Friday, October 30, 2015
Luxurious glamour with minimal style? It's not a contradiction. Black, white and gold decor is the perfect way to take the glam in your home up a notch. Check out our favorite looks.
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Friday, October 30, 2015
Luxurious glamour with minimal style? It's not a contradiction. Black, white and gold decor is the perfect way to take the glam in your home up a notch. Check out our favorite looks.
Wednesday, October 28, 2015
Welcome (or scare-away) your trick-or-treaters this year with these spooky Halloween front porch and entryway decor ideas!
Halloween, All Hallows Eve, Hallow-mas, whatever you call it, it calls for fun! From creative costumes and cauldrons of candy to carved pumpkins and spider-web covered porches, Halloween can be fun for the whole family! Few things ignite the Halloween spirit like decorating your home’s entryway, which could welcome (or scare off) trick-or-treaters and goblins alike.
From fun and kid-friendly to frightening and downright garish, each entryway is unique to each home and each family. The key to executing a bewitching entryway is to have a theme and stick to it. Here’s a roundup of some of our favorite Halloween entryways.
Autumn celebrations
Get ready to celebrate Halloween with a look that will last the entire season. These autumn-inspired front porches will have you ready to take on the season of Pumpkin Spice and Apple flavored everything!
Fun, festive, kid-friendly
Add a little Halloween spirit to your front door without scaring off the young kids. These front porches say "Boo" in a fun and festive way.
Haunted house scary
View these front porches at your own risk! Get a front door look that will have the trick-or-treaters working up the courage to knock on your front door.
Friday, October 23, 2015
Thinking about adding security and convenience with a keyless lock? Check out these 9 electronic deadbolt reviews to help you choose.
Keypad deadbolt & lever.
Schlage TouchTM Keyless Touchscreen Deadbolt.
Schlage ConnectTM Touchscreen Deadbolt.
Schlage SenseTM Smart Deadbolt.
Get the full scoop on the Schlage Sense™ Smart Deadbolt including HomeKitTM capabilities and app features at schlage.com.
We want to hear your keyless electronic lock questions. Comment below to tell us what you need to know! In the meantime, check out these frequently asked questions.
Wednesday, October 21, 2015
Looking for new features to enhance your lifestyle and add a touch of style? Here are 3 reasons you should consider a keyless electronic deadbolt.
1. Enhance your lifestyle.
One story almost every member of your family or friend can relate to is being locked out of the house, and usually at the most inconvenient times. Keyless electronic locks allow you to forget about that pesky key and never worry about getting locked out again.
Each of our keyless options feature a keypad or touchscreen that requires a unique 4-8 digit PIN that you define to unlock the door. They're each powered by batteries so there's no reason to worry about the power going out and feature a backup access option in the unlikely event your batteries go dead before you have a chance to replace them. Check out our full list of common worries you can kiss goodbye when you go keyless here.
2. New features.
3. Add a touch of style & fun.
If you opt for a connected keyless lock, the benefits don't stop at security and convenience. With the right home automation ecosystem and plenty of choices for style and finish, you can connect your lock to an experience that is sure to impress all your guests. Create a scene with your connected lights and stereo to kick on as soon as you unlock your door. You can even set your lights to change colors.
Are you already enjoying a keyless lifestyle? Share your favorite feature or benefit with us below!
Friday, October 16, 2015
You don’t have to hire a professional for all home remodeling projects. Try one of these twelve to add value and refresh your home in one weekend.
1. Fresh paint.
2. Backsplash.
3. Lighting.
4. Cabinet hardware.
5. Modern door knobs and levers.
6. Trim and crown molding.
7. Create a gallery wall.
8. Re-arrange your furniture.
9. Open shelving for storage.
10. Repair flooring and clean your carpets.
11. Minimize.
12. Create curb appeal.
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Here are nine moments you should consider adding new door hardware to your next home remodeling project.
Are you considering a home remodeling project? There's one simple detail that is often overlooked but actually makes a huge impact in the look and feel of your home: your door hardware.
According to a recent survey conducted online by Hanley Wood, 41% of professional home builders and remodelers believe that updating the interior design of a home is the number one reason homeowners begin a remodeling project. Minor kitchen and bath remodels lead the list of most popular projects as well as updating most fixtures or hardware. Here are nine moments you should consider adding new door hardware to your next remodeling project.
1. Design or style update.
2. Repair.
3. New home.
4. Replace old, worn-out model.
5. Larger remodeling project.
6. Reflect your personal style.
7. Refresh an old look.
8. Updated lighting or plumbing.
9. Changing lifestyle.
Sometimes, life provides a need to update your existing hardware. Do you have a curious toddler bustling about your home? Replace your levers with knobs to prevent an easy escape. Are your kids often coming and going multiple times a day? Create peace of mind by installing a keyless lock that will notify you when your children arrive. Or maybe with age, your wrists and hands just don't work the same as they used to. Try replacing knobs that require a painful twisting motion with levers that are easily opened with a simple tap. Tip: Look for levers marked ADA compliant.
Have you recently given your door hardware an upgrade? Comment below to let us know and share pictures of your transformation on our Facebook page.
Thursday, October 8, 2015
Maintaining a safe and secure home requires some due diligence by the homeowner. Here are 8 steps you can take this weekend to improve home security.
