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Can you believe it? Another year has flown by and we are gliding into 2024 just around the corner. Every year we like to take a moment and look back on some of our favorite memories with you from the year. This year we have shared some interesting articles with our Alaska Homes Blog family. Let’s take a moment and review are a few of our favorites!

How to Lower Your Alaskan Heating Bill this Winter

At the beginning of 2023 we shared a two-part article to help our Alaskan family save money on their winter utility bills. In these articles, we discussed 10 ways to reduce your heating bill. We realize our Alaskan winters can get very cold, and we want to keep our families warm and comfortable without breaking the bank.

Check out the articles here: Part 1 and Part 2

Décor in Your Alaskan Home Can Protect Your Mental Health

In this two-part article series we discussed the impact of our homes on our mental health. Did you know that your space can evoke emotional responses based upon its color, texture, lighting, and room layout? During the winter months here in Alaska, many of us experience Seasonal Affective Disorder or SAD and we can use all the help we can get to keep our mood and overall mental health in check. Our homes interior design and décor can influence our mood and well-being, so we compiled some tips to help you make your space work for your body and your mind. Check out the articles here: Part 1 and Part 2 

Increase Your Alaskan Home Value While Respecting the Earth

In honor of Earth day, we shared an article about ways to protect the environment and improve the earth for our children and future generations. On Earth Day we all take a moment and reflect on the changes that we can make personally. Costs of owning a home are increasing and we are always looking for ways to cut cost and increase eco-friendly features and home value at the same time. Check out the how you can help the Earth with some tips here.

Simple Upgrades to Make a Rental Feel Like Home

In this article we discussed how to make a rental feel more like something you could feel like you own. Living in a rental has its ups and downs. We all want to make our house feel like a home and personalize it to our tastes and needs. The only problem with renting, is that you must consider your security deposit and keep the home in the condition in which you received it. Changes and upgrades that you make, will most likely need to be reversed when it’s time to move on. How can you create simple reversible changes that won’t break the bank? Check out the article here.

The 411 on Creating a Budget for a New Home

2023 was a big year for some of us and it was finally time to buy our first home! Are you finally ready for the next step? Buying your first home is one of the biggest purchases we make in our life. In this article we gathered a few tips to help you to review and adjust your finances prior to taking the leap into being a first-time homebuyer. Check out the article here.

We have enjoyed spending 2023 with you and look forward to helping you attain all of your home dreams as we continue into 2024!

FINALLY! You’ve purchased the Alaskan home of your dreams. You’ve been through the process, and you’ve crossed the finish line. The dotted lines are signed and initialed and the keys are yours. Now what? Now is the fun part….or is it? Time to decorate! If the thought of figuring out how to design, style and decorate your new home puts a lump in your throat, we have a few tips to help you unleash your creative dragon.

Our homes are the perfect blank canvas to show the world our unique personalities. We design our spaces to reflect our lifestyles while providing a level of comfort. Do you need some inspiration?

Open floor plans have often been on top of the must-have list on home design shows. People desired open living rooms and kitchens for entertaining with lots of light. Doors were highly underrated. The pandemic helped us to reevaluate our housing priorities and change up our home designs for the future.

Here are a few of the things that people are rethinking:

During the month where we celebrate love we wanted to take a moment to talk about how we can show our love for our neighbors. We are all getting through this pandemic together and even though we can’t always safely be physically together there are many ways that we can engage our neighbors and get to know them. Giving makes all of us happy, and makes the recipient feel loved, appreciated and thought of. How can you and your family show the love this month?

Jumanji!! Sometimes 2020 doesn’t feel quite real does it? Are you sure we weren’t in the midst of a game? It may feel like many of us missed out on so many things last year. We had dreams, plans and goals for the year, but life had other plans as they say. Despite it all we found a way to push through, create alternate plans and new memories. We proved we are resilient, industrious and we are survivors. Our wild Alaska has trained us well!

This past year we shared many posts about our beautiful Alaska, how to care for your property and how to find gratitude despite trials. Here are a few of our favorites from 2020!

