Category: Tips

For those of you who get the itch for redecorating during the winter months, examine a list of design trends expected to be prominent in 2020 before heading to the paint store. Stay on top of the latest trends and use these suggestions to guide your plans to spruce things up.

1. Colors To Consider

You’ll have a variety of options in 2020 for revamping the color palette in your home. The color tones this year include inky blues and summer browns as well as greens from seaweed to neon. These hues exhibit depth, complexity and offer an opportunity for intentional contrast in your decorating. Now is the time to accent with a bright coral or orange against your taupe wall or sofa. Be comfortable with making a statement with a new rug or vibrant artwork.

2. Texture Is Important

Sometimes in our efforts to coordinate colors perfectly we overlook a key element in design, which is displaying a level of texture to the room. Boucle, a yarn with a looped, curly ply and raised quality, provides a cozy yet sophisticated feel in your living space. Boucle will be shown in furniture fabric and pillow covers throughout the most updated homes. Detailed stitching on cushions, foot stools and sofa arms will also add pattern and interest to your living area.

3. Create A Space For Conversation

The layout of your gathering space is just as important as the fabric of the chair or the tint of the accent rug. Consider how your room is zoned, meaning where your furniture pieces are placed. If you have room, it’s great to incorporate two sofas to make your living room feel sociable and friendly. Place sofas close together to create a space meant for conversing and comfortably settling in. Don’t forget to measure more than once for accuracy before ordering furniture.

Thinking about updating your kitchen too? Buyers are looking for these modifications in the kitchen.

Cooler weather is approaching and it’s time to confirm that your furnace will keep you warm at night. Midwestern fall weather can present a 40-degree change in temperatures from sunrise to sunset. Here’s what you can do to be ready for the temps to drop.

1. Sign a Service Contract

Having an annual service contract with your local heating and cooling company can be the most practical way to ensure your furnace is ready to heat up this winter. Most annual plans include a yearly inspection and scheduled service checks for maintenance and cleaning the unit, replacing filters and small repairs needed throughout the contract. While companies offer a variety of contract options, you can greatly benefit by having a professional keep your unit in tip-top shape.

2. Do It Yourself

If a service contract isn’t in your budget or you prefer to take matters into your own hands, refer to a checklist that will help keep you on task. If you’re extra organized, set a notice on your calendar as a reminder when it’s time to perform seasonal maintenance on your equipment. Common steps you can take in assessing your furnace’s function are:

• Turn thermostat from cool to heat. Set the temperature a few degrees higher than room temperature and confirm the unit turns on and blows warm air
• Confirm that the pilot light is on
• Change the air filters
• Ensure the furnace blower and motor are free of dust and dirt

3. Budget for a New Furnace

It’s possible that the best action you can take is to plan ahead for a new furnace. Determine the age of your existing unit and gauge its lifespan. Furnaces last about 15-20 years on average. How many more years will your furnace perform well before costly repairs are needed? How much money might you save in the long run by replacing your older model for a more efficient one? Think big-picture planning. You could save on energy bills by spending money on a new furnace now.

Read about additional steps you can take to prepare your home for winter.

Fall weather means sweaters and jeans and cheerful gatherings. Get your backyard  ready to host the next neighborhood bash and consider a few suggestions that will help make it one for the books.

1. It’s All in the Presentation

Unique and colorful decorations make for a memorable event. While not a necessity for a good party, jazzy decorating and clever details can be the difference between an average or outstanding party. Consider a harvest party theme. Decorate with gourds, pumpkins and straw that you pick up from a visit to your local pumpkin patch. Draw attention to the entrance of the party with a festive display. Provide proper lighting in the party zone with traditional string lights or add flair with lit up, carved jack-o-lanterns to set the mood.

2. Casual and Comfy Atmosphere

Keep the atmosphere casual so guests will feel at ease. Serve the food buffet style so friends can help themselves without the awkward need to explain why they don’t like squash or are allergic to nuts. Offer a dessert table with a do-it-yourself sundae bar or caramel apple dips and toppings. Start a fire in your fire pit and have enough firewood to keep it going throughout the party. Have all the fixings for s’mores available for when guests are ready to toast them up. Gather enough blankets to share as the temps drop when the night falls.

3. Interactive and Fun Entertainment

A good party often has interesting entertainment available. If your group likes interactive games, provide a big chalkboard so you can easily keep score. Prior to the games, the chalkboard can serve as a menu board or a place for kids to draw and leave messages. Always have a deck of cards and dice handy for those competitive guests wanting to play a game of euchre or Ship, Captain, Crew. If your party includes lots of kids, set aside a table to paint pumpkins or a pile of leaves for them to hide and jump in.

4. Create Seasonal Sips

Fall is the best time to make cocktails filled with pumpkin and spice and everything nice. Get your Martha Stewart on and core out apples to use as cups when serving cider filled with cinnamon, clove, lemon, pomegranate or ginger. Pumpkins can also be hollowed out and used to serve pumpkin tea or punch.

Read how to put out the welcome mat for fall to welcome your party guests.

 

Now’s the time to tailgate and provide the ultimate outdoor gathering for your friends and family. Put on your party hat, your favorite team gear and get yourself ready to pull off a celebration they won’t forget.

1. Tricks of the Trade

Top-notch tailgaters know a few tricks to ensuring their guests have a memorable time. Bringing the right items is key, so include elements like a portable grill, tables for serving and extension cords as necessities. Bring duct tape for set up emergencies, a bungee cord to hang a roll of paper towels, a first aid kit for unexpected blunders and sunscreen so you can enjoy the game and the days after without the ache of sunburn. You can never have too many garbage bags, as those not used for collecting trash can second as ponchos when rain arrives.