1. Check the grade of your deadbolt.
When shopping for a new deadbolt, it's important to consider the security grade. The American National Standards Institute (ANSI) is responsible for developing and maintaining performance standards of builder hardware and assigns a product grade to reflect the quality and durability of that product. For deadbolt locks, the ANSI assigns one of three security grade levels - Grade 1, Grade 2, or Grade 3. Grade 1 is the highest security grade that can be given for optimal security, so it's important to look for locks with a Grade 1 rating.
For more information on door hardware grades and where you can find Grade 1 locks, check out our guide to security grades.
2. Add more garage security.
Your garage is one of the most vulnerable entry points for would-be intruders. It's simply too easy to forget to close the garage door while rushing off to work or to lock the interior door that accesses your home.
To give yourself more control, consider adding a smart garage door opener that will allow you to check in via your mobile device to confirm your garage door is closed or to command it to close. Take your garage security up another notch by adding a keyless lock to the interior entry door. You won't have to worry about forgetting the key or getting locked out as you'll just need a 4-digit PIN to unlock the door.
3. Install a monitored security system.
4. Move your spare key or opt for a keyless option.
It's good practice to move the location of your spare key from time to time. If you've used the same spot for several years, you run the risk of someone noticing when you retrieve your key and obtaining easy access to your home.
If you want to take your security up another notch, try getting rid of the spare key altogether and install a keyless electronic lock. We offer a variety of keyless lock options that allow you to have full control in the way you gain access to your home whether it be through a PIN number you set up or even through an app in your phone.
5. Add more deterrents with built-in alarm technology.
6. Lock your windows.
7. Install motion sensor lighting.
8. Change your batteries.
Finally, when you conduct your home security sweep, get in the habit of changing the locks on your smoke detectors, keyless locks, and motion sensors too. These devices often use very little power so it's unlikely you would use the full life of your batteries in a year's time but it's always best to play it on the safe side and make sure all low battery warnings are functioning properly.
What security tips do you tend to abide by when it comes to increasing the security of your home? Comment below to let us know!
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
Take some inspiration from the season itself and try out one of these shades for a fresh look. Here are six of our favorite fall front door colors.
1. Yellow
Yellow is always associated with bright, cheerful feelings. Why not add a splash of cheer before the gloomy days of winter hits? Let your bold choice shine even more by pairing your new front door with a Matte Black handleset.
2. Mustard yellow
If you prefer a more rustic vibe for your home, try the next shade of yellow just before it gives way to orange with a more mustard tone. Aged Bronze handlesets and accessories perfectly complement this shade.
3. Orange
Orange is the most iconic color of fall. From pumpkins to holiday decor, there's no shortage of variations to this shade. For a look that will last all year long, try a more pastel tone and bring it to life with Matte Black handlesets and light fixtures. If your style is more contemporary, try a bold orange paired with Polished Nickel hardware.
4. Rustic red
There's nothing better than a warm, cozy feeling as fall begins to transition to winter. Give your guests a warm welcome this season with this rustic red front door color. Complete the look with our Aged Bronze hardware and accessories.
5. Red, red
If you prefer to add more excitement to your curb appeal, try a bold shade of red. A Bright Chrome or Polished Nickel handleset will let this color shine even more while matte black fixtures give the look a more transitional than contemporary vibe.
6. Brick red
This classic shade of red will make your guests feel right at home. This inviting color pairs perfectly with Satin Nickel door hardware for a traditional look that is anything but boring. For a unique touch of warmth and a modern flair, try pairing with Satin Brass hardware instead.
Friday, October 2, 2015
Building a smart home is not as complicated as you might think. Here are 5 common household items you can get started with.
1. Smart thermostat.
2. Smart lighting.
It's probably obvious that smart lighting can help you increase the energy efficiency just like with the smart thermostat. Smart lighting systems can be set on schedules or make adjustments on their own based on the amount of available light in the room.
Smart lighting can also add convenience to your daily life. Did you forget to turn a light off downstairs when you went to bed? Pull the designated app up on your phone to shut it off. You can even set up smart lighting to sync with notifications on your phone. Is your wife calling while you're in the middle of watching the big game? Set your lights to flash a designated color so you never miss a message.
3. Smart home surveillance systems.
4. Smart door locks.
Keyless smart door locks are all about convenience and security. When you install a Schlage ConnectTM or Schlage SenseTM Smart Deadbolt and connect it to a compatible home automation hub*, you can receive alerts when your kids make it home from school or check in on whether you locked the door on your way to work and command it to lock without turning around. You can even connect your smart lock with compatible smart lighting to set your lights to turn on as soon as you unlock your door.
Be sure to check out our full list of keyless lock benefits.
5. Smart garage doors.
Forgetting to shut your garage door when you leave is often viewed as an invitation for burglars to enter your home. Just like with smart door lock technology, you can always check in to make sure your garage door is shut no matter where you are when you install a smart garage door opener. Simply press a button in your garage door app to command it to close in the unfortunate event that you do forget.
Do you have any smart home technology in your home? Comment below to let us know what you use and your favorite feature.
*The Schlage ConnectTM uses Z-wave technology to communicate with compatibile home automation hubs. The Schlage SenseTM lock should be within 40 feet of an Apple TV® for remote capability and uses Bluetooth® Smart technology to communicate with your iPhone.
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