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Home Staging Tips
I wanted to pass on these hints. I try to be creative and did come up with a couple of hints to facilitate moving. I still have not found a solution for the unpacking. I have moved many times and while I think I am pretty good at it I have made a couple of discoveries this time that may be common knowledge but I considered them revolutionary. Feel free to share with your clients who are actively involved in their own...read more
You never get a second chance to make a FIRST IMPRESSION. We have all heard that one before. It is very true when it comes to selling your home. So, put yourself in the buyer’s shoes. As you approach your home, note the sidewalk or pathway entrance. Is it neat and tidy, no weeds, no papers, etc.? Now are the steps solid and is the paint fresh? Is the porch tidy and freshly painted or cleaned? How about the mailbox, is...read more
If you are looking to do one thing to spruce up your home then painting is the answer. Whether you have recently bought a new house and are looking to freshen it up, without doing any renovations, or seek to make changes to your existing space, paint will do the trick. Unless you have painted your home within the past three years chances are your colour scheme is a little drab and lacking interest. Most people have been slow...read more
Every Room Needs a Focal Point
Do you ever walk into a room and wonder what's not working? The furniture may be lovely, the draperies stunning and the colours all flowing but something just doesn't seem right. It could be a lack of focus. Every room needs a focal point, one area of interest that the eye is drawn to. The look of the room should evolve from this point, allowing the eye to look, with ease, from one thing to the next without feeling overwhelmed....read more
The trend for simplicity looks to be here to stay but during the bustle of a holiday season, fueled by anything but minimalism, it seems that this trend is set aside for the month of December. As I prepare my home for entertaining and relaxing and enjoying the festive season I am looking to nature as inspiration for my décor. After 24 years of marriage we have hordes of carefully packed decorations in our basement and this...read more
Colour and pattern can go a long way to dressing up interior spaces but they can also ruin a look quickly. The key to decorating with pizzazz is to choose colours and fabrics that blend and compliment each other, not an easy feat. Follow a few rules and you are sure to get it right. - Start with a basic colour scheme and work from there, often a neutral tone is predominate and colour is added to bring some interest into a...read more
As we begin a New Year, there is always talk of change but when it comes to home décor winter is a dull time. There is talk of trends and incorporating them but most people are still struggling to recover after a holiday season of over spending. The thought of pouring money into home improvements is off-putting. The cold air doesn’t inspire thoughts of taking down walls and living amidst renovation dust. This time of year,...read more
It is the time of year when I find myself staying inside my home more and reconnecting with my space. I always have a critical eye as I look around my house at this time, which is a good thing. Critique your home right now and recognize that there might be a need to make some changes. As you prepare to make a few modifications keep in mind some of the rules that designers often adopt when decorating a home: 1. Three is the...read more
It seems like summer just started and here we are gearing up for ''back to school''! I am never happy when the time comes to start thinking about schedules and early rising. The pressure of homework and assignments seems overwhelming at this time of year when everyone is just getting into the swing of no routine. I have learned over the years that being organized eases the pain of getting back on schedule. Preparing the house...read more
With the weather warming up and promises of a hot summer on the way I say ‘get out of the kitchen!’ Nothing beats cooking on the grill and dining Al fresco style in the backyard. I always have a few favorite recipes that I can whip up on a whim as long as I keep some staples in the fridge and know what to shop for in a hurry. Chips and salsa are a summer staple. I also try to keep avocados and lemons on hand to whip up...read more
A Great Project for March Break
March Break can never come soon enough for me. I think I am more eager for the break from routine than my children are! Of course the novelty of a break wears off quickly and the initial excitement of having nothing to do quickly turns into the realty of boredom for kids who are used to routine and scheduled activities. Beat the boredom and choose this time to overhaul kids' rooms and play areas. Getting children involved...read more
Preparing the House for the Holiday
Preparing the house for guests during the holiday season was a tradition I grew up with as my grandparents and other relatives lived out of town. The anticipation of their arrival stays with me as part of my own holiday decorating rituals. Making a house welcoming for guests need not be daunting but with special added touches guests will feel at home. - Add sprigs of green to the bathroom and powder room. Hand towels in holiday...read more
As we make our way into a new year there is a yearning to start fresh, not only do we want to whip our bodies into shape but our homes as well! 2006 offers some exciting new trends in home decorating and my favorite is the movement towards luxury. I have always been a firm believer in treating your home as a sanctuary and making it feel warm, inviting and luxurious and now trend forecasters are with me on this and filling...read more
When February hits I start seeing red and feeling romantic, well not really but love surely is in the air during the month that commemorates St. Valentine. In our home we love to celebrate just about anything and by the time February comes along we have recovered from too much merriment in December and too little in January. This fun holiday, that hits smack in the middle of the shortest month, is one of my favorites. Valentine’s...read more
In Ottawa we seem to jump straight from winter to summer. Spring pops in and out but is hardly a significant season in comparison to the harsh winter that comes before it. Houses take a beating from the cold weather. The salt and dampness that result from frigid temperatures and snow chip away at paint on doors, shutters, windows and decks. Patio furniture, left outside during the winter, looks old and worn out from the abuse....read more
