Malta Development Blog

On a cold and wet day, the mudroom welcomes family and guests to an inner safe-haven. Emphasize the coziness (not the muddiness) with these tips.

Once the rain really starts to come down, nothing is quite as comforting as the idea of warm and dry home. In reality, coming in from the cold damp is, well... a mess. Mudrooms welcome family and guests and keep the rest of your home clean. If you have pets, it's also a perfect place to store toys, leashes and snacks.
 
Make your mudroom a cozy, welcoming space. Here are a few simple tips to make yours more efficient, neat and inspiring.

Once winter comes, we’re all going to be spending a lot of time indoors. These houseplants not only add some much needed greenery to your day, but they also help improve your indoor air quality.

Plants save lives. In the '80s, NASA began research to study which plants helped purify the air in space facilities. With this knowledge in hand, we started filtering the air inside our own homes. Because citizens of industrialized nations spend up to 90% of their time indoors, air purification ranks as a top priority.

Just like an artist is inspired by a subject and frames it within a painting, you too can frame your home's magnificent view with countless draping ideas. Whether you have small windows in solid walls or full-height glass, most architects choose window placing based on views. Windows then become the portal to the outside world (gardens, woods, etc). If you want to showcase your view, adding stunning designs to your window can be the difference between a colorless view and an awe-inspiring vista.

For many, the road toward the American Dream includes buying a home of one's own. This isn't an easy road, however. Home purchases too often bring on unexpected worries not to mention your worst doubts and fears. Don't fret. Simple precautions prevent these fears from becoming reality; just make sure you've covered all the bases.

Decorating your laundry room involves having an eye for design and space. Just like garages, they can become a catch-all for miscellaneous knick-knacks. Just because you don't spend a lot of time in the laundry room, doesn't mean you can't make it look chic and organized.

As a first-time homeowner, moving into your new home can be an exciting time. New furniture is purchased and decorating ideas can finally become a reality. But before the interior decorating commences, consider going through a checklist of energy-saving tasks. These will help you reduce the energy and maintenance costs of your home in the future.

Fall is upon us and that means that the green leaves are turning crimson red and sun-kissed yellow. With the change of season comes the responsibility of having your home prepped for the colder months. A little bit of fall cleaning can go a long way in saving you money on heating bills, preventing home disasters, and keeping your family safe and cozy.

Hardwood floors are one of the best options available for homeowners. These floors are very durable, and with proper care they can last for years. Caring for them, however, requires a little more work than just an occasional sweep.

While 2015 was one of the coldest winters in recent history, many meteorologists are predicting that 2016 will be even worse. For New Yorkers who feel like they just can't deal with another bad winter, don't panic. There are steps you can take to make this winter go a lot smoother than last year’s.

Nothing screams "summer" like hot dogs on the grill. Here's an interesting and tasty way to host a buffet featuring what Anthony Bourdain calls, “tube steaks.” By the way, July 23rd is National Hot Dog Day, and you can't let this opportunity go by without celebrating it, can you?