Here are 5 features to create the perfect shower area in your home…

Dual Showerheads

Dual showerheads allow for a spacious shower area where couples can go about their routine without having to wait.

Rain Shower

Rain showers create a relaxing and luxurious feeling of water cascading down on you.

Vitamin C-Infused Shower

Vitamin C-infused showers reduce chlorine levels in your water and leave your skin feeling softer and healthier.

Steam Shower

Relax for a few minutes each day and enjoy the restorative benefits of steam heat.

Capture a View

Elevate your shower experience with a breathtaking view.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Most everyone deals with money troubles at some point. However, according to American Consumer Credit Counseling (ACCC), a non-profit group, many people may be headed toward financial disaster without even knowing it.

To help determine if youre in danger of serious financial problems, ACCC offers eight telltale signs:

1. Not paying your bills on time (or at all). Paying your bills late leads to extra charges and can have a significant impact on your credit score. Some companies will even increase your interest rate after just one late payment. Missing bill payments altogether is a big problem”itll kill your credit score. Additionally, after three missed mortgage payments, some lenders will start the foreclosure procedure.

2. Struggling to make minimum payments. In most cases, the minimum monthly payment goes toward interest, not principal. Moreover, if youre struggling to pay the minimum, you probably have way more debt than you can handle.

3. Relying on credit cards too much. Credit scores are partially calculated by your credit utilization. Consequently, being at or over your credit card limit will have a serious impact on your credit score and could lead to denied loans. If you use your credit card to make payments on other bills, youre playing a high-risk game. Plus, youll end up paying more overall because of the credit card interest you accrue.

4. Taking cash advances out on your credit cards. While it may seem like an easy way to get fast cash, taking out a cash advance on your credit cards is a bad idea. Cash advances on your credit card usually come with a transaction fee and are typically subject to significantly higher interest rates.

5. Getting denied credit. Being refused credit is a red flag that you’re on the verge of a personal finance emergency. If you’re denied, it most often means your credit score is extremely low and the company views you as too high of a risk.

6. Living beyond your means. We all know that we should be saving a little each month, and there’s no way you can save if you’re living paycheck to paycheck or, worse, spending more than you earn. Struggling to make ends meet or being in the red month after month is very stressful and can cause major financial problems, especially if an emergency occurs.

7. Dipping into savings or retirement. People dip into their savings and retirement funds for a number of reasons ranging from medical expenses to mortgage loan distress. While pulling from these sources may seem like a good option in the short term, the long-term impacts can potentially be devastating.

8. Tossing out bills. They say ignorance is bliss, but ignoring bills will only lead to heartache. Throwing your bills away before opening them is a clear sign that you’ve given up. While opening the bills may cause you stress, its not too late to get a handle on your finances.

By catching these warning signs now, you may be able to avoid serious financial trouble. You can also research and find trustworthy resources available to help you get back on track.

This article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be construed as professional or legal advice.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Nobody likes to spend hours cleaning house”and, sometimes, there are few hours to spare. Yet some people seem to have a knack for keeping their homes looking spotless even when the time spent cleaning is minimal.

Country Living Magazine polled home bloggers and other busy women to come up with several little tricks that help keep a home looking spiffy:

Take your shoes off. Shoes carry in dirt and germs. Train the family to remove them when coming in the door”and put up a cute sign in the entryway asking visitors to do the same.

Make the bed. Even if the bedrooms are not picture-perfect, a neat bed makes the space look pulled together.

Squeegee the shower every time. It only takes about 20 seconds, and it keeps the glass looking clean and bright.

Clean the bathroom sink. A quick swipe with a baby wipe will keep your sink sparkling. Keep the wipes handy under the sink.

Wipe down kitchen counters. To avoid using harmful chemicals, keep a spray bottle filled with a homemade solution of one part vinegar with three parts water. It cuts through grease and easily removes fingerprints from stainless steel appliances.

Clean up as you go. When cooking, clean up the pots youre finished with, mixing bowls and extra ingredients as you work. The goal is to have nothing much left to do after dinner but to put your plates in the dishwasher.

Do a five-minute cleanup before bed. Get the whole family to pitch in. Five minutes before bedtime, pick up the dog toys, newspapersand personal items; hang up jackets; put away the mail; and put things back in their place.

Put your clothes away. Almost every master bedroom has one chair that starts off empty on Monday and ends up covered with clothes by Friday. Before you go to bed, put dirty clothes in the hamper and put the clean ones away.

Open a door or window. Letting in fresh air at every opportunity is a good way to help keep your home feeling fresh and breezy.

With these quick tips and some discipline, you can keep your home looking spotless.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Heres everything you need to know about Mid-Century Modern design.

Combining modern materials with traditional craftsmanship, mid-century modern architecture was uniquely designed to cater to the lifestyle of suburban families in America.

Exhibiting flat or low-pitched roofs and sweeping, horizontal lines, mid-century modern houses benefit from an abundance of natural light.

In addition to lots of glass, popular materials include wood, stone and brick.

Its quite common to see bright colors infused through furniture or accent walls.

