12 Weekend Projects Under $20

We're always excited to find home improvement tips that not only look great, but are inexpensive as well! Sometimes it's the smallest changes that can make the biggest difference in the way a room functions. Get inspired by these 12 easy changes that can easily be made for under $20. Update your home this weekend!

Source: Better Homes and Gardens Online

TIP 1: ADD A LOWER BAR  -  Adding a lower bar to your closet lets your hang tops above bottoms and can effectively double your closet space. You may need to move the existing rod up a bit to accommodate the arrangement. In addition to allowing for more space, we've found that this also makes creating an outfit a breeze!

Source: Better Homes and Gardens Online

TIP 2: INCREASE LIGHTING  -  Install an additional fixture to shed light on a dim area. Think about dark closets or corners where you sit and read. Small lamps and candles also look great on the mantle.

Source: Better Homes and Gardens Online

TIP 3: UPDATE WITH PAINT  -  Breathe new life into an old piece of furniture with a fresh coat of paint. For wood pieces, remove dirt or wax build up with a household cleaner and rinse. Sand rough areas and wipe away dust. Apply two coats of stain-blocking primer and allow to dry in between coats. Roll or brush on two coats of latex paint in the direction of the wood grain. Use a brush to finish surface with smooth strokes. Viola! An old piece of furniture that feels brand new!

Source: Better Homes and Gardens Online

TIP 4: ADD A DIVIDER  -  Drawer and cabinet dividers are a must when it comes to keeping pans, lids, spatulas, and chip clips in their respective places. Some units match your cabinetry for a completely  custom look. Snap a photo of your cabinets / drawers  and measure out some specs. Head over to the hardware store where specialist can assist you in matching and even cutting the wood for your specific dimensions.

Source: Better Homes and Gardens Online

TIP 5: UPDATE WITH HARDWARE  -  Update a cabinet or a desk in your home with new hardware! Replace the pulls and knobs on any drawer in your home. This simple update will keep the wood free of messy fingerprints and add a finished look to any room in your home.

 

Source: Better Homes and Gardens Online

TIP 6: ORGANIZE YOUR ENTRYWAY  -  Hang a hook for each family member near the door where belongings typically get tossed upon entry. When coats and totes have a home, you'll feel super organized as you grab and go each day.

 

Source: Better Homes and Gardens Online

TIP 7: ADD EXTRA STORAGE  -  Create a between-the-studs shelf or cubbyhole where you need a little extra storage, especially in a bathroom. Use the space to hold magazines, towels, and bath products.

Source: Better Homes and Gardens Online

TIP 8: REPLACE WINDOW SHADES  -  Have the window shades in your kitchen been marred by repeated exposure to splashes and cooking liquids? Replace stained window coverings and see your kitchen in a whole new light.

 

Source: Better Homes and Gardens Online

TIP 9:  PUT TOWELS WITHIN REACH  -  Don't walk across the room to grab a towel! Add towel bars where you need them, or move current bars to make them more accessible. Hunt for bars the compliment existing bathroom hardware. Don't have room for a bar? Try placing a basket nearby with neatly folded towels. 

 

Source: Better Homes and Gardens Online

TIP 10: UPDATE YOUR DOOR  -  All it takes is a screwdriver and a few minutes to change clashing or poorly operating door hardware. Door looking less than attractive? Try a fresh coat of paint or stain!

 

Source: Better Homes and Gardens Online

TIP 11: ADD AN OUTDOOR PATH  -  Consider adding stepping stones where people walk across the grass each day. It's a simple job, but requires a little digging for the pavers. Make sure you have utility lines marked first!

 

Source: Better Homes and Gardens Online

TIP 12: INSTALL A WINDOW BOX  -  A perfect pop of color for summer! Dress up your windows with an herb or flower garden. Terra cotta units are an affordable option, but units can also be constructed from cedar planks. Attach your planter with brackets below a window.

As always, we would love to see your home improvement projects! Show them off on our Facebook page! Want to see even more Better Homes and Gardens tips? Click here to see the source of our article!

Featured Properties!

We are so proud of our beautiful listings and our sales. Each week the blog will showcase featured properties in the area. If you are interested in more details on any of the listings, please call our office at (985) 892-1478. 

