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By Candace Huber
1. Tick tock…tick tock…. Time. An interior design professional can streamline your search for flooring, window treatments furniture and accessories based on your style and budget- saving you time and money. Not only do we keep on top of the latest offerings, but we know where to purchase them. In addition, we can also often streamline the decorating process since we’re familiar with what has worked on similar projects.
2. Know the Language. The various contractors who may be working on your project often have a lingo all their own. Besides knowing how to speak their language, we know what they need to get the job done right. We cultivate relationships with them over time and work closely with them to assure your project is done to the highest standards and to your satisfaction.
3. Shop ‘til you drop. Besides knowing the best places to purchase the goods and services for your project, there are also many vendors that are “to the trade only,” which means that only design industry professionals have access to them. Their products are generally of high quality, and many are in the latest styles and colors (as well as enduring classics).
4. Have a plan. Design industry professionals are skilled at creating an overall design plan for your space. We will not only look at the specific “problem” areas, but we are trained to see your home as a whole to establish continuity from space to space. Together we will develop an overall plan that incorporates space planning, lighting, safety issues and more. We will help you create a space that works for you as well as reflects your personal style and lifestyle.
5. Clutter control. Are you sick of the clutter but just can’t seem to part with any of it? We know that you are attached to your things. We are attached to ours as well, but we also know that not every one of them has to be on display at all times. We will help you CAREFULLY edit some of your belongings to provide you with a more calming, organized space. (you can always bring them back later, after we leave!).
6. The baby and the bath water. Have you walked by that beautiful painting you bought years ago a thousand times, but didn’t notice it? Sometimes when we have things for a long time, we begin to take them for granted. So, if you are itching for a new look, there is often no need to start from scratch! Sometimes all you need is a fresh perspective. That’s where we come in. Often, a design industry professional can incorporate many of your current furnishings into the new design plan, and you will be amazed at how beautiful they look in their new surroundings.
7. Color phobia. Do you see beautiful color everywhere- on clothes, in commercials on television, in lamps and furnishings, but just can’t quite make the leap to putting color in your own space? Design industry professionals have a cure for that. We are used to working with color, and we know what color combinations work well in a particular space, not just how they look on the paint chip. We will help gently nudge you toward just the right amount of color that works for you, whether it’s a tiny amount in a throw pillow, or an entire room.
8. Show me the money. Not only do industry professionals often receive discounts on goods and services, they have “been around the block a few times” and can help you avoid costly mistakes. Sometimes there may even be a more cost-effective way of achieving your design goals, and that’s our job to find it.
9. To trend or not to trend. Every time you turn on the television or open a magazine, there is another new fabric, paint effect or product catching your eye. Does that mean you should rush out and paint your room orange, or buy the latest kitchen or bathroom gizmo? Maybe. Maybe not. The point is, part of a design industry professional’s job is to wade through these trends and help you decide which are best for you, if any.
10. Customize. In real estate, the saying is – “location, location, location.” In design, our mantra is “customize, customize, customize.” If you truly want your home to reflect your unique personality and lifestyle, what better way than to have something custom-made for you? And that’s where the design industry professional comes in. From a gorgeous faux-paint treatment in your formal dining room to coordinating fabric on your dining chairs, we can help you customize your space to get a look that is truly you.
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Candace Huber was trained at the Sheffield School of Interior Design and is a graduate of the DeGange school of Interior Decoration. She is also a certified Dewey Color Consultant, and a proud member of The Decorator’s Alliance of North America (DANA).
Candace specializes in Certified Dewey Color Consultations, Real Estate Staging and general interior design. She serves the greater Bryan/College Station, Texas and surrounding areas.
Contact Candace at 979-690-8237 or visit her website at www.casabella.us.
By Norma J. Smith
In this slow Real Estate market hiring a professional Stager is an investment that will easily pay for its self. But if you would like to have a go at it on your own, here are some ideas to get you started.
Start with the outside. That is what potential buyers will see first. You want to make sure that they want to come in. Think "Curb Appeal".
