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    4 Practical Products from the 2015 HGTV Smart Home That Anyone Can Use

    April 29, 2015 11:12 PM by emily.bailey

    Thursday, April 30, 2015

    4 Practical Products from the 2015 HGTV Smart Home That Anyone Can Use | Schlage

    Here's a list of our favorite HGTV Smart Home 2015 Products that add practical convenience that any homeowner can easily use.

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    Each year, we look forward to getting a virtual tour of the HGTV Smart Home. Call us tech geeks or design nerds - but we love seeing how HGTV flawlessly combines innovation and style year after year. While much of the featured technology requires a large investment of both time and money for the average consumer, this year we have our eyes set on a few products that can easily - and practically - help homeowners get a jump start on outfitting their very own smart home.

    1. Smart Shower

    If you'd like to have better control over the water usage in your home, a smart shower is the way to go. Look for innovations from brands like Delta that have created the experience of using more water while actually conserving it.

    2. Connected Locks

    Connected locks offer you both convenience and security. Schlage Connect is compatible with many home automation platforms. With its built-in alarm and ability to control your lock from anywhere, you'll have greater peace of mind knowing your home is secure. 

    3. Programmable Thermostats

    Your life doesn't fit a rigid schedule so why should your thermostat settings? Programmable thermostats allow you to control the temperature of your home no matter where you are. 

    4. Smartphone Garage Door Openers

    How often do you wonder whether or not you closed the garage door? Stop driving all the way home to find out. With MyQ Technology from Chamberlain, you now have the ability to control your garage door from your smartphone. 

    Which smart home products do you want to try? Comment below to let us know!

     

     

    How to Add Curb Appeal Without Spending a Fortune

    April 24, 2015 12:46 AM by emily.bailey

    Friday, April 24, 2015

    How to Add Curb Appeal Without Spending a Fortune | Schlage

    Improving your curb appeal doesn't mean you have to spend a fortune. Check out these before and after photos of simple front door.

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    When it comes to curb appeal, you don't always need a major overhaul to make a good impression. New landscaping and an updated exterior are all great to have but often require a large investment to pull off. Sometimes, updating the smallest details can make a big impact. Check out our favorite front door makeovers that improve curb appeal below.
    Chelsea of Two Twenty One knew her front door needed an upgrade that was both stylish and convenient without spending a lot of money. She chose a Schlage Keypad Deadbolt in satin nickel to replace her outdated bright brass front door hardware. Find out how her style upgrade didn't just stop at the front door in this blog post.
    Diane of In My Own Style also took a simplified approach to upgrading the curb appeal of her home. After a fresh coat of paint, Diane achieves an elegant look with a complete set of accessories for her door. Find out more about the installation process from deadbolt to door knocker in her blog post.
    It did not take much for Kate of Centsational Girl to take this Las Vegas entry from boring to cheerful. The aged bronze handleset she chose provides the perfect contrast to the teal door and plays well with the added accessories. Get all the product and paint details in her post here.

     

     

    Do you have a favorite curb appeal makeover? Comment below or share your own to our Facebook page! For even more curb appeal ideas, check out this list of easy upgrades you can be proud of.

     

     

     

     

    Take Your Home from Builder Grade to Stylish with This Finishing Touch

    April 21, 2015 1:11 AM by admin

    Tuesday, April 21, 2015

    Take Your Home from Builder Grade to Stylish with This Finishing Touch | Schlage

    Does your home look more builder grade than stylish? Take a look at these before and afters to inspire the right finishing touch.

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    Moving in to a brand new home that is a blank slate can be exciting and overwhelming all at the same time. Even after thoughtfully curated accessories and palettes take their place, it can be tough to feel as though your personal style is accurately reflected. Sometimes, the answer to this struggle lies in the details you aren't thinking about yet.
    the-finishing-touch-you-need-to-take-your-home-from-builder-grade-to-stylish
    Take a look at your lighting, door hardware, bath and kitchen fixtures. Are they adding to the style of your space or do they serve no further purpose other than a functional necessity? It may be time to swap that bland, builder grade, bright brass hardware out for a finish and style that suits your space and pulls the whole look together. Here are a few before and after shots of door hardware upgrades that will take your home decor to the next level.

    Before...

    bright-brass-entry-hardware
     

    After!

    satin-nickel-camelot-style-entry-hardware
     
    With such a stylish and welcoming interior, the old exterior door made this home feel anything but complete. By swapping the six-panel door and upgrading the hardware from a standard, bright brass deadbolt and knob to a sleek satin nickel Camelot Style handleset, this home has finally come together.