75111 Highway 1083  Covington, LA

 Spectacular 58+ Acre farm estate in Covington, LA. 7 Bedroom main house will delight the entertainer in you with open floor plan, chef's kitchen (including Hibachi grill!) and media room. Property also features a guest house, caretakers cottage, and 36 stall barn with indoor riding arena and two apartments.

Want more details? See the listing at: jenniferrice.net 

11583 Willie Garrett  Folsom, LA

 Raised Louisiana-style home with wrap-around porches on 27 beautiful acres featuring sparkling pool and ponds. Completely renovated with every amenity. Guest house and workshop.

Want more details? See the listing at: jenniferrice.net 

225 Mattingly Lane  Madisonville, LA

Stunning custom home on 3.5 manicured acres in beautiful gated community. Grand staircase, marvle floors, gourmet kitchen, fabulous master and bath overlooking pool. Beautiful, must be seen!

Want more details? See the listing at: jenniferrice.net 

REMINDER!

Don't let this property sale incentive pass you by! CLICK HERE to learn more!

Father's Day Gift Ideas

Father's Day is fast approaching! This Sunday, surprise Dad with a thoughtful gift made my none other than you! (or maybe the kids!)  We've compiled a list of our favorites via MarthaStewart.com and would like to share them with you! Get inspired and get creative... because really, isn't it the thought that counts?

Photo Source: Martha Stewart

Shadow box frames keep memories of special days alive forever. Think of a special day you and your father shared... memorialize that with souvenirs, photos, and special elements of the day. In the example above, the couple commemorated their daughter's birth by framing Father and Daughter's first photo, the ultrasound picture, her first hat, and hospital ribbon.

Photo Source: Martha Stewart

Cooking for Dad is a sweet idea! What's even nicer is bottling up all that BBQ sauce you used in creating the meal! Simply fill a jar with the sauce, add a basting brush, a gift tag. It will be a special keepsake from a memorable dinner!

Photo Source: Martha Stewart

For the golf enthusiast in the family, we found this cute cupcake idea! To decorate, add a thin layer of the icing of your choice. Cover the icing with green sprinkles for the green. A toothpick with triangular scrapbook paper can serve as a flag. The golf ball can be created with a dot of icing or any round candy. To create the sand, use a food processor to crush a graham cracker. These materials are just suggestions....Get creative!

Photo Source: Martha Stewart

Turn Dad's favorite treats into one of a kind gifts! Simply print out these clip art labels on your printer at home or at a document center. We recommend printing on a sticker format to make sure these labels have a little longevity! Dad is sure to be in for a special TREAT!

Photo Source: Martha Stewart

Transform a digital video into a still shot series of images. Simply play the video on your desktop, take screen shots of frame by frame, and bind them together in simple booklet. To see more information, click here!

Photo Source: Martha Stewart

Let the kids color on this basic office staple... the notepad! This thoughtful gift is sure to add a special touch to any office desk. Their messages will last well beyond Father's Day!

Photo Source: Martha Stewart

A twist on the traditional tool set... for the Dad who travels, why not make a Travel kit? Tire pressure gauges, swiss army knife, flash light, pencil, and road maps will make the perfect addition to the vehicle!

Photo Source: Martha Stewart

Give Dad the gift that keeps on giving... a little elbow grease! Steel pails can be found at virtually any feed store! Hit up a local automotive store for the products. We recommend car wash, sponges, Armor All, wax, and an Absorber to dry it all up! Get creative and make a hang tag for the pail... or take it one step further and see idea #4 for creative product labels. 

Photo Source: Martha Stewart

Instead of using traditional ribbon to wrap that wallet or money clip, think of using a bow tie to wrap Dad's gift! Bow ties fit around many small gifts. Functional and pretty!

Photo Source: Martha Stewart

Everyone loves a deal... especially Daddy! Give him a coupon booklet filled with unbelievable deals: 100 percent off a lawn mowing, car washing, delicious breakfast, and more! Your imagination is the limit!

Photo Source: Martha Stewart

Dad's belts a disorganized mess? Make a handsome belt rack for his collection! To add the cup hooks (found at any hardware store) to the wood belt, you will need to drill holes with the appropriate-sized bit.   (If you try doing this without drilling, you run the risk of the wood rod splitting) Space all holes evenly, about 2 inches apart. If the screws of the hooks are too long, snip off ends with wire cutters before screwing them in.

