There are many ways to improve your home with DIY projects that do not cost a ton of money. The results of your efforts will not resemble “junk art.” Your home, décor and style will be augmented by your imagination, skill and hard work. There are many inexpensive projects you can implement in your home for under $100. These include:
• Change the hardware on your kitchen cabinets to achieve a different look. Many different styles are available. It takes less than an hour to change hinges, drawer pulls and knobs.
• Use slip covers to update sofas, chairs and tables. You can make the slipcovers from patterns or purchase inexpensive ones at big box stores.
• New curtains and wall hangings or art can change the look of a room. You can make curtains using basic sewing skills and frame children’s pictures, family photos, magazine pictures and more.
Pinterest is a great place to look for DIY tips. To use the site, sign up for a free subscription with your email and create your own unique password. Enter “home improvement” into the search bar, or enter a more specific term such as “build a bed.” There will be links to different sites with the information you need. For example:
You can build a bed that doubles as a trundle, or day bed using a footboard and headboard. Two rails made from 2-by-4 lumber are attached to the head and footboard frames. You can use solid plywood to cover the rails and create a flat surface for the mattress. You can also use metal joist hangers or other method to create mattress supports.
There are many pins to plans for beds made utilizing reclaimed lumber. The lumber has had a previous life as a fence, flooring, wall covering or perhaps as a pallet. This gives the wood a character all of its own. Your new bed will be custom made and have a vintage or antique look that new and “distressed” lumber cannot imitate.
You can create any home improvement project for little to no money by searching Pinterest for ideas. As you complete crafts for beginners, you will notice your skills, imagination and design ideas will flourish.
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Do you know your motorcycle statistics? The CDC has been following motorcycle death and injury stats, and their findings are startling. Motorcycle deaths in America have continued to increase at a furious pace over the last decade. Why? First of all, more people are riding, but with more motorcycles on the road motorcyclist and passenger vehicle drivers need to be more aware, and practice safer driving. If you ride a motorcycle, or have friends and family members that do, a great way to talk about safety is to write a contract. Instead of just saying “ride safe” sometimes making sure that all of your concerns are addressed can make all the difference. Here are what we believe to the the top 6 safety concerns that should make it on your contract:
What are the 6 most important rules to follow to stay alive if you ride a motorcycle?
Wear a proper helmet.
Do not ride drunk. Never let your friends ride impaired either.
Wear protective clothing and shoes.
Avoid following to close and double check before turning.
Do not drive over the speed limit.
Do not drive in bad weather conditions.
At Downey Insurance we know Massachusetts Motorcycle Insurance. If you need to put your bike back on the road, give us a call! We can find you the best price for the best coverage. Happy Spring and safe riding!
It seems strange that it is almost April and we are still hearing forecasts for snow on the radio. Sure, we live in the northeast where it always feels just a little bit cooler, but this weather is just getting ridiculous! March 20th was supposed to be the first day of spring, not just another winter day … Time to start thinking about a spring break vacation.
When you are making your plans to travel to a warmer climate for spring break, make sure you add “call insurance agent” to your to-do list. You might want to know what type of coverage you currently have for all the things you want to bring with you. You might like to know if you would be covered if something were to go wrong at your hotel room. Say you mistakenly start a fire with the coffee maker or you somehow injure another guest when your shoes fall off your balcony and land on the guest’s head. Do you know if you are covered for those types of things? Your agent knows.
You might want to brush up on your car insurance knowledge as well. Do you know if you need to get the extra insurance that the rental car company offers? In some instances it might be a good idea. In other cases, it might not be necessary at all. Your insurance agent can explain it in full detail.
Do when you decide on a destination, give us a call. We can help with your decisions about flight insurance, rental car insurance and any other insurance concerns you may have. The main objective of getting away fro a bit is to have fun and relax. Calling your insurance agent before you go can help you achieve those goals very easily by giving you peace of mind.
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We love taking the kids out to eat. When we are Keene, NH we are always looking for a kid friendly restaurant where we can have fun and (gasp) be a little rowdy, especially after a long car ride. The only thing better than a kid friendly atmosphere would be a “Kids Eat Free” deal that will save us some cash.
I have found 2 restaurants that have a Kids Eat Free deal in Keene, NH:
401 Winchester Street Keene, NH 03431
Kids Eat Free Sunday – Thursday 4-8, 1 Free kids meal with a purchase of an adult Entree from the Land or Sea Menu.
4 Ashbrook Road Keene, NH 03431
Tuesday Night is Kids Night – Kids Eat free, they offer Face Painting from 5:30 – 7:30, and Trivia starting at 7!
Some of our other favorite restaurants for kids in Keene, NH:
45 Main Street Keene, NH 03431
Fritz has some of the best fries around, and they make a point to source as many ingredients as they can from local farms. They also have Gluten Free options available.
Pappagallo’s Restaurant
9 Monadnock Highway Keene, NH 03431
Great Italian food, right on Rt. 9 when my kids recognize their cute bird sign we often don’t make it anywhere else!
176 Main Street Keene, NH 03431
Not the cheapest pizza place in Keene, but definitely the best. Their Garlic knots are out of this world.
Thanks everyone from your Keene Insurance Specialists at Downey Insurance Group, 45 Summer Street Keene, NH!