House Plants

Perfect Houseplant: Flowering Maple

Want a houseplant that flowers every month without too much light? Focus on a flowering maple (Abutilon). There are many of these broad leaf species.


The leaves for this plant are a small maple type dark green (some variegated), and the bell shaped flowers bloom beautifully in various colors including, red, yellow, pink, and white. You can expect to see plenty of flowers from these between spring through to fall and possibly through the winter given bright light.


Growing a flowering maple indoors requires enough space ready for when it matures because they can grow up to 5 ft, although I keep mine pruned down to 2 ft-3 ft.


They also grow quickly and need to be pruned to fit your indoor needs. I take my plant and placed under a shade tree at summer time. Keep in mind, they do not like frosty morning’s and like to be kept moist.

Home Improvement

Improve your Countertops

Searching for a stylish but affordable material for your kitchen countertop? Don’t snub your nose at inexpensive kitchen countertop surfaces like laminate

Wood

Consider that between the brands Formica and Wilsonart, more than 325 colors and patterns are available. This makes it nearly impossible to not find the style that works for you.

Contact Paper

And if that’s not great news, consider the price: at $12 to $40 per square foot installed, you’ll save a small fortune in comparison to more expensive stone surfaces like granite and marble.

Concrete and glass

Beyond laminate, other inexpensive, easy-to-maintain surfaces include solid wood and butcher block countertops as well as ceramic tile countertops. In addition, solid-surface countertops like Corian shouldn’t be overlooked. Corian, in fact, once enjoyed the status granite does today and was known for its seamless installation and the ability to easily integrate sinks and backsplashes.

Glass

Unexpected materials like concrete or glass are more recently trending countertop materials, as they not only make a statement but also offer plenty of personalization options, from stains and dyes (concrete) to LED illumination (glass).

Home Maintenance

Home Technology (Ring)

With the growing interest in smart home technology is the question most homeowners have before they purchase these products is whether the investment is worth the price in the long run? Will investing in a smart thermostat, a smart wall plugin, a doorbell camera, or a smart light bulb really save money on energy bills over time? Are these products truly safer for your family and your home? Are there any other incentives for purchasing smart home products?

The pros include convenience, remote monitoring, and in some cases, insurance incentives. The cons include some programming and setup, including different models of smart devices may not be compatible with each other.

The Ring Doorbell with Smart Camera

One device making headway is the “Ring” devices like the doorbell with camera which allows you to see and talk to anyone at your door from anywhere. There are addons including security lights, motions detectors and window security features. Many of the device are easy to setup on your own. The app on your phone may be the most daunting, just find some under 21 years old to help.