News, Trends and Tips

Wall plates are practical necessities in homes and offices. They keep people safe from electric shock, cover gaps that pests can traffic through, and make the use of electronics and lights much simpler. Sure, most buildings come with simple wall plates installed, but did you know that you can order custom wall switch plates for your property? It's simple to order your own uniquely crafted and decorative plates. Here's all you need to know before you shop. Choosing the Configuration Wall switch plate manufacturers can build plates in a variety of configurations, or shapes that are meant to suit specific...

Satin Nickel vs. Brushed Nickel vs. Polished Nickel   Both brushed and satin nickel have the same silver tone. Unlike cool stainless steel or brushed chrome, nickel features a warm brown undertone, popular for both modern and traditional decor. Many people use the terms interchangeably. To maintain a consistent design throughout the home when using satin or brushed nickel wall plates, here are the subtle differences to look for: Brushed Nickel is created by manually polishing with a wire brush, fine-grit abrasive belt. The scratches all run in the same direction to soften and enhance the natural luster of the metal...

digitaltrends.com If your connected home is anything like ours, it’s littered with USB chargers, backup batteries, and other powered items. If only your electrical outlets were equipped with USB ports, life would be far less cluttered! Thankfully, you’ll find USB-enabled power outlets available at your local, big-box store, as well as online retailers like Amazon. Upgrading an existing outlet is a straightforward job for the most part, but you may be apprehensive about working with electrical wiring. In this guide, we’ll walk you through how to install a USB outlet. Before we get started, an important warning: Regulations governing electrical work...

Village News Oftentimes, buying a home opens up a bottomless pit of opportunities for projects and improvements. While some homeowners engage in different repairs and fix-ups out of necessity, many others like to freshen-up their spaces out of personal preference instead of need. But even the most well-intentioned projects can be waylaid if budgets are tight. What many homeowners may not realize is that there are many ways to make updates and changes to a home that do not require a major overhaul or a large price tag. The following are seven projects that won’t break the bank. Move around...