Settle into the pleasures of autumn with a home that's prepped, organized and full of seasonal delights

Fall is a glorious season. With blazing leaves and roaring fires, apple picking, harvest festivals and sweater weather, there is so much to look forward to. And with that studious, back-to-business mood permeating the air, we feel invigorated to take on new projects and work a bit harder. Kick off this busy season by taking the time now to prepare your home, incorporating both important tasks (like cleaning the chimney) and pure pleasures (like treating yourself to a luxe bath product).

These 14 tasks will help you seamlessly transition your home from summer to fall.

by Bonin Architects & Associates

1. Inspect the roof, gutters and drainpipes. Depending on your climate, you may want to hold off until later in the fall (when most leaves have dropped) before cleaning the gutters, but doing a visual inspection now is a good idea. If any branches and leaves fell during summer storms, remove them so they don't cause blockages during autumn rains. Inspecting your roof now will leave ample time to have repairs or a replacement made before winter.

by Going Home To Roost

2. Edit your crafting stash. If you knit, sew or practice any other craft that comes with lots of supplies, it's time to begin sorting and purging that mountainous stash. Fall and winter will beckon with cold afternoons that are perfect for engaging in making something with your own two hands — be ready!

by Sandvold Blanda Architecture...

3. Move firewood to a covered area. Be sure to check for insects before bringing any wood indoors. Don't store wood with bugs, especially termites, indoors (or against the outside of your house).

by Siemasko + Verbridge

4. Have chimneys cleaned before you light that first autumn fire. Residue buildup and blockages in chimneys are a common cause of house fires, so be sure to have a pro take a look before sparking that first flame.

by Haddad Hakansson LLC

5. Organize the entry. Fall brings with it loads of jackets, mucky boots and bundles of paper. Think ahead and give every type of item a home. That means baskets and bins for accessories, hooks for jackets and bags, and shelves or metal trays for shoes and boots. Add a pin board or a magnet board with a calendar, a place to drop keys and mail, and a bin for recycling, and you should have all of your bases covered.

by Regan Baker Design

6. Clear your desk. If you do any work from home (or have a student in the house), now is the ideal time to tackle those piles of paper and start this busy season with a clean and clear workspace. Have drawers, cabinets or shelving within arm's reach so you can easily put things away and not clutter up that desk again.

7. Sort the pantry. Set the stage for healthy dinners by creating a neat and orderly pantry with healthful choices front and center. Toss expired foods and consolidate packages that have just a little left. If you like, pick up a flat of canning jars and a packet of labels to create your own organizing system for bulk-bin goods.

Get It Done: How to Clean Out the Pantry

by Michael Fullen Design Group

8. Deep clean the tub and treat yourself to something new. We may not be heading to the beach as often these days, but the time is just right for a relaxing soak. Give your tub a thorough cleaning and pick up something that will make your soak extra special, whether that is an essential oil you love, a beautiful brush or a luxuriously soft towel.

by Knight Architects LLC

9. Tidy the porch. After a season's worth of sandy feet tramping back and forth, your porch deserves a good cleaning. Sweep away sand, clean the front windows and door, check porch lights and add a few extras like hurricane lanterns or autumnal potted plants.

by Abueg Morris Architect

10. Stock up on cold and flu remedies. Make a list of everything from your favorite preventative measures to the medicines and other items your family relies on while sick, and pick up these items now. You will feel good knowing you have everything you need if and when someone in the house feels under the weather.

by Knight Architects LLC

11. Check lighting throughout your home. As the autumn sun dips lower in the sky, you may find you crave a little extra light in your rooms. A few small table lamps or even a strand of twinkle lights can make all the difference in creating a cozy ambience.

by Dura Supreme Cabinetry

12. Refresh cleaning supplies. Take a few minutes to pull everything out from beneath the kitchen sink (yes, wads of plastic bags and all), sort it and put back only what you need. If this is where you reach when you need supplies for daily cleaning tasks, move everything not related to these tasks elsewhere. That means you, half-used crusty box of silver polish!

by Emily McCall

13. Swap out bedding. Bring cozy quilts and duvets out of storage so they will be within reach on that first chilly night. Check now if anything needs to be laundered and you'll have time to wash it before you really need it.

by Bonin Architects & Associates

14. Savor your hard work! Sit back and enjoy a well-deserved rest. Brew a pot of tea, pour yourself a glass of wine, crack open a new novel or do whatever puts the icing on your cake.

Tell us: How are you welcoming the fall season?

People are always wondering what the best time of the year is to remodel. The answer to that question is Anytime. That is right, anytime of the year is a good time to start. We have started large additions in the middle of the winter when there is a foot of snow on the ground and temperature fails to get above 10 degrees. If you are thinking of remodeling your kitchen or bath in time for the holidays, now is the time to get that project going. A typical kitchen remodel takes approximately 8 weeks from the time the cabinets are ordered to the time you are able to cook that next family meal in your new kitchen. Planning ahead will help reduce the time it takes for completions, as well as some of the stress that is involved with remodeling in general. The planning stages, especially for a kitchen or a bathroom are very critical in making sure your project runs smoothly. The first step for a kitchen is deciding on a layout. Along with the layout, you need to decide on what appliances you are going to have in your new kitchen. This will help the designer with the layout and how you will use your kitchen. Remember, there are suggestions for layout, but no two people are the same, so you will not have the same needs as your friend who just remodeled their kitchen. Next you need to pick the wood species, door style and paint or stain color. Once this is out of the way, the cabinets are ordered and you can move on to the next step. The next step, while you are waiting for your new cabinets to arrive, is to pick out your countertops (granite, quartz, Silestone, Soapstone, butcher block, etc). Once you do that, you can pick out your backsplash. Today's trend is to go with a tiled backsplash that blends well with your granite but is not too strong. You want your backsplash to compliment your counters and cabinets. The type and color of your flooring will also be decided at this point. If you go with a hardwood floor, you want to make sure that the color has enough contrast from the cabinets, or else you risk having a sea of wood all the same color. So my advice to you is to PLAN, PLAN,PLAN. This will help ensure that your remodeling project goes smoothly and helps reduce the stress you will be under.