Traveling for the Holidays- Make Your Home Ready Before You Go!

Many of us travel over the holidays...but do all of us do these essential things before we leave? Take a few moments to read through to make sure you come back to a home in good condition. 

• Turn off your main water supply and leave your faucets slightly open (this will prevent any busted pipes or leaks)
• Unplug your electronics (they require more energy than you think!)
• Put your lights on a timer (nothing says "rob my house- I'm not home" more than a house that doesn't have any activity in it)
• Stop mail service (just let the post office to hold your mail until you are back, it's a free service!)
• Turn down your furnace (just 5-10 degrees, don't shut it off!)
• Pour baking soda down your drains and toilet (you can also add vinegar to freshen your drains, but this keeps you from playing the game of "where's that smell coming from?")
• Seal any open boxes of dry goods such a noodles, rice or nuts (this removes any temptation critters may have when you are away)
• Clean your house, so when you come back and you're exhausted from traveling, you won't have any chores to do.
• Lastly, it's a good idea to freeze a simple meal or two (if your flight gets delayed or travel plans are not what you expected, you can easily heat up a nice home-cooked meal when you arrive back) 

Safe Travels from all of us at D.J.'s!

Pantagraph Reader's Choice Awards

We were so thrilled to receive The Pantagraph’s Reader’s Choice Award this year for Best Contractors AND Best Painting! What an honor-thank you. It is so gratifying to know that our hard work and efforts have been noticed and appreciated. Thank you to everyone who took the time to vote for us. We wouldn’t be here without all of your support!

Thank you again for such an important recognition.

D.J.’s Painting & Remodeling, Inc

Beat the Heat

Beat the Heat: Air Conditioning Fixes You Need to Know

The most efficient ways to take care of your home on these hot summer days.

We thought with the excessive heat warnings, we could share a few tips on how to best stay cool and conserve energy in the process.

Should you turn your thermostat down or off if you are leaving for a long period of time? Some people worry that if you turn your air conditioning off, it will have to use up that much more energy to catch back up. But doing this will actually save you money. And not to worry, an air conditioning unit that is running at full speed runs more efficiently and better dehumidifies the house.

Buy a ceiling fan. Some homeowners are under the impression that running a ceiling fan will lower the temperature in the room. While the fan will better cool you down, it will not actually affect the temperature in the room. So you do not need to run the ceiling fans if you are out for the day.

Buy some plants. Placing some large, shady plants or bushes in front of your windows on hot summer days will actually help keep the house cooler.

Does turning the thermostat up make the house cool off faster?  No. Once the thermostat is running full speed, it will continue to do so until the set temperature is caught up. It is always best to not turn the thermostat up too high or you might forget and waste energy.

Take a shower. Don’t forget, if you are still hot and in need of a quick fix, you can always cool off in the shower! And taking a 10 minute shower is actually more energy efficient than a bath!

D.J.’s Painting & Remodeling, Inc Announces Two New Hires: Interior Designer, Marketing Coordinator

Management Team Expanded to Support Rapid Growth

BLOOMINGTON, IL.—D.J.’s, the area leader in painting and remodeling, announced recent additions to their management team to meet the needs of their growing workforce and expanding consumer demand. Ali Drennan was hired as the Interior Designer and Julie Kietzman was named Marketing Coordinator. “I am beyond excited for the direction our company is headed,” quotes David Juarez, President of D.J.’s Painting & Remodeling, Inc. 

Ali Drennan is a recent graduate from Illinois State University, with a Bachelor’s Degree in Interior Design. Her love for remodeling began in high school, when she would get her hands dirty helping her contractor step dad. Drennan hopes to continue to improve the remodeling process here at D.J.’s. Drennan’s hobbies also include painting and refurbishing.

Julie Kietzman is also an ISU graduate, with a Bachelor’s in Marketing. She brings photography experience to the table as well. Kietzman hopes to spread the message of their capabilities and looks forward to showcasing D.J.’s work with her background in photography and marketing.

D.J.’s Painting & Remodeling, Inc. is a Central Illinois based company, specializing in indoor and outdoor, commercial and residential painting and remodeling. If it’s not on the list, just ask!

5 Ways to Make the Most of Your Summer Porch

     

 

Hit the flea market. Digging for treasures at outdoor flea markets and summer yard sales is always an adventure. Folding chairs, vintage wicker and small wood tables are natural choices, but keep an eye out for interesting containers for plants, mirrors and artwork, too. Imperfect finds you might pass up for the living room could be splendid on a summer porch, so keep an open mind.

 

 

Set up an outdoor dining space. Meals are always more pleasant outdoors in the summer. Or even just a space to sip coffee with a loved one while catching fresh air is a great start to your day. Add some comfy cushions to your table chairs and string lights overhead for the ultimate appeal.

