Consumer Corner
A First-Timer’s Guide to Kitchen Remodeling
What to know before you begin
(Family Features) Kitchen upgrades are among the most common renovation projects homeowners tackle. Even so, it’s a big project for a first-time renovation, and the final results are sure to be stronger with some detailed planning from the start.
Take into account these five tips from the experts at Wellborn Cabinet to help first-time kitchen remodelers achieve the kitchens of their dreams:
1. Plan Your Budget
Establish a clear and realistic budget. Factor in costs for materials, labor and some extra for unexpected expenses. Sticking to your budget can help ensure you enjoy the outcome of the project while avoiding financial stress. Your contractor can help you strike a balance between your vision and financial resources. You may also find it helpful to consult with a real estate professional who can ensure your plans are in line with the overall value of your home and neighborhood.
2. Prioritize Functionality
Design with practicality in mind. Ensure there’s enough counter space and storage to create an efficient workflow. Consider the kitchen work triangle; that is, be conscious of the travel pattern among the sink, stove and refrigerator.
Additionally, look for opportunities to incorporate functional storage in unexpected places. One example is the exposed end of a cabinet run or side of the refrigerator, where there is often wasted space. One example is a shallow cleaning utility cabinet from Wellborn Cabinet that fits a broom, dustpan and everyday cleaning supplies neatly, giving you practical access to frequently used supplies. A variation on this cabinet offers a spice rack designed for easy access to cooking essentials. Other options in the line include an over-fridge cabinet with a combination of shelves, sheet pan or cutting board storage and a trash can-cutting board combination.
3. Choose Quality Materials
Consider factors such as durability, maintenance requirements and compatibility with your design aesthetic when selecting materials for your kitchen. You may be tempted to cut corners and stretch your money further, but quality materials are a critical element of successful renovations. Prioritize high-quality materials that stand the test of time. Durable countertops, solid cabinetry and reliable appliances typically save money in the long run, and they’ll enhance the overall look and value of your kitchen.
4. Hire Professionals
Work with experienced contractors and designers. Their expertise can help you avoid common pitfalls and ensure your remodel meets all safety and building codes. What’s more, these professionals have likely encountered and overcome all kinds of challenges, which means they’ll be well-prepared to help you navigate unexpected obstacles and provide a wealth of knowledge from previous clients to help make recommendations for the perfect finished space.
5. Stay Flexible
Be prepared for unexpected challenges and delays. Stay adaptable and open to changes and remember patience is key to achieving the kitchen of your dreams. Materials go on backorder and paperwork gets misplaced all the time. Set a realistic timeline for your project that allows for some hiccups and try to avoid becoming too rigidly attached to any single element of the design, so if you have to make a modification, it doesn’t feel like a monumental sacrifice.
Look for more ideas and inspiration for your kitchen remodel at Wellborn.com.
Inspiring Ideas for Kitchen Islands
Adding an island to your kitchen offers many functional and aesthetic benefits, and there are styles to suit every type of kitchen.
Galley Kitchen Island: This type of island is more functional than design-forward, conveniently adding extra storage and counter space. This conventional configuration works well in most kitchen layouts, both large and small, and can be constructed to fit almost any kitchen.
Table-Style Kitchen Island: If you want a unique addition, an island table is the way to go, whether you opt for a custom-made piece or upcycle an antique. The beauty of a table-style island is that it serves a functional and decorative purpose, warming up a modern kitchen and adding personality.
Double Kitchen Island: Incorporating multiple islands – often called a double island kitchen – can improve traffic flow, increase storage space and seating, and create additional space for meal prep, cooking, washing and eating. Plus, islands are ideal for implementing design elements such as complementing materials and finishes, pops of color and unique cabinetry components including door styles and hardware.
Rolling Kitchen Island: This convenient solution adds flexibility with extra storage and counter space. You can easily tuck it away to open up more floor space when done, and this portable island can easily roam around the kitchen so you can place it where you need it.
Two-Tier Kitchen Island: While you can cook and eat on any island, the two-tier creates a clear boundary where you can cook on one side and eat on the other. This all-encompassing island is perfect for larger families and homeowners who like to entertain.
