Resources Archives • Page 6 of 8 • Maison Mass

Free Farmhouse Printables

While we’re on the farmhouse theme, we’re sharing some charming, free farmhouse printables we thought would be great to add to a gallery wall or to use separately in a kitchen or hallway. (more…)

5 Home Improvement Projects Worth Spending Your Tax Refund On

When it comes to home improvement, there’s what you need to do, what you want to do, and the biggie – what you can afford. (Spoiler: if you can afford to do everything you want to your house – congratulations, this post isn’t for you.) But, if you’re like the rest of us who have to weigh the pros and cons of making improvements to our homes, read on!

When considering where to spend your hard-earned dollars (or tax refunds), how do you decide which remodeling project is worth it in the long run (read: resale value)? Maison Mass looked into it and we found five home improvement projects with real payback. (more…)

10 Charming Farmhouse Features

Follow my blog with Bloglovin

Do you have the fever for the flavor of a farmhouse? You’re not alone. The fervor has swept the country. And why not? The farmhouse mood is easy and relaxed.

The historic farmhouse may, however, be a far cry from the image your mind conjures with its open floor plan and shabby chic flourishes. Farmhouses were historically small in scale and designed for practicality. As families and needs changed, small rooms were opened to allow for more family and multi-purpose space. Perhaps, our love of the farmhouse is a nod to our past, to a simpler time, when the home was considered an adjunct to the land. The wrap-around porch, still synonymous with the farmhouse, illustrates that love of the land and the timeless charm of country living.

Though my family lives in an authentic antique farmhouse, I find myself feeling out-farmhoused after only one episode of HGTV’s Fixer Upper. After a marathon, I’m packing my bags for Waco. The fact is we can’t all demo our homes and start fresh, nor would we want to, when push comes to shove. Most days, I love my home, quirky charms and all. So, what can we do in our own homes to add some of the farmhouse feel without undertaking a major renovation? These are features you can add to the home itself, without breaking the bank. The list does not include furnishings or decor suggestions, as that is a list unto itself. (more…)

Built-in Coffee Machines: What You Need To Know

If you are a coffee junkie like my husband, there is an optional piece of kitchen equipment you may want to consider for your new home or kitchen remodel: a built-in (or integrated) coffee machine.

The Backstory

My husband is a German, and likes his coffee strong and often. So when we were planning our kitchen remodel back in 2011, he started looking into built-in coffee machines. Being a good Irish girl from Massachusetts, I grew up drinking tea with milk, so I wasn’t sold on the necessity of the purchase. But, my husband persisted – making a case for how important his morning (and afternoon and sometimes evening coffee) was to him.

We also had a huge Italian automatic espresso/cappuccino machine he had purchased in Germany and lovingly transported back to the States that took up about half the real estate on my counter tops. So in truth, I wasn’t too reluctant to give in, giddy with the idea that I would regain some much-needed counter space. And I have to say, even though I don’t use it for myself, it has been a great addition to the kitchen for guests and entertaining.

Who is a good candidate for a built-in coffee machine?

First, you need to like a stronger, espresso-based coffee. (more…)

Massachusetts Inspired Print – Free Printable

The other day, I was at my local T. J. Maxx / HomeGoods store browsing and ran into a display of fun Massachusetts inspired decor for the home. We had just created a Pinterest board for exactly this kind of thing, so I was uber-excited to see we were on trend :). (more…)