By Clarissa Allison | January 13th, 2017

Homeowners have always wanted to bring another time to life. Many of us want our homes to feel like a peaceful getaway echoing a country retreat, or to act as a transport to a different (note: picturesque) period of time. Unlike many design trends, the New Farmhouse style marries both of these desires and blends them smoothly. New Farmhouse doesn’t boast the same masculinity as straightforward Neo-Industrial nor is it a predictably dated Shabby Chic look, although some elements can cross-over. Finding the right items to achieve this scheme can be confusing, so we’ve compiled a few recommendations for the ideal lighting fixtures to complement your new design project.

The Kitchen

Have you ever thought about maximizing your backyard? The outdoors are beautiful in the spring time and you will likely want to enjoy the fresh air after a long winter. It is exciting to be outside eating, socializing and relaxing. Maybe you have seen the surge in popularity for outdoor rooms. Everything from sitting spaces to kitchens are popping up in backyards across the country. It is an excellent way to take advantage of the additional space in your backyard while enjoying the great outdoors. An electrician in Los Angeles can help you with your goal of having an outdoor room. The team at The Electric Connection can help.

You will need to have electricity in your outdoor space for any kitchen equipment, lights and fans. Outlets for your electronics are also going to be necessary. This is something your electrician will need to handle. Because the electricity will be outdoors, it is imperative safety measures are taken to ensure there are no electrical hazards. Depending on the number of outlets you need in your new space and the type of lighting that will be used, you will likely need an additional breaker installed. This will need to be evaluated by your Los Angeles electrician. An inspection of your current electric panel will be necessary to see if there is room in the panel or if you will need a panel upgrade.

The construction of an outdoor room will typically require permits and inspections by a county official. For this reason, you will need to have a certified electrician doing the work to make sure you are meeting all codes. This is typically required by your homeowner’s insurance policy as well. You can count on the qualified professionals at The Electric Company to help you make your dream of an outdoor living space a reality.

This is the final post in our four-part series, "The Secret Guide for Super Moms” — tips, tricks and hacks for busy moms who need to know everything that’s happening in their house.

If you believe Pinterest, every home repair or improvement project can be a do-it-yourself job. Apparently, if every blog is to be believed, moms and dads around the country are remodeling bathrooms, rebuilding old houses and refurbishing vintage furniture -- and they do it all the time! And they look great doing it! And they have plenty of time to take lots of photos!

Maybe some people really are able to do it all (and write about it, too). Most of us are too busy and simply don’t have the training to do more than the basics around the house. When it comes to potentially dangerous repairs, a super mom knows that she needs a professional. When the time comes to fix, rewire or repair her home’s electrical needs, she knows she needs an electrician.

Electrical wiring is complicated and can be dangerous -- and it's tough to spot signs you need an electrician. An amateur electrical job may cause poor wire connections, overloaded circuits or faulty grounding. These situations are hazardous to you, your family and your property. While it may be tempting to try saving money by doing it yourself, or trusting your spouse or a friend to help, you're better off spending the money to have the job done right.

Let's take a fairly common scenario: your fuses keep blowing, or your circuit breakers keep tripping. Yes, you can keep replacing the fuses, but do you know whether they're the right type? Screwing in a 20- or 30-amp fuse as a replacement for a 15 is tempting—no electricians needed, right?—but now you've created a fire hazard by overloading your wiring. The smarter move: call a professional, certified electrician to wire a new circuit.

Like fuses, circuit breakers are meant to prevent circuit overload and the risk of fire, but we use much more electricity than people of our parents' or grandparents' generation. As you upgrade and add appliances and gadgets, you may need to upgrade your circuit breaker panels to adequately supply your home with power. Hire an electrician to do the job, not your brother-in-law who swears he did the same kind of work in the navy. The work is extremely complicated and should not be attempted by an amateur.