Time for a Dinner Party?

/0 Comments/in , /by

The short answer is yes. But the more complicated answer has a lot more to do with your personality and what needs you need fulfilled. So find the best time and enjoy the company of others before it’s too late.

 

  • When was the last time you had someone over?
    • If the answer is anything more than a month you are probably not socializing enough. You don’t necessarily need to have one at your house per se but socializing is a necessity for humans.
  • How clean is your house?
    • Odd question? yes. Dinner parties serve as fantastic way to keep your house clean. Because most of us want to make good impressions, we generally do a deep clean come party time.
  • Is your life too scheduled?
    • Avoid getting in the rut of normality. Normal isn’t a bad thing, but for a lifetime it can be horrible. It is fun throwing a wrench into the machine every now and then that offers excitement and entertainment.
  • Where are your friends?
    • You can’t blame lack of friendship on anyone but yourself. Be proactive and go and get um. A house party is a simple way of getting to know new people.

The answer to these questions seems simple but requires practice on your part. This will make life fun and give you a brief rest from normalcy and a chance to open your home to new people.

5 Keys to a killer end of summer BBQ

/0 Comments/in , , , /by

1. Food- This normally goes without saying but no matter how much all of your friends love you, they want some tasty food. It is important to cater to all of the many different types of tastes out there.food

 

a. Fresh grilled vegetables are a great substitute for those friends who don’t necessarily eat meat.

b. Don’t forget to cook the meat at room temperature for optimum flavor
c. Dry rub is best but don’t massage the meat too much, the meats pours will naturally pull in the flavor
d. Variety, variety, variety. Don’t just do the normal hamburgers and hot dogs. Test your boundaries
2. Family and Friends- Sometimes one of the most difficult part of the BBQ is intermingling friends who have never met each other before.

swim

 

 

a. Keep it small or make it big. The less people there are the more control you can have over the conversation. Whereas making it big creates the likelihood that that there is someone there for everyone.

b. Have activities. This forces people to get to know each other in an none intimidating way.
3. Drink- it is gonna be hot, so make sure that everyone is staying hydrated while enjoying drinks that match the level of your food.

drink

 

a. Water. Provide copious amounts of water to offset the high sugar and sodium levels that other drinks have.
b. Ice. People love cool drinks and if you are throwing a party the last thing you want to do is run out of food or ice.
c. Selection. Make sure people have lots of different things to choose from. Soda, lemonade, water, and anything new and inventive.
4. Temperature – the hottest time of day is between 3PM-5PM, so decide what kind of party you want to have.pool-

a. Water Party – if you have a pool do it during those hot times of day and provide lots of shade for those who don’t want to get in the water.
b. Casual BBQ – Have it later in the day maybe around 6 (people won’t show up until 6:30-7) the sun will be setting and interfere less with BBQ.
5. Ence Home- location is everything. A lot of topics of conversation revolve around the house hosting the BBQ. If you want something you can be proud to talk about choose an Ence Home.

 

ENJOY!homes-

How to stay cool this summer

/0 Comments/in , /by

Sometimes it just feels like we can’t get away from the heat. When you are at home, here are a few ways to keep the heat at bay.

Use your curtains during the day

curtainsOne of the best ways to keep the heat out of your home is to use your curtains. The curtains will block the heat from the sun and keep your house cool.

Swap for cotton linens

linensFlannel and fleece blankets are meant to keep the heat in. When you switch to cotton linens, you will be cool and refreshed.


Grill

bbqThink of the heat as perfect grilling weather and enjoy a meal outside. Using your stove or oven will only warm up your house even more.


We hope these tips will help you stay cool! If you are interested in customizing a home in southern Utah, please contact Ence Homes.

3 tips for choosing paint colors for your home

/0 Comments/in , /by

We know that choosing a paint color or even paint colors can be a difficult task. However, we are here to tell you this process can be a little easier when you are aware of these painting tips.

Experiment with colors

So you have finally decided to change up the color scheme in your home. The best thing to do at this point is to try out different colors. All you have to do is dab a little paint on the wall and decide if you are happy with it. If you are not happy with the color, you know to move on to something else.

red-rmDon’t forget about the lighting.

Did you know natural daylight on paint will show the truest color? Most people forget that lighting plays a factor when choosing paint colors.

Consider the other roomslight-room

When you have narrowed your color choices down, tape them on the wall and leave the room. Does your paint chip color compliment the colors in the other rooms? If it does, then you can move forward from there.

roomWell there you have it. We hope this post was helpful. If you would like to build a custom home in southern Utah, please contact Ence Homes and one of our associates would be happy to give you more information.

3 tips for choosing paint colors for your home

/0 Comments/in , , /by

We know that choosing a paint color or even paint colors can be a difficult task. However, we are here to tell you this process can be a little easier when you are aware of these painting tips.