Chef’s Kitchen Island: If you want to showcase your cooking skills or have a private chef cooking for friends and family, a chef’s island is a unique solution. Installation requires the appropriate ventilation and electrical, which may be well worth it if you frequently cook for family or friends.
Round Kitchen Island: Compared to a typical rectangular island, a rounded option is an eye-catching way to add more seating in your kitchen for entertaining family and friends.
L-Shaped Kitchen Island: If you have a lot of space in your kitchen, an L-shaped island can fill the area. The design provides extra cooking space, allowing you to accommodate multiple chefs in the kitchen. You can also add seating for family and friends.
U-Shaped Kitchen Island: Best suited for large, open-concept kitchens, a U-shaped island creates storage space and room to install appliances such as a bar fridge, sink or range with prep space left to prepare meals.
SOURCE:
Wellborn Cabinet
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5 Ways to Make Moving Day Less Stressful
(Feature Impact) With the kids out of school, warmer weather and extended daylight, summer is an ideal time for families to relocate. In fact, more than 60% of moves in the United States occur between May and September, according to industry data compiled by moveBuddha. However, even with the most favorable conditions on your side, the process can quickly become overwhelming without a plan in place.
Whether you’re moving across town or across the country, a little preparation can make moving day easier, safer and less stressful. From packing and activating necessary services to securing your space and getting to know your family’s new surroundings, these tips from the experts at KeyMe Locksmiths can help you avoid common pitfalls and make the move as smooth as possible.
Pack Smart to Make Unpacking Less Daunting
Packing is typically one of the most time-consuming – and most dreaded – parts of any move, but creating an organization system from the get-go can save time and energy when it comes time to sort everything in your new home. Pack non-essential items such as decor, books, out-of-season clothing and seldom-used kitchenware and appliances first, even weeks in advance if lead time allows, and clearly label every box by its contents or the room it belongs in.
Be sure to keep toiletries, medications, oft-used electronics (and their chargers) and a few days’ worth of clothing accessible until moving day. Also keep important documents like birth certificates, passports, Social Security cards, medical records, insurance policies, moving contracts and receipts, and any other pertinent financial documents in a dedicated lockbox that stays with you rather than going on the moving truck.
Transfer or Set Up Utilities Ahead of Time
Arriving at your new home only to find the electricity, internet or water aren’t yet active can be a real setback. A couple weeks before moving day, schedule transfers or new service installations for necessary utilities, including electricity, water and sewer, gas, cable and internet, trash and recycling, home security and any other services your family needs, ensuring activation dates are a few days before the big move.
Tackle Home Security for Peace of Mind
An often-overlooked task when moving: changing the locks. Even if the previous owners or tenants returned their keys, it’s nearly impossible to know how many copies may still exist. Replacing or rekeying locks is an important first step to ensure you’re the only ones with access.
Beyond changing the locks, homeowners may also want to consider adding extra layers of protection such as video doorbells, exterior security cameras, motion-activated lighting, smart locks, window sensors or a monitored security system.
To connect with a professional locksmith for lock installation, rekeying and assistance with select home security upgrades, visit Key.Me to access KeyMe Locksmiths’ nationwide network of trusted local locksmiths. Once your new locks are installed, you can also conveniently create reliable spare keys at any of the more than 8,000 self-service KeyMe kiosks located in major retailers nationwide.
Prep Spaces Before Move-In Day
Before couches, chairs, beds, dressers and tables fill every room, take advantage of the empty space to give your new home a thorough cleaning. Focus on areas that may be harder to clean once the home is inhabited, such as floors, baseboards, cabinets and closets.
This is also an ideal time to paint, update flooring, swap out light fixtures or update existing cabinet hardware, allowing you to start with a clean space that matches your personal tastes.
Get to Know Your New Area
Settling into a new house involves more than just unpacking boxes and making it feel like home. Take some time to explore your new neighborhood and locate the nearest grocery stores, medical facilities, parks, restaurants, schools and more. Also introduce yourself to your neighbors and consider joining community groups to help build connections and learn more about the area.