Furnishings with geometric patterns and sculptural lines are key to mid-century modern interiors.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

If you want to make an important purchase but do not currently have the money, you dont necessarily have to put things on hold. If you own a house and have been paying your mortgage for several years, you may have enough equity to qualify for a home equity line of credit, or HELOC. Before you take that step, you need to understand how a HELOC works and ask yourself whether the purchase you want to make is worthwhile and whether you can handle the responsibility that comes with accessing your homes equity.

How it Works

A HELOC is a line of credit that draws on the equity in your home, which is the current value of your home minus the amount you still owe on the mortgage. You may be able to receive as much as 80 or 90 percent of your homes equity as a line of credit. You can use that credit all at once or a little at a time to lower your interest rates on credit card balances, make home improvements, buy a car or cover college costs.

The money will need to be repaid at an interest rate that is based on the amount of equity you have and your credit score. Interest is only charged on the amount of equity that is used. In most cases, your payments for the first several years will only go toward interest. The interest on a HELOC may be tax-deductible.

Is a HELOC Right for You?

Before you take out a home equity line of credit, you need to think carefully about your personality, habits and situation. First of all, ask yourself if you are considering a HELOC for the right reasons. If your house needs a major repair that cannot wait, or if you’re struggling to pay your credit card balances because of high interest rates, a HELOC could be a wise move.

Once you obtain a HELOC for one purpose, you’ll continue to have access to the remaining equity. If you can handle that temptation, it wont be a problem. On the other hand, if you know you wouldnt be able to resist the urge to use your homes equity to finance a lavish vacation or a shopping spree, you should avoid a HELOC because you could get yourself into serious financial trouble. If you get in over your head and are unable to make the monthly payments on time, you might lose your house in a foreclosure.

Weigh the Pros and Cons

A home equity line of credit is a tool that has helped many homeowners finance necessary purchases that they would otherwise have been unable to afford. It’s important to consider the risks and to use a HELOC responsibly. Before you sign on the dotted line, carefully consider whether you’re doing it for the right reasons and whether you can handle the temptation and responsibility that comes with using a home equity line of credit.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

One third of American homes today house residents over the age of 60, and 90 percent of those residents would prefer to stay in their homes as they age for as long as humanly possible, a study by the National Institute on Aging shows.

With more Americans living well into old age, that may seem like a tall order. But planning ahead can make aging in place more achievable for you or your loved ones.

The National Institute on Aging and Senior Living Magazine offer practical tips for making any home safer as we age:

Fix walkways. This is the time to repair cracked or uneven areas of the walkway that could prove hazardous.

Improve lighting. Install point lighting at the front door and motion-sensor lights focused on the stairwell to make entering the home and climbing the stairs safer.

Add railings. Speaking of stairs, if you do have them, adding another railing on the wall side will make climbing much easier as you age.

Safety-proof the kitchen. Switch to appliances with easy-to-read controls and simple-to-push button interfaces. Installing Lazy Susans or roll-out shelving in pantries and cabinets will make it easier to access foodstuffs, dishes, pot, pans and more.

Guard against slips and falls in the bath. Add non-slip flooring and a securely attached grab bar to the shower. Consider building in a permanent bench or purchase a sturdy shower chair. Install a hand-held, adjustable height shower head with a hose to help direct the water.

Security and home automation. In addition to a home security system, look into systems that automate light control, entertainment and more.

Know how to get help. Do an online search now to become acquainted with available senior resources”such as transportation, meal delivery or personal care service”provided by local agencies, senior centers and state offices.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Follow these dos and donts when creating a monochromatic room.

Do start with a base color

Pick out the primary tone and how itll be applied.

Dont feel like you have to stick to neutral tones

Be bold. The look pops with ambitious shades.

Do use a variety of shades

Use different shades that complement each other to add depth.

Dont overdecorate

Keep the decor uncluttered so that the room doesnt feel overwhelming.

Do focus on layers

Introducing different textures and patterns will provide layers that allow the room to flow.

Dont be afraid to break the color scheme

You can still have a surprising accent piece that creates a bit of contrast.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Looking for a home so cozy you almost want to cuddle with it? The following design elements can create a comforting, warm space that you will never want to leave.

Warm colors. Add warm colors to your walls, accents, linens window hangings and more to create a cozy vibe inside. Deep orange, rusty reds, buttery yellows and soft off-white colors can all add a stay at home vibe to your space.

Plush textures. From fleecy blankets thrown over every chair, to faux-fur pillows and rugs, having textures you want to lounge on will seriously up the cozy factor in your living space.

Soft lighting. Nothing derails a cozy home faster than harsh lighting. Add dimmers to your overheads and add ample accent lights on the walls and tables for a soft, warm glow.

Well-designed storage.
Clutter is the antithesis of a cuddly space. From properly organized closets to sneaky storage spaces (like under your sofa seats or ottoman), having a place to stow away your belongings that arent being used will create a sleek vibe.

Extra lounge areas.
Move past the living room set for lounge spaces. An oversized sofa, a sweet day bed, a hammock, big cushy floor pillows”all of these lounge areas can up the cozy ante in your home.

Published with permission from RISMedia.

Published with permission from RISMedia.