix. Experts recommend maintaining a distance of at least two feet between the home and plants to keep damaging insects and moisture away from the home. You may even consider power washing the exterior of your home to remove dust, mud, mildew and debris. If you find cracking, peeling or blistering paint, move quickly to repaint yourself or schedule a new paint job.

Summer is quickly approaching so take some time to prepare your home for the rising temperatures ahead besides the always recommended tree care services to make sure your plants will last till next season.

This article brought to you by The HousePlanShop, LLC, the home of the best selling house plans from the best designers!

Tags: checklist, Home Maintenance, home maintenance tips, summer checklist, summer home maintenance