Martin Cooper

Working from home can be a double-edged sword. On one hand, skipping a commute and getting to work in your pajamas is great. On the other hand, your house is filled with distractions and it can be hard to stay focused. I’ve worked from home for 13 years and every time I think I’ve conquered it, something happens to pull my focus. I’ve learned, however, that the trick to telecommuting is setting up your home office properly. The way you design your home office can help you stay distraction and stress-free so you get your best work done in your home sweet home. Here are a few ways to make sure you’re able to stay on your grind. A clear desk equals a clear mind. Image: Africa Studio/Shutterstock Declutter the space I know that I have a clearer head when my desk is decluttered and organized. It doesn’t need to be perfect, but creating organization spaces to get papers, mail and other stuff off of your desk can help you stay laser focused. While cabinets are your best bet, you can def...

In terms of functionality, the sink is a vitally important part of your kitchen. It’s an important consideration in the design of your kitchen, and is essential in the hallowed kitchen work triangle . However, with so many styles to choose from, are homeowners choosing style over function? How can you determine which type of kitchen sink is best for your needs? Freshome asked experts from Kohler, Moen, Delta and Franke Kitchen Systems for tips on understanding the function of various kitchen sink styles. The aesthetic appeal of the kitchen sink When one sink is not enough. Image courtesy of  Delta Faucets . “With the evolving role of the kitchen leading to tasks beyond traditional cooking and cleaning, people are often selecting more secondary sinks,” explains Peggy Gallagher, Senior Product Manager at Delta . When choosing the right sink, Gallagher tells Freshome that there are several factors to consider, but she believes style is the main driver. “Consumers are primarily ...

The prospect of organizing an attic can be a surprisingly daunting one. Unfinished attic spaces can be dark, cavernous areas where you’d rather not venture. They’re right up there with unfinished basements late at night, root cellars and dark crawlspaces under very old homes.  But by taking the time to organize an attic, you can breathe new life into the space. Your attic can go from being a dark, cobwebbed area best suited for ghost stories to a well-lit, organized and even multifunctional space. As far as a timeline for this project goes, it can range from a single afternoon to several weeks. You might simply have items you need to organize and store more efficiently. Or you might want to look into getting less usable attics completely refinished, which could require a professional remodeler. Costs to organize an attic can have a wide range as well. It can be free. It could even make you money if you clean out clutter from the attic and sell it. But if you have enough junk...

Set up an outdoor bar to make the most of the summer. Pieces like the Abbott Brown Ultimate Bar can make it super simple. Image courtesy of Pottery Barn . We hope you like the products we recommend. Just so you are aware, Freshome may collect a share of sales from the links on this page. Summer is about to kick our outdoor time up a notch. And you know what that means: drinks al fresco. And yes, sure, you probably have a few bars and restaurants nearby that would happily serve you drinks on their patio — for a price. But why not shrink the expense of enjoying your beverage  en plein air  (and worrying about parking or a ride) by setting up your own outdoor bar? Want to seize the summer? Use this guide to set up an outdoor bar you can enjoy from the comfort of your own home. Find your spot First things first, you need to pick out a place for your bar. Ideally, it should be somewhere where both sun and shade are available. That could mean adding a patio umbrella or two, ...

As a home inspector, I use my non-contact voltage detector for a variety of things, and I'm careful to avoid these pitfalls during home inspections.