Experiment with colors

So you have finally decided to change up the color scheme in your home. The best thing to do at this point is to try out different colors. All you have to do is dab a little paint on the wall and decide if you are happy with it. If you are not happy with the color, you know to move on to something else.

Don’t forget about the lighting.

Did you know natural daylight on paint will show the truest color? Most people forget that lighting plays a factor when choosing paint colors.

Consider the other rooms

When you have narrowed your color choices down, tape them on the wall and leave the room. Does your paint chip color compliment the colors in the other rooms? If it does, then you can move forward from there.

Well there you have it. We hope this post was helpful. If you would like to build a custom home in southern Utah, please contact Ence Homes and one of our associates would be happy to give you more information.

Storage Ideas

/0 Comments/in /by

Finding a place to store your things is easy when you have the proper storage pieces. Don’t miss out on these storage opportunities in your home. Not only will you be able to organize your things, but you will also create more space.

Mudroom Bench

mudroomStop by the mudroom bench! Hang your coat and stick your muddy boots from being out in the rain. This piece is the perfect addition to your home because it can store jackets and shoes. Best of all, the bench has storage space underneath!

Ottoman

 

ottomanAn ottoman can come in handy in your living room or bedroom.  A living room ottoman can store things like blankets or game boards. It can also be used a coffee table or even a place to put your feet on.

Kid’s room storage cubbies

 

 

kids-roomStorage cubbies are the perfect addition to a child’s bedroom. The possibilities of what kinds of things you can store here are endless. This storage piece can be the one-stop destination for your child to pick up their books and toys.

Bookcase

A bookcase is a model addition to your living room. You can store books, movies and display decorations on this lovely piece of furniture.

We hope this post will help you create more storage space in your home. Please contact Ence Homes, if you are interested in building a home in southern Utah.

How to save money on your electric bill

/0 Comments/in , /by

Now that summer is around the corner, it is time to enjoy the beautiful weather and spend time with your loved ones. But with the summertime often comes high electricity bills.

10 suggestions on how to save money on your electric bill this summer.

  1. Use your dishwasher. Load your dishwasher instead of washing the dishes by hand. You will save even more money by air drying your dishes in your dishwasher.
  2. Use your washer efficiently. When it is time to do your laundry, make sure you put a full load of clothes in the washer and wash with cold water.
  3. Use your dryer efficiently. Make to sure to clean the lint trap before adding your clothes to the dryer. You could even go a step further and skip the dryer all together. We suggest line drying your clothes whenever you get the chance.
  4. Unplug appliances/devices. Eliminate wasted energy by unplugging appliances and electronic devices when they are not in use in your home.
  5. Turn off your lights when you leave the room. Not only will turning off the lights save on electricity, but it will also eliminate the heat the bulbs give off.
  6. Replace the air conditioner filters in your home. When an air conditioner filter is dirty, it makes it harder for the cold air to flow throughout your home and the A/C will run longer than needed.
  7. Avoid using your oven on hot days. If you need to grill your food, we suggest grilling in your backyard or cooking on the stove.
  8. Use curtains in your home. By covering your windows with curtains, you can keep the sunlight from heating up your home and maintain a cooler temperature.
  9. Install ceiling fans. Ceiling fans make the room feel 4-6 degrees cooler, but make sure to turn it off when you leave the room.
  10. Turn up your thermostat when you are away from home. This will keep the air conditioner from running for long periods of time.

Well there you have it! We hope these tips can help you save a little extra money on your electric bill. Do you want an energy efficient home?

Contact Ence Homes and we can help you customize your dream home today!

5 simple ways to decorate your living room

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Now that spring is here, it is time to start spring cleaning! More importantly, add lovely decor in your living room.

Five simple ways to decorate your living room without breaking the bank!

  1. Flowers. Add a little color to your living room and buy a bouquet of flowers in a colorful vase. The aroma from the flowers will be pleasant and inviting to your guests.
  2. tulipsPhoto gallery. Display your favorite pictures for everyone to see and walk down memory lane.. You can display an entire wall with framed pictures or keep it low key with a few of your favorites.
  3. couchsPaint your walls. Add a little color to your home and choose a paint color that complements your personality. Make your living room pop with a shade of yellow or keep it serene with blue.
  4. Display art work. Create your own masterpiece or display your favorite piece of art. Regardless of which option you go with, it is bound to catch attention and it will be a perfect whitecouchtouch to the bare walls.
  5. Add throw pillows. Make your living room bluecouch inviting to guests by adding throw pillows to the mix. Feel free to buy a few throw pillows at the store or pick out your favorite pattern to make them yourself!

pillows

We hope these tips can help you create a beautiful living room in your home. Here at Ence Homes, we put a lot of time and effort in creating homes that our customers are proud of. If you are interested in your very own Ence Home in St. George, UT or surrounding areas, please contact us at our office at 435-628-0936. Have a wonderful day and happy decorating!

