With the real estate market on the upswing, many homeowners have begun to consider upgrading their homes after a period of stagnation that was felt nation-wide. While the bathroom and kitchen are probably the first home renovations that come to mind, you may surprise to learn just how much a fireplace can add to the resale value of your home.

Whether you are considering this upgrade as part of a home staging effort or simply looking to invest your money wisely, a new fireplace will instantly recoup your expenses. This home renovation is often overlooked and could be the spark that your home has been missing!

Increasing Your Home Value With A Fireplace

The National Center for Real Estate Research found that fireplaces can increase the average home value by 6-12%. Modern electric fireplaces can be installed in 15 minutes and instantly affect the value of your home.
Continue reading →

So you’re trying to figure out which is the cheapest way to heat your home. You may have heard mixed reviews but the truth is very clear. Wood stoves contain a certain natural ambiance that is hard to replicate but at what cost? Gas and electric units have been seen as alternative heating solutions by many experts. Save your hard earned money by taking the time to educate yourself.

Jonathan Scott of HGTV’s Property Brothers voiced his opinion on this matter stating, “Open-faced, traditional wood-burning fireplaces are very inefficient.” His brother Drew confirmed this saying, “On the Realtor side, when I’m talking renovation for clients, I tell them to go away from wood burning.” Let’s compare the heating costs of wood, gas, and electric fireplaces to help you make a smart decision!
Continue reading →

Christmas is a special time of year where we gather around the fireplace to open presents, share smiles and exchange laughter, and enjoy the company of our closest loved ones. After you’ve opened the last present and stuffed yourself full with as much honey glazed ham as humanly possible, snuggle up around a warm fire and pop in your favorite Christmas movie.

With so many to choose from, we decided to put together this list of the absolute Best Christmas Movies that you may have forgotten over the years! You can catch a short preview clip to decide which one you’ll start with first. Don’t forget to decorate your fireplace mantel for Christmas!

Christmas Classics the Whole Family Can Enjoy

Love Actually

Love actually gives us ten different perspectives that remind us what love actually is. This is a wonderful film set in London that follows the stories of a group of unique individuals, all of whom seem to show love in their own special way. Whether you’re the type to wear your emotions on your sleeve or you’re not into all of the mushy love scenes, there’s something for everybody! See which character you match up with the most!

Image via Carolina Lifestyles.

Continue reading →

Archeologists have various theories about how humans started using fire. While some think that Homo erectus started using fire in Africa, others believe that Neanderthal man independently started using fire in Europe much later.