With peak moving season underway, these tips can help you spend less time worrying about logistics and more time enjoying your new home.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock (family moving)
SOURCE: KeyMe Locksmiths
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FOX Corporation says it has reached a definitive agreement to acquire Roku in a cash-and-stock deal valued at $160 per share, putting Roku at roughly $22 billion in enterprise value. On paper, it’s a classic “content meets platform” move: FOX brings premium live programming (sports, news, entertainment) and Tubi, while Roku brings the connected TV operating system, The Roku Channel, and a direct relationship with more than 100 million streaming households.
For STM Daily News readers, the big question isn’t the stock math—it’s the practical one: what changes for people who already own a Roku device or use Roku’s service? Here’s what the companies are saying, what’s likely, and what to watch as the deal heads toward a targeted close in the first half of 2027.
The headline: FOX wants the “front door” to streaming
Roku isn’t just a streaming stick. It’s the home screen millions of people see every day—the place where apps are discovered, promoted, and monetized. FOX is betting that pairing its live content (especially sports and news) with Roku’s platform and ad tech creates a scaled media-and-technology business with stronger reach and advertising power.
FOX and Roku also emphasized that Roku will continue operating as an “open, partner-friendly platform,”and that FOX content will remain widely distributed. That’s an important promise—because Roku’s value depends on being a neutral platform that works with everyone.
What this could mean for Roku owners (the consumer view)
1) Your Roku device should keep working—no “sudden shutdown” expected
Nothing in the announcement suggests existing Roku players or Roku TVs will stop functioning. In most acquisitions like this, the priority is stability: keep devices running, keep accounts intact, keep app availability broad. Roku’s installed base is the asset.
What to watch for: changes to software update cadence, account terms, or how the home screen is organized.
2) Expect tighter FOX + Roku integration (and more promotion)
If FOX owns Roku, it can promote FOX properties more aggressively across the Roku interface—think:
- More prominent placement for Tubi and The Roku Channel
- Faster paths to live FOX events (sports, breaking news)
- Bundled sign-ups or simplified authentication
This could be convenient for viewers who already watch FOX content. It could also feel like “more FOX everywhere” if the home screen starts prioritizing FOX-owned services.
What to watch for: whether Roku’s home screen recommendations become noticeably more FOX-heavy.
3) Advertising could get smarter—and more intense
Both companies highlighted reach, engagement, and monetization. Roku’s first-party data and ad platform are a major part of the appeal. FOX’s live sports and news are premium ad environments. Put together, the combined company will likely push for:
- More advanced ad targeting and measurement across streaming
- More ad inventory tied to live events
- Stronger cross-promotion between linear TV and streaming
What to watch for: ad load (how many ads you see), frequency (how often you see the same ad), and new ad formats.
4) The Roku Channel and Tubi could become a bigger “free TV” hub
Roku already operates The Roku Channel, and FOX owns Tubi—two major free, ad-supported streaming services (FAST). A combined strategy could mean:
- More shared content pipelines
- Expanded live channels
- A clearer “free streaming” destination inside the Roku ecosystem
What to watch for: whether the services stay distinct or begin to merge features, libraries, or branding.
5) App availability is the make-or-break issue
Roku’s strength comes from being the platform where all the major services want to be. If partners believe the platform is no longer neutral, negotiations can get tense.
FOX and Roku say they intend to keep Roku open and partner-friendly. That’s a signal to streaming services, device makers, and advertisers: “we’re not closing the ecosystem.”
What to watch for: any public disputes over app placement, revenue share, data access, or carriage terms.
What the deal terms tell us (and why it matters)
FOX says it expects the deal to be accretive to free cash flow per share by the second full year after closing and targets about $400 million in run-rate cost synergies, with additional revenue upside. Translation: there will be pressure to streamline operations and increase monetization.
FOX also plans to fund the cash portion with new debt and cash on hand, with a pro forma net leverage expectation of about 2.8x (including partial credit for synergies). That kind of financing structure typically increases the importance of predictable cash generation—often from advertising and platform economics.
Timeline: nothing changes overnight
The transaction still needs shareholder approvals and U.S. and non-U.S. regulatory approvals, and the companies expect to close in the first half of 2027. That means the Roku experience you have today is likely to remain largely the same in the near term.
Bottom line: convenience vs. control
For consumers, this deal is a tug-of-war between two outcomes:
- Convenience: easier access to FOX content, stronger free streaming options, and a more integrated experience.