    Before...

    bright-brass-knob-bedroom
     

    After!

    aged-bronze-privacy-georgian-knob-bedroom
     
    When deciding which finish will suit your style best, pay attention to style cues that already exist in your home. The aged bronze Georgian knob upgrade in this bedroom plays the perfect accent between the bold palette of the bed set and classic accessories.

    Before...

    bright-brass-passage-knob-living-room
     

    After!

    satin-nickel-passage-accent-lever-living-room
     

    Sometimes, you just need to throw out the old and bring in a brand new look. Without any major renovations, this living room goes from outdated and contrasted to modern and sophisticated by simply upgrading old bright brass accessories and replacing with metallics and satin nickel.

     

    What little updates do you plan to make in your home this spring? Comment below to let us know! For ever more home upgrade ideas, be sure to check out all of our style tips here.

    Easy DIY Curb Appeal Projects You Can Be Proud Of

    April 13, 2015 2:47 PM by emily.bailey

    Monday, April 13, 2015

    Easy DIY Curb Appeal Projects You Can Be Proud Of | Schlage

    Here are a few of the best curb appeal projects that are wallet-friendly and product instant results.

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    Curb Appeal - it's what your neighbors see daily, what your guests see first, what helps sell your home to potential buyers and what welcomes you home from a long day at the office. During DIY season, Curb Appeal projects are among the professionals' favorites. They are often quick, easy and can be done with a few bucks. Before undertaking a new Curb Appeal project, be sure to consider the style and feel of your home to ensure a cohesive look that transitions naturally from the outside to the inside. Also, be sure to take note of how much time and budget you have to complete your home improvement projects.
    Here are a few of the best curb appeal projects that are wallet-friendly and product instant results.
    1. Paint your front door, trim or shutters. Paint. We always start with paint. Paint is both low-cost and high-impact. A fresh coat of paint in a bright or complimentary shade can go a long way. Painting (and all the prep and cleanup that goes along with it) can be time-consuming depending on how much you plan on painting, so plan on this project taking the better part of a day. (Psst! Before painting your front door, be sure to check out these front door painting tips!)
    2. Upgrade door hardware, address numbers and kickplates. This is another project that is low-cost and high-impact. Replacing outdated, builder-grade and dingy hardware with a fresh, high quality, handlset in a style that compliments your home's look and feel will change the way you feel about walking through the front door. Additionally, the crisp and shiny hardware act as jewelry for your home's curb appeal, tying the whole look together. Time spent on this project is an hour at most, perfect for the busy family that only has time to complete one project per weekend. And speaking of those busy families, be sure to check out the new electronic/keyless locks on the market. Keyless locks are crazy convenient, easy to install (no special wiring or need for an electrician), and mean there are no keys to lose, hide or forget!

    * Pro Tip: Be sure to choose a BHMA Grade 2 or higher deadbolt for your front door. Grade 1 locks offer the highest level of residential security on the market. Why would you want to protect your home and family with a poorly rated lock anyway? We knew you were smarter than that.

     

    3. Upgrade your mailbox. DIY Network says: "It doesn't matter if you have a regular mailbox by the road or if you have a box mounted to your house for mail, adding a new and upgraded mailbox can make your home feel upgraded, which adds curb appeal to it. You can find a new mailbox for your house from anywhere from $10-$100. When you install your mailbox, make sure that you are following the regulations that are set forth in the city that you live in. If you have a simple mailbox mounted on your house, this home improvement project should take less than an hour to complete. If you have a full-size mailbox at the road, plan for at least 2 hours or so to complete the home improvement project."

     

    4. Plant something - trees, bushes, flowers. Planting some color is one of the most common and easiest ways to add immediate curb appeal. Before planting anything, be sure to understand the plant's unique set of light and water needs. Also, take the time to understand how big it will get as that could affect where in your front yard it gets planted. Depending on what you plant and how much you want to take on at one time, this project could take an entire day/weekend.
    5. Accessorize! Flower boxes, planters, pots, door decor, flags, sculptures, porch furniture, large stones, fountains - we could go on forever! Your possibilities are really endless here. Look for new uses for things you currently have lying around the house or in storage. You might be surprised at what can be repurposed to amp up your curb appeal.

     

     

    What are your favorite ways to amp up your home's curb appeal? Tell us in the comments or on Facebook!

     

     

     

     

    9 Subtle Ways to Use Pantone's Spring Color Palette in Your Home

    April 7, 2015 12:01 AM by emily.bailey

    Thursday, April 7, 2016

    9 Subtle Ways to Use Pantone's Spring Color Palette in Your Home | Schlage

    We chose our favorite shades from Pantone's 2015 spring color palette and put together an inspiring list to help you incorporate these tones in your home.