Photo Source: Martha Stewart

Ties... what father hasn't gotten one? Whoever said that tie needed to go straight from the store to the gift box anyways? Try something a little more personal this Father's Day... Custom Embroidery! Choose the typeface, choose the placement, choose the initial(s) and have the tie embroidered. This one of a kind gift is sure to be cherished by Dad for years to come!

Hope these ideas help you create a memorable occasion for the special guy in your life.
As always, if you try any of these tips, be sure to post them on our Facebook! We love to see your creativity. To see more of the Martha Stewart gift ideas, click here. HAPPY FATHER'S DAY!

Property Sale Incentive: Bunny Lane

Every once in a while a property comes along that's begging to be sold! 
This month, we are offering a special incentive on such a property... our Bunny Lane listing in Covington, LA. The vast 27 +/- acreage comes at a newly reduced price of $249,000. (Let us do the math for you: That's only $9,222 an acre!) Even better... this lush wooded acreage is in a great location - just North of the corner of Highway 1077 and Highway 1085.

So what's this incentive you speak of? Due to the motivation of our seller, we are offering a special sale incentive to both the selling agent and the buyer of this amazing property. $7,500 BONUS to the selling agent* and $5,000 BONUS to the buyer*!

Received our email regarding the sale?

Like most sales, there is always some fine print. *To obtain the bonus, your contract must be accepted on or before June 31, 2011. Bonus to be paid upon closing act of sale and only applies to the sale of our vacant land (MLS#846358) on Bunny Lane.

Want more details?
Here is a more detailed image of where the property is located:
(Even larger? See the image on our Facebook page)

You can also view the full listing details on our website: jenniferrice.net

Want to talk with someone directly about this opportunity? Call our office directly at 985.892.1478

TEXT WOW!

Have you ever passed a "for sale" sign and wanted to learn more without having to contact the realtor directly? Jennifer Rice and Team have access to the latest Latter & Blum technology that will enable you to learn more about our listings, as well as every other nearby listing!

Latter & Blum Text WOW

There is a brand new way to learn more about our properties!

Latter & Blum's latest service makes searching real estate as easy as 1, 2, 3!

       1.  Find one of our listings for sale. Park out front.

       2.  Using your cell phone, text message "WOW" to 59559

       3.  Receive details on the listing requested, as well as all others in the neighborhood!

                     ...as you continue your search, the service will continue to work!

New York Times : Featured Property!

Ever have one of those 'WOW!' moments? We certainly did when we came across a Real Estate article in the New York Times featuring Jennifer Rice and Hyatt Hood of Jennifer Rice and Team!


The article featured a comparison of "what you get for" various prices across the country. Our beautiful log cabin property in Folsom, LA was ranked against a craftsman in Boise, Idaho and a contemporary home in St. George, Maine. 

The property featured is located at 14411 Bennett Bridge Road in Folsom, LA.

This property had a log cabin and an Acadian home when the current owners bought it. They tore down the house and remilled its wood to renovate the inside of cabin, using the old heart pine for trim, floors and ceiling in the living and dining room. The master bedroom opens to a porch. The renovation included updating the bathroom and kitchen, both of which were completed within the last four years. The house is set on 17.5 beautiful acres, partially wooded with live oaks and cypress trees. There is also a large pond located on the property.

Heart pine wood showcased in this dining room area.

Photo Source: Jennifer Rice and Team

Large pond located on the property.

Photo Source: Jennifer Rice and Team

Beautiful Oak trees can be found throughout the landscape.

Photo Source: Jennifer Rice

Beautiful kitchen renovation.

Photo Source: Jennifer Rice

 Beautiful pine wood is a focal point in the dining room.

Photo Source: Jennifer Rice

Gorgeous bedroom with heart pine wood.

Photo Source: Jennifer Rice

Want to learn more? See the listing here!

Innisfree Polo Cup

Have you ever been to a polo match? This is your chance! Come out and experience the excitement of the game with us at the Innisfree Cup Polo Match this Sunday! Gates open at noon and the event is open to the public! Bring your sunscreen, hats, food, drink, blankets, and chairs - anything you think would be essential for a day of tailgating fun! We'll provide the action, horses, polo, and the sunshine! Match begins at 2, but we invite you to come early and mingle with friends!

Innisfree Cup Polo Match will be held at Innisfree Farm located at 82027 Innisfree Road @ Highway 40 in Folsom, LA.  For directions, click here!

Need additional information? Call 985.869.3181

Look forward to seeing you there!