Now is not the time to invest a lot of money into the house unless you really have to. Don't paint unless the paint is really faded or pealing or if the paint is an outdated or funky color. Most of the time all you really need to do is touch up the trim and paint the front door. The same goes for the lawn. You don't want to spend money having it landscaped, just make sure the lawn and hedges are neatly trimmed. Plant some flowers and use hanging baskets to add more color and freshen up the look. Make sure the yard is free of clutter and that the windows are spotlessly clean. Hanging a nice wreath on the door will create a homey, welcoming feel.
Inside you need to remove all clutter and have the house professionally cleaned. If your carpet has stains or worn spots cover them up with area rugs. You don't want to replace the carpet unless you absolutely have to. If you do need to buy new carpeting, go with a neutral color in a medium price range.
Remove dark or outdated draperies and replace with top treatments that allow as much light as possible into the room. Replace all of your light bulbs with bright clear bulbs and leave them on. People like bright homes. If your furniture takes up every available space in the room, put some of it in storage. Empty space will make the home appear larger.
Pack up any collections that you have, be it Salt and Pepper shakers or Swords. Put them in storage. It's ok to have a couple of nicely framed photos of your children or some vintage photos of you ancestors, but if you have an entire wall covered with pictures of every relative, take it down, and fill in the holes.
Every room should have a clear purpose. If it is suppose to be a dining room it should not look like a home office. If the room is suppose to be a bedroom it should not look like a gym.
You want create little "Display areas" through out the house, much like they do in furniture show rooms; particularly in the main rooms and the entry way. You want to try to really wow them. You can pick up some interesting accessories at your local home store. Another great way to dress up an area and add color and texture is fabric. Having some decorative pillows, cushions and table covers made in coordinating fabric will really pull the look together. And nothing makes a house look cozier than fabric.
Use scented candles or potpourri to add fragrance instead of aerosol spays that smell like you are trying to cover something up. Having fresh flowers during the showings is also a nice touch.
Following these simple and inexpensive steps will greatly help to sell your home quicker. If you need more help contact your local Staging Professional.
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Norma J. Smith is an Interior Decorator in the Boston area. She specializes in Custom Window Treatments and Soft Furnishings. She can be reached at 781 665-1306 or via email at norma@njinteriors.net. Her website is www.njinteriors.net.
by Gina Williamson of Selling Designs, LLC
It's the day of your BIG presentation- the career "maker or breaker". So, you get up late, yank a comb through your hair, throw on a mis-matched, worn-out outfit from your closet, and slap on some lipstick. As you run out the door, you grab your notes and tuck them into pockets.
RIGHT??
WRONG!!!
Yet this is how many homeowners treat the "big presentation" of what is most likely their largest investment- their home's Open House. Unknown numbers of potential buyers will be traipsing through their home, judging it's condition, it's appeal, it's FURNITURE ARRANGEMENT, it's WALL COLORS... Yes! Price and Presentation sell houses.
Like your BIG presentation, a home should be "dressed to kill" and prepared for the audience.
This is why home staging is such a worthwhile investment- yes, investment! Unlike the homeowner who has a difficult time seeing past what has "always been", a home stager brings fresh eyes and a buyer's perspective. A home stager is not attached to that worn-out recliner, or those outdated curtains- the "outfit" that could potentially cause the "presentation" to be a big flop!
If you are selling your home, or planning to in the future- a home stager is the right choice to help you make that great first impression.
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With an eye for design and a mind for selling, Gina Williamson of Selling Designs just might be the person you need to be talking to if you are trying to sell your home. An interior decorator trained by the internationally-renowned Staging Diva™, Debra Gould, Williamson adds “professional home stager” to her repertoire, someone who will come into your home, evaluate it, and leave you with a detailed list of what can and should be done to make your home more “marketable”. Launched in November last year, Williamson’s company Selling Designs, LLC, offers home staging consultations, full home staging services, as well as color consultations and interior redesign services. She is a graduate of the Sheffield School of Interior Design. A transplant from Virginia, she now resides on the west side of Cincinnati. You can contact Gina at 513-226-2754, or visit her website at www.sellingdesigns.com.