2. Look Ahead and Layout

Assign the early bird friend to stake out and reserve your spot for the tailgate. Look for a location closest to existing trash cans and bathrooms that also allows for easy exit when it’s closing time. Review the tailgating rules and policies online before arrival so you won’t have to worry about confiscation of items or unintended rule breaking that might cause trouble for the group. Determine designated drivers the day before so you know you’ll get home safely.

3. Food Prep and Fare

Much of your food prep can be done before game day so the pressure of cramming it in the day of the event is eliminated. Hand-form your burgers, put together meat and veggie skewers, slice up the fruit and refrigerate overnight. Freeze water bottles and use them to help keep food cold in coolers. Put bottle openers, napkins, plates, silverware, wipes, utensils and foil for the grill in one plastic container so they are easy to find and ready to use. Arrange and label one cooler for the kids and one for adults.

4. Clean Up and Cart Away

Clean up can be simple. Utilize empty beer or soda cardboard cases to gather empty cans, bottles and plastic for recycling. Determine if your tailgate location has recycling bins on site and if you can dispose of the empty containers on the property. Always leave your party spot in the same condition as when you arrived by picking up all the trash and taking home all the things you came with. The next tailgaters will appreciate a clean spot to entertain in too!

Round out your fall weekend activities by using these tips to spruce up your home’s front entry.

 

 

The Quad Cities and surrounding towns offer many great opportunities for free family fun. Browse the list for a new location or a favorite place to make memories together.

Eagle Point Park

3900 North 3rd Street, Clinton, IA

A park with bluffs overlooking the river, plus a historic lodge and castle turret open for stair climbs. Perfect for outdoor family outing where hiking is enjoyed.

Centennial Park Skatepark

905 West River Drive, Davenport, IA

Centennial Park is a beautiful riverfront in downtown Davenport. Enjoy the spraypark, skatepark, basketball courts, soccer fields, and a riverfront bike path.

Empire Park

Great River Trail, East Moline, IL

Visit scenic Empire Park on the banks of the Mississippi River. Climb on a giant, wooden jungle gym that will amuse kids and adults for hours.

Galesburg Railroad Museum

211 S. Seminary Street, Galesburg, IL

This local museum provides tours of cars outside, weather permitting. The building is wheelchair accessible but the cars outside are not. The collection of railroad cars includes CB&Q 4-6-4 3006, a Pullman Meath car, Railway Express RPO Combination Mail & Baggage Car, CB&Q Burlington Route Way Car. A museum building houses a large collection of railroad history in pictures and on paper. Some additional items were donated to the museum by railroad workers and their families.

Geneseo Historical Museum

205 S. State Street, Geneseo, IL

Enjoy an excellent small-town museum with documented and strong ties to the Underground Railroad. This local gem has a good collection of artifacts dating from 1836 until present that are attractively displayed. History buffs are guaranteed to enjoy this visit!

Johnson-Sauk Trail State Recreation Area

28616 Sauk Trail Road, Kewanee, IL

This state park is on 1,365 acres in Henry County and has a 58-acre lake with various types of fish. The lake has boat rentals and a maximum depth of 21 feet. The park has many trails, and a campground.  Ryan’s Round Barn is a scenic 3-acre pond that is a great place to hike to together.

Mississippi River Distilling Company

303 North Cody Road, LeClaire, IA

In the heart of the corn belt, see vodka, gin and bourbon whiskey handmade from local grains. Spirits are made from corn and wheat that is all grown within 25 miles of the distillery. Come see the care and craftsmanship that goes into each bottle while they grind the grain, cook the grain, ferment it and then distill it into your favorite liquors. It’s all under one roof of the majestic shores of the Mississippi.

John Deere Pavilion

1400 River Drive, Moline, IL

Serves as a visitor center for John Deere. Touch the machines. Climb in the cab. Learn. From the vintage machines to today’s agricultural and construction equipment, the past and future are yours to discover. See how these products help change lives around the world.

Schwiebert Riverfront Park

100 17th Street, Rock Island, IL

The park features digital playgrounds and outdoor playground to get kids back outside and playing. The new playgrounds do not come with instructions so kids are encouraged to explore the system and discover all of its innovative features on their own. It offers up close views of the river and some of the best views of the bridges and Arsenal Island
The fountain is at ground level with water sprays that are fun for all!

Mississippi Palisades State Park

16327A Il Route 84, Savanna, IL

This is a national natural landmark and is a partially conserved section of the Mississippi Palisades. The area contains many caves and large cliffs along the Mississippi River at the mouth of the Apple River in the Driftless Area of far northwestern Illinois.

 

 

 

Summer vacations are in full swing and you’re ready to head out of town to refresh. Whether you’re planning to be gone for an extended period of time or for a long weekend, take a few steps to ensure that your home will be safe and secure while you’re away.

Take Care of the Mail

Stopping mail from the USPS is easy and free for up to 30 days. You can sign up online to have your mail held and they can deliver your mail bundle once you’re back. If taking a shorter trip, ask a child in the neighborhood to gather your mail instead. It’s an easy way to strengthen your neighbor relationship and give the child a chance to practice responsibility.

Have Electronics on a Timer

Set timers on devices and lights in various rooms for different times. Some timers even allow you to control the lights through your smartphone, where you can monitor and change things daily. Think about leaving music playing or your television on to make it sound like there are people inside your home.

Have Someone Checking on Your Home

Have a family member or friend check on your home while you’re away. Line someone up to get your trash out and bins returned on garbage day. Plan to have your lawn mowed and plants watered. If you have a home improvement project that can be done, it may be an ideal time to schedule it while you’re away. You’ll avoid the hassle and noise, and people coming in and out of the home will give the impression that it’s not empty.

Find more tips for homeowners at www.melfostercoblog.com.