- Control: more aggressive promotion, more advertising optimization, and potential shifts in platform neutrality.
If you’re a Roku owner, the best move right now is simple: keep an eye on interface changes and terms-of-service updates as the deal progresses. The “what to watch for” items above will be the early signals of whether this becomes a viewer-friendly upgrade—or a more tightly monetized streaming front door.
What to watch for next
- Regulatory review updates and any conditions attached to approval
- How FOX positions Tubi vs. The Roku Channel
- Any changes to Roku’s partner relationships (major app negotiations)
- New product announcements tied to live sports/news streaming
Source (press release):
Fox Corporation via PRNewswire — “FOX CORPORATION TO ACQUIRE ROKU, INC.” (June 15, 2026)
Related external links (as referenced in the release):
- SEC filings portal: https://www.sec.gov
- FOX Investor Relations: https://investor.foxcorporation.com/
- Roku Investor Relations: https://www.roku.com/investor
- Fox Corporation (company site): https://www.foxcorporation.com/
STM Daily News will continue tracking what this acquisition means for cord-cutters, connected TV users, and the future of streaming discovery.
Consumer Corner
65% of US homeowners say owning a home costs more than expected. Staying put is getting harder, too.
(Tiffany Miller) For years, homeownership was pitched as the finish line. Save for the down payment, buy the house and build wealth over time. According to new research from Unlock, a company that helps homeowners access the equity in their home, 75% of U.S. homeowners say they have no plan to buy or sell a home this year. That sounds like stability. But as the research reveals, it is starting to feel more like stagnation.
Owning a home turns out to cost more than people thought it would, according to the survey of 2,003 homeowners in the United States, conducted in January 2026. The research found that 65% of U.S. homeowners say it is more expensive than what they expected before they bought. The math goes past the mortgage. Nationwide, property taxes climbed 41% between 2018 and 2025, according to the Lincoln Institute of Land Policy, with home insurance, maintenance and everyday costs piling on top.
Homeowners are cutting back in places that used to be off-limits. Twenty-two percent of respondents reported putting less into retirement to keep up with the cost of owning their home. Another 33% are putting off bigger purchases, like a car. These are not inconsequential cuts. They are cuts to the financial goals owning a home is supposed to make easier in the first place, like building a nest egg, growing an emergency fund or saving for the future.
The pressure shows up in the present, too. Nearly a third of homeowners have less than $1,000 in emergency fund savings. More than half say day-to-day expenses are causing significant stress in their lives.
It is not only about cutting back or feeling stressed about day-to-day expenses. The survey found 19% of U.S. homeowners say they would rather double their commute time to work than take on another monthly payment. For homeowners already paying a mortgage, insurance, taxes and maintenance, another bill ranks below an extra hour in traffic.
Costs are only half the story. Homeowners are also sitting on real wealth, though they cannot always say how much. The survey found almost half of U.S. homeowners are not sure how much equity they have built up in their home, including 28% who say they are not sure how to find out. The average mortgaged home in the U.S. holds about $299,000 in equity, according to Cotality, a data and analytics company.
Ask homeowners how they feel about having equity in their homes and the answers do not quite line up. Sixty percent say the option to leverage home equity provides an extra level of financial security. Yet 48% say they view home equity as long-term wealth and retirement security, and would only leverage it as a last resort. They want the option there. They just do not want to use it.
The result is a kind of holding pattern. Homeowners are paying more, staying put in homes they cannot easily afford to leave and sitting on wealth they would rather not disturb. The usual options come with a catch. Selling means moving. Refinancing means giving up a low locked-in mortgage rate. According to Realtor.com, 51.5% of outstanding U.S. mortgages still carry rates at or below 4%. Taking out a home equity line of credit or home equity loan adds another monthly payment. Each option asks for something homeowners are trying to avoid. The open question is whether the standard options are still the only options. What used to look like a financial finish line is starting to look more like a treadmill.
Methodology
Unlock commissioned Atomik Research to conduct an online survey of 2,003 homeowners in the United States. The margin of error is plus or minus 2 percentage points at a 95 percent confidence level. Fieldwork was conducted from Jan. 24-30, 2026. Atomik Research, part of 4media group, is a creative market research agency.
Photo courtesy of Shutterstock
SOURCE:
Unlock
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