1. How to create a calm peaceful home (Link to Article)

Bored kids, even bored adults, can create a lot of chaos and stress in the home, especially during the long winter months here in Alaska. If you need a little calm in your life, or maybe you’re fighting seasonal affective disorder and need to clear your head, we’ve rounded up the following ways to create some space that’s soothing all year round. Refresh your mind on these great tips.

Fall is in the air and we anxiously await crisp fall mornings and the delicious aromas of fresh baked goods in our kitchens. This is that special time of year that we refocus on our families and celebrate the holiday seasons together. Our summer didn’t quite pan out as we expected this year with many events canceled or adjusted for safety. As October swiftly approaches, we may be wondering how can our families safely participate in Halloween this year?

As much as we would like the virus to take a holiday as well, that just isn’t going to happen. With safety precautions in place such as wearing masks, (no the cute costumes don’t count), social distancing, and the general rule of good hygiene, we have to make adjustments in how we normally hold our celebrations.

Here are some cute ideas we have found for keeping your spirits high this Halloween.

Summer is upon us and our beautiful natural Alaskan playground is beckoning us to come outside and play. Alaska offers numerous recreational opportunities such as walking, camping, rock climbing, kayaking, glacier trekking and so much more. While no one plans on being injured or having accidents, they can easily occur when you don’t take a moment to be mindful of safety precautions.

Preparations are key when it comes to safety while also having a positive outdoor experience. We’ve compiled some tips that will help you keep your family safe:

Whether you live in or are visiting Alaska, if you have children it’s important that they know the basics for safely interacting with wild animals – especially bears. The instinct to protect youngsters from danger is a essential part of parenthood. We can control some components of children’s safety in the outdoors, equipping kids with appropriate gear, knowledgeable mentors, and locations to fit their abilities. But not everything is simple, especially in Alaska where wildlife is not just nearby, but often literally in our own backyards.

It’s a sure bet for anyone living in Alaska that even if you don’t see a bear, you’re probably never far from one. Alaska is bear country, of course, with millions of acres of habitat for black, brown, and polar bears doing what bears do — eating, sleeping, and raising their own youngsters. We know black and brown bears live right here in the Anchorage Bowl, fishing in local streams and wandering the same trails we do.

Want to know a great activity that is both perfect for the long Alaska winters AND will help increase the attractiveness and value of your home? It’s time for some serious decluttering. And we’ve got all the tips to make it feel less like a chore and more like a dance party.

If you’re living in your forever home (lucky you!) you probably have “stuff” that has piled up her and there that needs to be dealt with. Kids get older, sports teams change, outdoor gear and seasonal wear gets all mixed up and you’re left feeling stressed out just looking at the mess. Decluttering can transform your living space and help you enjoy your home more than you ever have.

Between floral prints, statement floors, and Pantone declaring Ultraviolet as the color of the year, 2018 is shaping up to be a big year for color when it comes to decorating homes. The great thing about that is color is the perfect thing for lightening up a home when winter seems like it’s dragging on and on. A great way to fight winter’s cabin fever is with some freshening up inside the home. New paint, new rugs and new art are all classic ideas that will do the trick. But if you want to know what the home design experts are predicting will be big this next year, we’ve rounded up a few here that you might want to check out.

First, let’s talk about what’s out. Writers at the real estate website Trulia predict that things on their way “out” this year include granite countertops, boho décor such as wall hangings, and trendy bamboo flooring. Zillow added to that list as well, naming all-white kitchens and tricked-out bar carts and as well on their way out.

The holidays are here and already heads are spinning with the thought of all the shopping, presents, parties, and “things” that will take over the four weeks. Before you know it, the season will be over, we’ll all be exhausted, and wondering where did the time go? And how did my bank balance get so low?! 

Christmas time doesn’t have to leave you feeling broke, overwhelmed, and seriously holiday-crazed. All it takes is focus, a dash of creativity, and selective planning to create a holiday filled with heart that you’ll remember with joy and pleasure when the New Year rolls in.