 

Channel your inner Hamptons. Natural wood, sandy beige and blue make a classic beach house combination that will work on any porch. Unfinished furniture fades to sandy gray as it weathers, so it will look just right with this color scheme.

Hang a porch swing. Nothing is more soothing than a porch swing in the  summer and some of most people’s best childhood memories. Be sure to get help safely hanging a porch swing so it has the proper support.

       Cool down. If the sun and heat are keeping you from enjoying your porch as much as you could, an outdoor ceiling fan or a set of outdoor drapes could help. Bonus: The moving air from a fan can help discourage mosquitoes, too.

Exterior House Colors

Cultivating your dream home is a multifaceted process, involving literally dozens of different decisions. However one of the most primary and the most important features of your home is the color itself. The color of your home is often a starting point for all future elements, making it extremely important that you choose a color that you are happy with and can build off of. Read on for helpful tips when painting the exterior of your home.

Bold and Bright White
The traditional American look for a home is a bright white house with dark black shutters. Travel to almost any town in the country, and you are sure to come across a house with these features. This look has withstood the test of time because it is classic, clean, and appealing. The contrast of the white and black work particularly well with a house containing symmetrical features. One great thing about a white house is that it leaves you with literally endless options to accentuate and decorate the rest of the space.




Primary Colors
When thinking about painting your home, almost any color would work given that you choose the appropriate shade. However, primary colors seem to work particularly well for exteriors. Red, yellow and blue are amazing colors to use for your home. With any of these colors, you could choose a bright and bold shade, or go with a lighter and more toned down approach. Each color looks great on its own, but can be complimented nicely as well. Red houses look great with gray trim or accents, yellow houses pair well with brown, and blue looks amazing with white.









Varying Shades
One way to be able to paint your home a solid color but still add some contrast is to incorporate varying shades of one color. One way to do this is to paint the entire exterior one shade, and choose shutters, trim, or other accent pieces in a different shade. If your house is layered or has visible divisions, you could paint different parts of the exterior different shades. This method tends to work very well with green, as often times one color of green can be either too bland or too overwhelming, depending on the shade.




Back to Basics 
It may come as no surprise that for exterior painting we are certainly advocates of the classics. Beige, tan, gray-these colors are called classics for a reason. They look great on almost any style of home, and give you a canvas upon which to add your personal touches. Stick with one classic neutral-toned color, or incorporate a few different ones for a different look. No matter how you go about it, you really cannot go wrong with this color palette.


The weather is finally warm which means D.J's Painting & Remodeling is in full swing, ready to get out there and paint the exterior of your home! Give us a call today to give your home an extraordinary exterior!

Dressing Up Your Deck

Here at D.J.'s Painting & Remodeling, we cannot stress enough the importance of a good deck or patio. For this article we will explore options to expand beyond the deck itself, and add a structure or feature that really makes your deck your own. There are many different options that serve many different functions, but today we will stick with a few that are popular and easy to implement.

Gazebo
The traditional image of a gazebo is a stand-alone unit out in a yard or garden. However, homeowners have recently started to build gazebos right into their decks. Built-in gazebos offer a beautiful addition to an existing deck. They are not only a decorative focal point, but serve as a perfect area to add a dining or picnic table. Gazebos also offer an easy way to add screening to your deck, protecting you from extreme temperatures, insects, and rain. If you want to add a classic and time-honored feature to your deck, a gazebo is definitely the right choice.



Pergola
Whereas gazebos have been around for hundreds of years, pergolas are becoming the increasingly popular modern option. Pergolas are similar to gazebos, but have their own unique attributes. The open roofing on a pergola still protects from direct sun rays, but allows for the breeze to come through, and is also perfect for nights spent stargazing. The open posts also allow for dressing the pergola up, whether it be with plants and flowers, or curtains to add privacy. Pergolas have such a sleek and striking design, and are a great addition to any yard or garden area. 


Hot Tub 
Everyone dreams of having a beach or lake house. In Central Illinois, this is not always easy to come by. The easiest and most cost effective way to experience a glimmer of the joy of being in water is to add a hot tub. If you already have a back yard deck, a great thing to do is to build the hot tub right into the deck. Doing so will allow you to utilize your hot tub without sacrificing the beauty of your deck. While the view may not always be as nice as the one pictured here, you are sure to love having a hot tub on your deck.



Built-in Dining Area

 If you love to entertain during the summer months, you may find yourself scrambling trying to figure out where to seat all of your guests. Adding a built-in dining area is perfect for any occasion. It creates a designated space that makes you feel like you are dining at a cozy outdoor restaurant. Building seating around the exterior of the deck also frees up extra space in the event that you do have to add additional tables and chairs. If you find yourself eating countless meals on your deck, built-in seating may be the right choice for you.


No matter your preference for dressing up your deck, D.J.'s Painting & Remodeling has you covered. From design consult to the final painting, we can help you create the amazing deck you have always dreamed of. Call today for a free estimate!