Home Survival Guide to Get Through Winter

/0 Comments/in /by

Stop winter home woes before they happen.

By Katy Read; Christy Desmith

Scarf

Here’s how to get through this winter without burst pipes, broken furnaces, heat loss, ice dams, house fires, flooded basements, unwanted critters, huge energy bills, cold feet, and other problems that can plague the frigid-weather homeowner.

 

Chimney

Have it inspected by a professional chimney inspector every year.

Have it cleaned every year or two, or more if you have a lot of fires or tend to burn softer woods.

A chimney cap with a rain hood and screen will minimize rain damage and keep critters out.

Fireplace

Stock up on clean, dry firewood. A fireplace store can recommend someone to deliver and stack it for you. Store it away from your house to keep mice and other vermin at a distance.

Fireplace

Close the damper when the fireplace is not in use. When you’re using it, turn down the thermostat and open a window near the fireplace to prevent warm air from being pulled from other parts of the house.

Install glass doors on the fireplace to keep warm air from being drawn up the chimney.

If you use the fireplace frequently, a fireplace insert improves efficiency by blowing heat into the room and limiting heat loss up the chimney.

Keep the cold out

Reducing air leaks and properly insulating walls, crawl spaces, and floors can cut energy bills by up to 10%. Seal leaky ducts with metal-backed tape or aerosol sealant. Consider having your insulation updated to save money, improve comfort, and lower the risk of ice dams.

Set your thermostat between 65 and 70 degrees when you’re home; lower it when you’re sleeping or away from home for more than a few hours. Use a programmable thermostat to make the switches automatic.

Window

On sunny days, open curtains and blinds to let the sun’s heat in. Close them at night to trap the warmth inside.

Close or install storm windows, which reduce drafts and frost formation and can cut heat loss through the window by 25% to 50%. For a cheaper alternative, cover windows with plastic.

Keep rooms toasty

Run your ceiling fan at low speed in reverse direction (clockwise) so the blades drive warm air down into the room.

Heating

Change your furnace filters per the manufacturer recommendations. Most homes are built with a 1-inch filter that should be refreshed every month.

Clean your furnace before the first cold spell. If your furnace isn’t too dirty, you can save money by vacuuming the blades yourself.

Get acquainted with your house’s duct work  Most homes are equipped with dampers, allowing you to change the volume of heat delivered upstairs, downstairs, and all rooms in-between.

Plumbing

Disconnect your garden hose, shut off the water valve and drain the spigot — even if you have a frost-free faucet.

Drain the sediment from your water heater. This should be done once or twice every year.

Water Heater

Pests

Repair any exterior damage that might invite pests. Carpenter ants like leaky pipes, warped storm windows, and tattered roof shingles, whereas frayed screens and chewed-through door sweeps attract rodents.

Clear your garage of mice-magnets, especially if you have an attached garage. This isn’t the place to stash woodpiles and unsealed birdseed.

Gutters

Clean debris from gutters and downspouts. Open any roof drains or vents.

Sources: Crystal Manik, senior marketing business consultant for Xcel Energy; Eric Siedow, technician for Chimney Guys; Rodney Pierce, salesperson for Genz-Ryan Plumbing, Heating and Air Conditioning; Colleen Cannon, staff entomologist for Plunkett’s Pest Control; Bill Yares, president of Twin Cities Home Evaluations; Stacy Reese, manager of Walker Roofing.

Originally published by KATY READ & CHRISTY DESMITH Star Tribune (Minneapolis).

http://www.houselogic.com/news/seasonal-maintenance/home-survival-guide-to-get-through-winter/

Lighten up your home for summer

/0 Comments/in , , /by

Gain ideas from these tips below to give your new home in St. George a fresher and lighter look.

  1. Create depth and open up your great room with a glass top coffee table.
  1. Replace your colored bath towels with white ones to lighten up the look in your bathroom.
  1. Remove your area rugs for the summer or replace them with bamboo or cotton ones.
  1. Swap out your heavier curtains with thinner ones to allow the sun to shine into your new home in St. George.
  1. Open up your windows and add a fan to cool down your home. There are many different styles to chose from that will add energy into your home.
  1. Change any dark colored picture frames and lampshades in your home with bright colored or white ones. This will infuse your home with summer colors and help lighten up your space.
  1. Pack up and store your winter coats, hats, scarves and gloves.
  1. Keep your property landscaped and lawn manicured to ensure it doesn’t become overgrown and unkempt.
  1. Bring in the fresh flowers and fruits from your garden and display them in your kitchen.
  1. Just like for any other season, do some summer cleaning to declutter your bedrooms, bathrooms, great room, dining room, kitchen, laundry room and garage.

These ten tips are sure to help you lighten up your new home in St. George during the summer months. After all, that is the key to decorating during this season. Don’t forget to like our page on Facebook.