How-To Series | BULX.com Home Improvement Blog

30Aug/103

Inspirational Resources for Your Home Renovation

Posted by BULX.com

Inspiration comes from many places and in many different forms, but there are still a few sources online that we look to consistently to stay on top of the home remodeling trends. Here are a few of our favorites:

[Photo credit: Jeremy Levine Design]

BULX Trends on Twitter is a great place to start. We've surfed the entire Internet, located our favorite blogs, extracted the top content from each, and compiled it into a daily stream of trendy goodness. Each update is categorized by topic (#highdesign, #shabbychic, etc.) so you have an idea of what you might find before you click on a link.

If you're looking for a more direct source of inspiration, here are some of our favorite Twitter people. Give them a follow and listen to what they have to say...

Erin Loechner of Design for Mankind is a steady stream of all that is cool and fun in the world of design. Her posts are short, sweet, and truly inspirational. She's also a guest blogger for HGTV.
Jonathan Legate is a promoter of "design, style, humour, food, wine, love, books, music, kindness. In any order." He has created some inspirational spaces, which you can view on his website.
DesignMom (a.k.a. Gabrielle Blair) was recently named one of the 'Top 50' blogs in 2010 by Time.com. She's a designer, mother of six, and great down-to-earth resource on what's cool for the home.
SFGirlbyBay (a.k.a. Victoria Smith) "is known for representing ‘bohemian modern style’ and for showcasing the freshest designers, artists, crafters, products and trends." Her website is great as well.
Bruce Baron has made captured many phenomenal spaces as a professional photographer. He is also a published writer, art consultant, and gourmet cook; the man knows style inside and out.
DesignBlahg (a.k.a. Erica Reitman) is a hard-nosed, potty-mouthed design cynic whose insights into the interior design world are not only hilarious, but spot on as well.
The Moggit Girls (a.k.a. Janet and Joy) will make sure your design ideas aren't too far outside the box. Their blog tackles "fugly design and home decor on a regular basis."

For more resources, visit our Blogroll in the right-hand column.

Who else am I forgetting? Who are your favorite bloggers and sources for design inspiration?

Here's to loving your home,

Tagged as: color ideas, decorating tips, inspiration, interior design 3 Comments

4Aug/101

How to Upgrade Your Bathroom (without spending a dime)

Posted by BULX.com

Home upkeep and remodeling can be one of the largest expenses you face as a homeowner. But if done correctly, it can significantly increase the value of your home while allowing you to express your personal style at the same time.

At BULX.com, we pride ourselves in offering the best products on the market for significantly reduced prices. Our 4-day deals are often 60 to 70% below the suggested retail price and far below any other website on the Internet.

But what if you could do better than that? What if I could show you a way to upgrade your entire bathroom for FREE?

At BULX, our mission is simple:

Help as many people as possible create a home that they love, and
Do it by offering high-end products for incredible prices.

We'll take care of the product and the low prices, but we would love your help in spreading the word. And as our way of saying "thank you", we credit your account with $25 every time a person that you've referred makes their first purchase.

The best part is that inviting people and keeping track of your referrals (and credits) on our website is fast and incredibly easy.

Here's a quick guide that shows you how easy it is to score a brand new bathroom suite for free:

Let's say you don't like the look of your bathroom and want to upgrade your toilet, shower head & faucet, pedestal sink, and vanity faucet. If you buy these elements together through a typical retailer, everything might cost $1,700 (or more). But at BULX.com, our prices are often 70% off retail for the same exact products:
Using the "Invite" page of your membership, you can easily invite your friends and family to join by sending them an email, or by posting your 'Personal Invite Link' to your Facebook or Twitter pages. Once your invitations are sent, BULX monitors who signs up and who places an order through your recommendation.We've put together the following scenario to show how quickly you can accumulate credit by referring your friends to BULX:
By inviting just 100 people from your address book, you could earn enough credits to purchase a new toilet, shower set, pedestal sink and faucet from one of our future sales on BULX.com. That's over $1,700 worth of product just for sending out a few emails.
Keep in mind, there is no limit on the number of people you can invite, or the amount of credits you can earn. If you invite more than 100 people (or if more than 25% of your friends and family purchase a product) you could receive well over $525. The sky's the limit.

So what are you waiting for? Sign into your account, invite your friends, and start saving even more. Because the only thing better than discounted designer products are FREE ones.

Here's to loving your home,

P.S. - Don't wait. Once your friends receive an invite from someone else, you've lost your chance!

Filed under: How-To Series, The BULX Brand 1 Comment

23Jul/102

How To: Add Old-World Charm for Under $200

Posted by BULX.com

Wood Table
Image: exfordy

Wood is such a versatile material, it is no wonder it has been used to build homes, cooking equipment, musical instruments, toys, furniture for centuries. That is why one of my favorite ways to bring warmth, texture, character, and a touch of history into your home is to introduce vintage wood furniture into a space.

Contrary to popular belief, adding high-quality wood furniture to a room doesn't have to cost you an arm and a leg. Here are five ways to score some unique pieces for your home on the cheap:

Craigslist
- With a little patience and technical know-how, you can go shopping for new furniture from the privacy of your own home. Here's a quick search I did for a "vintage wood table" in Columbus. Be sure to use the "has image" button in the search bar, otherwise you will waste a lot of time driving around your city looking at items that "sounded good" but didn't look anything like you had hoped.
Garage Sales
- Garage sales are my personal favorite. There are a number of upscale neighborhoods in Columbus that I drive through on the weekends when I need a new dresser or table. The best part about garage sales is that you have the opportunity to get to know the people selling the items, and you can often learn about the history of a piece if it has been in the family for a while. And by establishing rapport with the previous owner, you can often purchase furniture for much lower than you would pay at a vintage store or consignment shop.
Vintage Stores & Consignment Shops
- Vintage stores are a more targeted and faster way to find exactly what you are looking for. These types of shops often have a great selection of pieces because they scour the internet, garage sales, and The downside of course is that you will probably end up paying more
Estate Sales
- While some may find this outlet a little spooky, some of the best deals on furniture can be found at estate sales. Over the years, I have found that older homeowners typically have more unique, higher-quality pieces. And when their children decide to sell it - they usually let it go for very cheap. Browse your local newspaper to find out if there are any upcoming estate sales in your area. (NOTE: Be prepared to bid your way to ownership. Depending on how well the auctioneer publicizes the event, you may find yourself in a sea of bidders - or taking home the entire bedroom set.)
Flea Markets
- If you don't mind hot, crowded spaces, make your way over to the closest flea market. Some flea markets are open every day, while others operate during specific times of the year. A quick search online should turn up the best markets in your area.