The air is getting chilly, the leaves are falling from the trees, and the kids have gone back to school… That can only mean one thing – fall is here! As the seasons change and you begin to get ready for the cold weather, don’t forget to prepare your Northern Virginia home as well! Your yard, house exterior, and so much more require regular home maintenance throughout the year to ensure everything is working properly. Here are some things you shouldn’t forget about during fall and winter home upkeep.

Fall is a hectic time for families with back-to-school activities and sports practices filling up the calendar. Some people may even start thinking about prepping for Halloween or the upcoming holidays. To me, however, there’s nothing better than sitting back, relaxing outside, and enjoying the cooler, more pleasant weather this month. So how can you create a backyard oasis that can be used all year round?

Bathroom Design Trends in Northern VA As summer comes to an end and autumn draws closer, you start spending more time indoors- so why not make your next project revamping your bathroom? Check out these new trends for bathroom renovations! Looking to create a relaxing oasis? Try a freestanding bath tub! They’re perfect for soaking away the approaching cold weather. (Via Baltimore At Home, Style Me Pretty, Moss Building & Design) Freestanding tubs are so versatile, they'll fit in any style bathroom. Rustic, modern, or traditional- you can design around it any way you want! Place it in your bathroom alone or in conjunction with a shower for the full experience. Select a tub with jets for a jacuzzi experience, or keep it simple!

I was proud to visit Northern Virginia fire stations today on this 16th anniversary of the September 11, 2001 tragedies in New York City, Arlington, and Pennsylvania. Sixteen years ago today, I lived in Northern New Jersey only fifteen miles from the World Trade Center. Like so many others, I will never forget where I was when I heard the news that morning. We were all touched in some way by the tragedy and cannot thank the firefighters, police officers, and other emergency personnel enough for their dedication to helping others.

Like most workers in the Washington, DC metro area, you’ve probably found yourself in the middle of a long commute at some point in the past few years. That’s why more and more of us are turning to some sort of “flex work” or work from home arrangement. It’s now commonplace for many Northern Virginians to work from home at least one day a week. To accommodate this, Moss has seen an increased focus on designing home office spaces. So, if you are limited by space, how can you make the most of what you have and not feel like you’re working in a broom closet?

This is the second week of our #BacktoSchoolHoneyDo giveaways! We are giving away a free "Wine & Design night" to one lucky winner. The night will be a fun event for you and your closest friends to learn about the latest design trends while enjoying some great drinks! If you've been stressed out trying to get the kids and the house ready for back to school season, this is the perfect opportunity to unwind!

Back-to-school season always conjures up images of opening a clean notebook and taking out sharp pencils and bright crayons on that first day of school. There was something exciting about that new beginning and fresh start to the year that I got every September. To some in our area, however, there can be more angst than excitement as the ever-growing school supply list means an added expense to already financially strapped families.

Northern Virginia Goes Back To School In honor of all of the kiddos returning to school this fall (and even a little bit earlier this year) we are giving away a few handymen to complete your honey-do lists for free! Yes, free! The beginning of the school year is hectic and we want to help ease that pain. Head over to our Facebook page each Monday to learn more about the weekly contest. More details to come, you won't want to miss this!

By: PKopiak@MossBuildingandDesign.com