Finding the formula for a balanced space
By Nan Harris
When you enter your living room, is there a feeling of heaviness that you cannot explain? Something seems unbalanced but you can’t quite put your finger on the reason why. Perhaps your space is heavy-bottomed. A heavy-bottomed room can feel unfinished and aesthetically unpleasant. It is likely that you have a “weight problem” because all the visually heavy items in the space are filling only the lowest portion of the room. After all, the largest pieces in any room are furnishings like the sofa, tables, chairs and rugs located in the areas closest to the floor, while the mid and upper parts of the room naturally have lighter weight items such as lamps, artwork and window areas. As we look up to the ceiling area, there may be a lonely light fixture or possibly just a bare white ceiling.
To achieve a comfortable balance in the typical eight or nine foot ceiling room, think 1/3, 1/3, 1/3! You want to picture the space in thirds and distribute the weight of the room so that it appears visually equal. The bottom third will naturally have the weightiest pieces because furniture and rugs, by their nature, contain heaviness of physical presence and/or texture and color. Moving up to the middle third of the space, you will want to create a balance with the lower third by choosing one or two tall furniture pieces, artwork groupings, lamps and shelving that lend substance to the mid section of the space. The use of window treatments and crown moulding can top off the space and balance the weight of the room.
Wall treatments are also part of the equation. The use of vertical wall stripes, even a subtle tone-on-tone wash of color, is one idea that can help draw the eye upward and give a lift to the space. Texture or color on a very high ceiling helps to bring the room visually into proportion.
Room balance includes the choice and use of color. To balance the color in the room, spread it throughout the space. As an example, a deep brown sofa can be balanced with a dark, chunky drapery rod placed high above the window trim, containing fabrics that pick up the chocolate hues of the sofa. If red is your color, splash it throughout the space in pillows, lamp shades, artwork and décor items.
Balance is the key to a pleasing, comfortable and cohesive space!
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Nan Harris, Design Consultant and Décor Stylist, is the owner of Decorative Expressions, LLC in Geneva, IL, specializing in affordable home décor solutions for everyday living.
Phone: 630-715-3771
e-mail: decor2please@yahoo.com
http://www.decorativeexpressions.net/
By Norma J. Smith
Outdoor rooms are a great way to increase your living space without the expense of an addition. No need to worry if you don't have a porch or a deck. You can use existing structures to create your walls, like the side of the house or garage, a fence or a row of hedges. You can also create walls using outdoor draperies and /or trellises. Floors can be anything from grass to patio bricks. Try using one of the beautiful outdoor rugs that are available to really define the space.
There are so many great outdoor fabrics available that are made to resist stain, mold and mildew. You can use fabric in all aspects of your outdoor decorating. Recover the cushions on your existing patio furniture for a fresh new look or bring out some old chairs that you are no longer using in the house. Throw on a coat of paint and some new cushions and your good to go. Be sure to add some throw pillows in coordinating fabrics.
Outdoor dining does not have to be plastic tablecloths and paper plates! Buy some fun, inexpensive dinnerware and use them with cloth tablecloths and napkins for a really sophistcated look. For a centerpiece, use a grouping of different size candles for both light and ambiance.
Outdoor lighting can be electric, candles or solar. There are some great fixtures available from chandeliers to lanterns that hang from tree branches. Of course all outdoor rooms need a fireplace or firepit! If you really want to extend the season of your room there are even outdoor heaters available.
Put some thought into the greenery of your outdoor room. Plants can be used to outline and define areas as well as to add privacy. Choose plants that give off a nice sweet fragrance. If you will be using your room primarily at night, consider a Moon Garden.
Think about the flow and function of the room just as you would an indoor room. Create little conversation areas, dining areas, quite areas; maybe a hammock tucked over in a corner. But make sure there is plenty of room for traffic.
What ever you decide to do, get going because summer is short! Enjoy!
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Norma J. Smith is an Interior Decorator in the Boston area. She specializes in Custom Window Treatments and Soft Furnishings. She can be reached at 781 665-1306 or via email at norma@njinteriors.net. Her website is www.njinteriors.net.
By Nanette Catarinella
Want a New Year’s resolution that is easily achievable, guaranteed to have a positive impact on your daily life and doesn’t involve counting calories? Resolve to clear your clutter!
Look around your home. Is it filled with papers, magazines, old clothing, toys, knick-knacks, dishes and junk? Are your closets jam-packed and over flowing? Is the garage too full of stuff to park the car and the basement a cavernous hole where things just disappear? Are you over-whelmed by the clutter that’s taking over your space?
