Home is Where the Money Is

With so many questions about what our future holds, there has never been more focus on life at home. A place for us to work, play, and rest, homeowners are becoming increasingly interested in a multi-functional space that can feel both comfortable and luxurious at the same time. Factor in soaring real estate prices and our investment in where we live makes a lot of sense. Thinking about an upgrade yourself? Here are five home design trends that aren’t going away anytime soon. 

Entertaining Spaces

While the state is open for business and the worst of COVID-19 seems past us, there are still many people who are limiting their time in public places. Intimate dinner parties and gatherings at home will be more popular than ever before, especially as the weather cools and the holidays get closer. With people spending time in their houses, focusing on dining rooms and spaces within the home to gather is an interior trend that we’ll be seeing a lot more of. 

Home Offices

Even though many businesses are back open, plenty of office workers will be staying put, opting to work from home at least part time. Home offices will continue to be a focus for families who need a place to work quietly away from the happenings in the rest of the house. From converted closets to basement renos to small additions, this is a trend that people value both from a real estate and a sanity perspective.

Indoor Outdoor 

Warm weather has given us plenty of opportunities to relax, dine, and entertain outside. But as we all know, these Connecticut summers fade into autumn quickly. I have been getting a lot of calls for french doors and large scale windows, which make rooms look bigger and give the feeling of the outside indoors. Recently, I helped my son-in-law rebuild a three-season porch for an extra living area that will serve their family well into the fall. For many people, nature brings a feeling of calm which we could all use plenty more of.

Bright Accents

Incorporating yellow into your home decor is a great way to brighten up a space without having to commit to a major overhaul. Taking inspiration for the 2021 Pantone Color of the Year, Illuminating, many interior designers are loving a pop of sunshine indoors. From throw pillows to artwork, using bold yellow as an accent is sure to lighten the mood. 

Supporting Local

COVID has had a huge impact on small business owners and local craftsmen, which makes now the time to support the people in your area who are building, making, and creating. In addition to having something in your home that is handmade, you also get an opportunity to allow local talent to keep doing what they do best. The next time you need supplies, decor, or materials, consider a small scale operation in your community.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions for Bob to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Which Christmas Tree is Best For My Family?

With so many beautiful Christmas trees to choose from, it can be hard to pick a style and species to suit a family’s home and unique needs. You might not know that some trees are better for kids while others are great for people with allergies. Yet other varieties are good for certain types of heat and can withstand warmer, dryer temperatures for longer. So without further ado, here is my list of the top trees that you’ll find at your local farm or stand and some of the key differences to help you find your perfect match.

Balsam Fir

One of the most popular picks for Christmas is a balsam fir, which is loved for its sturdy needles, bright green color, strong scent, and beautiful shape. Because of its popularity, the balsam fir also one of the more affordable options of all the different tree types. You can’t go wrong with this classic, which grows strong and lasts long. Plus, like most firs, it’s hypoallergenic too.

White Pine

This is another popularity contest winner but for a much different reason than the balsam. White pines are loved by families for their super soft texture and touchable needles. They can grow very large and they are also inexpensive, which makes them the choice tree for many families with young children. One thing to note about this species is that those soft needles grow from delicate branches, so only go this route if you have lightweight ornaments.

Douglas Fir

Though called a fir, the Douglas is actually a species all its own. While grown mainly in the Northwest region of the United States, this tree is popular all over the country because it’s tough enough to withstand early cutting and lots of traveling. The needles are soft with a sweet fragrance and the shape is conical, making it easy and fun to decorate without too much precision.

Blue Spruce

The color of this tree makes it the hero of any holiday decor. Those beautiful bluish needles are easy to fall in love with, but decorator beware - those babies are sharp! If you have a good set of gloves, they will be well worth using to get this tree in place. But once it’s decorated, you can rest easy as pets tend to keep their distance.

Concolor Fir

The concolor is a favorite in our house because it has all the wonderful characteristics of the fir species - great shape, good color, strong branches, and long needles. The difference is the smell. Unlike most Christmas trees, this variety offers a beautiful citrus scent, keeping the house bright and fresh smelling through the holidays.

What type of tree does your family favor? Is there one I have missed that makes its way into your house year after year? I’d love to hear from you - shoot me a message on Facebook at facebook.com/odonnellbros.

Bob O’Donnell is the owner of O’Donnell Bros. Inc., a Bristol-based home improvement company established in 1975. Email your questions to info@odonnellbros.com with the subject line “Ask the Pro.” All questions may be considered for publication. To contact Bob for your remodeling needs, call O’Donnell Bros. Inc. at (860) 589-5155 or visit http://www.odonnellbros.com. Advice is for guidance only.

Add some local love to your gift-giving list

It’s Christmas, which means you’re probably up to your ears in holiday shopping madness, and with so many people to buy for, you might be running a bit thin on ideas. 

To help you out, I’ve compiled a list of some of my favorite local gift makers right here in the great state of Connecticut.  After all, what better way to show some hometown spirit than to give our local economy a little holiday cheer?

Dan and Lindsey from D&L Woodworking in New Britain create really neat home décor using reclaimed wood to craft beautiful American flag motifs. Starting from $75, these one-of-a-kind pieces would look great on any patriotic living room wall.

Keep the heads of your family and friends warm with a hand loomed alpaca beanie from Peterson Sweater Company. They are warm, comfortable and great for the slopes.

Stock The Bar Candles repurposes old beer bottles and turns them into long lasting organic soy wax candles. You can even pick one up from local favorite, City Steam Brewery. They come in a variety of scents and can be custom made to order.

Hartford Prints is a great place to look if you need a little inspiration. These three printmaking sisters have an assortment of Connecticut goods, from aprons to artwork, available both online and in their store in the capital city. I am eyeing the cherry wood earrings for my daughter in California to make sure she doesn’t forget where home is!

Need a stocking stuffer or two?  Look no further than B. Meyer Studio out of New Haven. Bethany’s handcrafted Connecticut shaped Christmas tree ornaments show a little home state pride and look really cool on the tree. She also makes great small tables and triangular shelving units.

King Bull Creations makes unique cheese boards with a river running through them, literally. Each board is hand carved using pine and then treated with an epoxy resin inlay, and Nick Bull painstakingly makes each and every one in Ridgefield. It’s a perfect gift for jazzing up the finger food table.

Leah Beckett from Herd Supply Co churns out some killer soap from her sheep farm in Glastonbury. I like the charcoal and coffee bar for a good scrub after a dirty day on the job. She splits her time between Boston and Connecticut, but she leaves the flock here at home when she heads north.

This last one’s not exactly local, but hey, it wouldn’t be a contractor’s Christmas gift guide without a cordless drill.  For a lightweight tool to use around the house, I like the Bosch DDB181-02 Compact Tough Drill. It packs enough punch to use on the job but is still light enough to make a novice feel comfortable. Plus, at under $100 on Amazon, it won’t break the bank.

Happy Holidays!