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    This spring, popular home decor is all about minimalist accents and palettes inspired by nature. Pantone describes its spring 2015 color palette using the French expression "En Plein Air" - meaning "in the open air". This phrase is often used to describe the act of painting outside and is the perfect representation for this relaxing color palette that is inspiring designers to create an at-home retreat where home owners can unwind from a long, hectic day.

     

    More and more designers are opting for the softer side of the color spectrum with cool choices and subtle warm tones. To incorporate these trends in your personal style, we recommend starting with a neutral base and playing with accessories and small pops of color. We chose our favorite colors and collected a few inspiring ideas to help you bring these tones in to your own home.

    1. Scuba Blue

    Just as the name suggests, Scuba Blue is reminiscent of tones you would find in the ocean waters. Bring a pop of color to your space with this playful shade. Create variations of colors by pairing with Pantone's Lucite Green.

    2. Lucite Green

    Give your home a refreshing glow with Lucite Green. This minty shade is both fresh and welcoming.

    3. Toasted Almond

    Toasted Almond is a neutral shade that will balance out your mostly cool palette. Bring a subtle warmth by incorporating this organic shade.

    4. Marsala

    Marsala is this year's shining star after being named the 2015 Pantone Color of the Year and it's easy to see why. This daring shade can be used as a pop of color to create a statement of elegance in any room.

    5. Glacier Grey

    The days of boring beige walls are over and grey is here to stay. Glacier Grey is a timeless shade of grey that will stand the test of time in your home. The options are almost endless when it comes to adding pops of color through accessories. Start with classic greens and deep blue hues to find the right tone for your home.

    6. Treetop

    According to Leatrice Eiseman, Executive Director of the Pantone Color Institute, "...this soothing green hue causes us to breathe slowly and deeply, helping the heart to relax by slowing the production of stress hormones". Create a relaxing environment by pairing pops of this deep green with glacier grey and classic blue.

    7. Sandstone

    Much like toasted almond, sandstone provides an earthy way to bring warmth to your space. It pairs perfectly with Marsala and Classic Blue.

    8. Lavender Herb

    Lavender Herb is one of the more surprising spring palette choices but its eye-catching subtleties are intriguing. It combines well with many other spring colors but we're loving the combination with Toasted Almond for a unique twist.

    9. Classic Blue

    Classic Blue exudes confidence but also gives off a calming vibe. Choose unique placements for this strong shade to create visual interest in a mostly neutral room.

     

    Which Pantone color is your favorite for spring? Comment below to let us know! For even more inspiring decor ideas that pull from nature, check out our blog post on natural spring decor ideas here.

     

    Upgrading Your Front Entry on a Budget

    April 3, 2015 1:22 AM by admin

    Friday, April 3, 2015

    Upgrading Your Front Entry on a Budget

    This blog features Schlage employees who are passionate about the products and services they support.

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    When was the last time you did an audit of your front entry from the viewpoint of a visitor? Never? You might be surprised what you see when you take a walk up to your entry way through someone else's eyes. Front entries, though often one of the most important "rooms" in a home, get neglected and passed over when it comes to home remodeling projects and upgrades.
    Houzz recommends to, "step outside, stand in front of your entry and study it as if you were a visitor. You may be surprised at what needs tweaking — a lackluster sconce, crumbling mortar on brick steps or a drab door that blends into the surrounding walls. If your porch, stoop, door and other elements could use a little oomph, try these budget-friendly pointers and finds to bring them to life."
    Houzz recommends:
    Schlage Front Entry Upgrades on a Budget

    1. Swap out your light fixture. It's amazing how such a simple change can completely transform the look of an entry. Even if the replacement light you choose doesn't hew strictly to the style of your home, make sure it's similar enough not to feel out of place.

     

     

     

    2. Add a dab of living color. Few things freshen a porch or stoop faster than potted plants, whether they're topiaries flanking the door or vines cascading from a hanging basket. If the design of your porch allows, consider a climbing specimen that will entwine around posts and railings. If not, choose a stylish container or two.

     

    3. Spark the front door with a bold color. It's a prime opportunity to create a visual focal point and amp up the personality of your home's facade without spending a lot of cash. Choose a color that both sets off and contrasts with your main exterior hue — this turquoise looks lovely against the muted pumpkin orange frame and gold siding.

     

    4. Roll out a rug. A new welcome mat or floor covering can pull a porch together. The indoor-outdoor versions on the market these days come in so many stylish patterns and materials that it's easy to choose one that sets the tone for your interior decor.

    To see the full list of front entry upgrades, visit Houzz.com.