You are not alone. Out of control clutter has become an epidemic in this country and may be cause for serious concern. Psychologists, professional organizers, Feng Shui practitioners, re-designers and home staging professionals know that too much clutter can cause emotional and physical distress.
No need to feel overwhelmed at the thought of organizing the entire home. Start small and achieve big results. Commit to beginning with one closet. How about the one you visit each morning when you get dressed - the one with the too-small jeans that you haven’t worn since college.
Begin by taking out each piece of clothing and asking yourself these four questions: Does it fit?
Is it in style? Do I look/feel good in it? Have I worn it in the past year? If you answered “no” to any of those questions, it’s time to toss it out. This goes for shoes and handbags, too. Remember the 80/20 rule. We wear twenty percent of our clothes eighty percent of the time. Donate your discarded items to charity and get the additional feel-good benefit of sharing your possessions with those who are less fortunate.
When the purging is complete, put everything back in the closet and sort by color and item. Put all jackets together, all pants, skirts, tops and blouses. Buy new hangers and make sure everything is hung in the same direction. Purchase shoe racks and shelf dividers to neatly stack shoes, sweaters and tee shirts. Now, step back and admire your hard work.
Wow, what a difference! Just think of the time you will save by knowing where everything is. Think of the ease of getting dressed knowing that everything fits. Think of how good you will feel whenever you open the closet door. By getting rid of the old clothes that no longer fit or the shoes that pinched your feet, you will dramatically improve your mood and your energy.
Clearing out a closet may sound like a trivial chore, but if you think of it as letting go of your past to open yourself up to the possibilities of the future, it can make a tremendous difference in how you start your day. And, I’ll bet you will feel at least 10 pounds lighter!
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Nanette Catarinella, owner of Room Styles Interiors, is a home staging professional, interior re-designer, decorator, author and trainer. For more information, call 412-351-2525 or visit the web site at: http://www.roomstylesinteriors.com/
By Nanette Catarinella
The holidays are over and the decorations have been packed away for another year. Suddenly, your home feels as gloomy as the gray January days ahead. The holiday lights may be gone, but that doesn’t mean you have to live in the dark.
Proper lighting is a vital component of a well designed room. Lack of adequate lighting is a common decorating dilemma in almost every home that I redesign or stage. It’s also the easiest problem to correct. Clients are often surprised to learn that most rooms should have a minimum of three sources of light and can often accommodate five, seven or more fixtures.
The key to a well lit room is to use a variety of light sources. A careful mixture of general lighting such as ceiling mounted fixtures, task lighting such as table and floor lamps and accent lighting such as spotlights and wall sconces can be combined to enhance the overall illumination of any space.
Here are a few lighting tips to help brighten your home and your mood:
Create a Triangle – Regardless of overhead lighting, use a minimum of three lamps, ideally placed in a triangular formation throughout the room. Install dimmer switches to lamps and fixtures to easily adjust lighting levels to a desired intensity. Use metal can up-lights in dark corners, behind large plants and on top of armoires for added drama.
Consider The Bulb – Different bulbs create different effects. Incandescent bulbs cast a golden tone while fluorescent bulbs create more bluish tones. Halogen bulbs produce a bright white tone, but can get very hot. For the most natural lighting and truest colors, choose the new “natural” or “daylight” bulbs. Always check for recommended wattage for all fixtures.
Adjust the Height – Ideally, a reading lamp should be situated beside a chair so the light can pour over the shoulder. The bottom of the lampshade should be at seated eye level for maximum light and minimum glare. If the lamp is too small, place it on a few hard bound books to raise it.
The Right Size – Keep the scale of the table in mind when selecting a chandelier. Choose a fixture that is approximately ½ the width of the table plus 5 inches and hang it 30” from the top of the table. Add decorative shades to bare candle bulbs to soften the light.
Remember, correct lighting – and abundant lighting – are important to the overall design and mood of every room. Don’t let the post-holiday blahs get you down. Bring more light into your home this winter.
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Nanette Catarinella, owner of Room Styles Interiors, is a certified staging professional, interior decorator, re-designer and career trainer. For more information, call 412-351-2525 or visit the web site at: www.RoomStylesInteriors.com
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