Boost Your Curb Appeal

In my previous blog, I discussed how to freshen up the interior of your home.  This month I would like to focus on the outside of your home.  Whether you are looking to put your house on the market, or just want to give it a beautiful spring / summer refresh, I'll give you some great and helpful tips to give your house 'curb appeal'.  After all, it is that time of year when we all get outside, for beautiful warm spring air, and a nice walk in the neighborhood. 

1. Keep your gardens and lawn neat and tidy. Weed and trim on a regular basis. Remember to keep your lawn watered, and it's best to water at night or early morning, when it is cool and absorbs at its best.

2. Add Colour with flowers. You can plant perennials (add a few every year and watch them return bigger and better than ever, year after year).  You can plant annuals, and or you can plant pots. Which ever suits your gardening needs and green thumb, you will love the pop of colour any flowers give to your home.

3.  Consider replacing old porch or garage sconce lighting.  Add lights (electric or solar) to your walkway, for an inviting look, as well as safety. 

4.  Replace or repair house numbers or the mailbox.  This small change can add great charm to any home.

5.  A fresh coat of paint to exterior doors, garage doors, or window trim.  Chipped old paint, leaves a look of neglect. 

6. Clean gutters and ensure downspouts are directed accordingly. I've seen trees growing out of gutters, and that's not the focal point you want to people to see,

7. Resurface driveway if you see cracks or excess wear and tear.

Tips for a Spring Refresher

Simple Tips to Freshen Your Home…

For a Spring Boost

To Redecorate

To Prepare Your Home for Sale

Fresh Flowers –  My favourite year round boost for my home.  They look lovely and the sweet scent can fill a room with the freshness of ‘spring’ anytime.  

New Cushions –  An inexpensive way to update and freshen the look on any chair, sofa or bed.  Select a colour in your furnishings or add an accent colour and the textures today are outstanding, so mix it up for fun.

Fresh Coat of Paint – The possibilities are endless and the colour wheel is your oyster. But keep neutrals in main living areas and in all rooms if you are thinking of selling.

New Towels – Who can’t resist a fresh fluffy towel.  We don’t realize that we need new towels, until we actually look at new ones.  Bright whites are crisp, and colours will make a fabulous statement.

Plush Area Rugs –  They may be rather beaten looking, after a winter of wet salty shoes and boots being left to dry.  So picking up a new area rug for the front door or your family room, can transform the look of the room. Selecting lighter colours for the spring are a nice way to let the sun shine in. 

Vases and Glassware – Another passion of mine.  You can go for all clear glass in different textures, shapes and sizes or go for a colour theme.  You can fill with flowers or food, or just have them sparkle on their own.

For any and all of the above decorating changes you are about to undertake I would recommend you recycle your gently used items. Pass them on to someone you know would enjoy them or donate them to charity.   All is gratefully accept and appreciated. I believe in paying it forward.

For more great information on Interior Decorating and Home Staging, please contact me. I will be happy to help you with all of your decorating needs or if you plan on downsizing or moving, I can help you prepare for that big job as well.  I hope these tips are of a help to you and I look forward to hearing from you. 

Rhymes with Orange

2012 is a brand new year in decorating, and that brings us a brand new colour for decorating enthusiasts.  The 2012 colour of the year is Pantone 17-1463 Tangerine Tango.  To keep in simple, I am going to refer to this colour as 'orange'.  

From www.pantone.com

Energize interior spaces with Tangerine Tango patterned home accessories. Pillows, bedspreads and tabletop accessories in this high-impact hue add spice to any room. Or incorporate Tangerine Tango appliances and personal electronics for an unexpected pop of color. Looking for an inexpensive way to perk up your home? Paint a wall in Tangerine Tango for a dynamic burst of energy in the kitchen, entryway or hallway.

 This colour choice is quite bold for most people, and their first thought is ‘I’m certainly not going to paint my house orange’.  Well, rest assured you don’t have to.  But I will give you some tips and show you suggestions on how you can incorporate this beautiful colour, or various shades of tangerine/orange, in your current home décor.

First of all, as you may know grey is  the new neutral.  And grey and orange are complementary to each other. Brown or beige work lovely with orange as well.  Of course white is stunning with orange.  This adds a real freshness and boldness in a look.  But you may also used varying degrees of orange, to subtle peach, (if you're not up to the boldness of a deep tangerine colour).  Don't be afraid to try it in your home.  There are countless ways you can incorporate this bold new colour.  

You can update your spring look with cushions or table runners or placements, that are solid or even a pattern with a hint of orange.  You can add orange towels to your powder room or bathroom.  And you can even got as simple and ultimately fresh as bringing fresh flowers into your home.  Gerber daisies come in various shades of orange, and tulips, which will be out very soon.  So don't be afraid to bring a fresh new look to your home.  You don't have to go overboard, but just add a pop of colour here or there and you'll love the clean look and invigorating element to your home.   Have fun with it!

Pictures from The Toronto Interior Design Show 2012

This Season's Accessory...Kindness

I consider myself a very generous, kind person, and just the other day I was treated with unexpected kindness that warmed my heart (on this cold rainy day).  At this busy and hectic time of year I want to express the importance of kindness toward others…and how I see this as an important accessory.

Last week, I was parking in a lot where you are required to prepay your parking and leave the ticket face up in your vehicle.  I did so, and prepaid for and hour and a half.  As luck would have it, I was out of my appointment in 15 minutes. I didn’t want my money to go to waste, and I wanted to do something nice for someone, so the next car that pulled into the parking lot was a young woman with a baby in her carseat.  I walked up to her and handed her my prepaid parking ticket.  She was taken by surprise by this random act of kindness.  I saved her the cost of the ticket, the work of having to take her child out of the carseat to walk to purchase the ticket and to again return to put the ticket in her car. She was very happy to accept this kind gesture, and I was thrilled to ‘make someone’s day’. 

What goes around, comes around.

The other day I was at the One Of A Kind Craft show, where I parked my car, and I too walked to the booth to prepay my ticket when a young couple came up behind me and offered me their prepaid ticket  (as they were leaving the event) that still had several hours left on it.  My heart skipped a beat! I was overwhelmed by their random act of kindness and I had told them of MY story of doing the same for someone just a few days prior. 

Some people may think of this as ripping the system off, but I tend to disagree.  It’s not about ripping off the system, it’s about making the most of our dollar; it’s about being thoughtful; it’s about going out of your way to do a kind gesture; it’s about being compassionate; it’s about paying it forward.

People in general are not unkind, but not a lot of people go out of their way TO be kind to others, which is my point in this topic.  It’s about making the effort, going that extra mile, committing any random act of kindness.

The surprise of this gesture toward me is so overwhelming, because I am usually the giver.  (paying for the person behind me at Tim Horton’s drive thru, no matter the cost; donating gently used clothing and household items to various charities; supporting United Way, Salvation Army, local Scout and sports groups, through various ongoing fundraisers; donating to the local food banks; ALWAYS being there for a friend or family member in need, in any capacity; petting pets as I walk by; letting drivers yield in on the roads; smiling and always using my manners!  As I said I’m usually the giver so it was a beautiful surprise to be given to!)

I think it’s important this time of year, as we get busier, to think about others. Treat them the way YOU want to be treated.  It really does make a difference, and you can’t help feeling good about what you do.  Again, I reiterate, what goes around, comes around!!! It’ll definitely come back to you, some day, some how and that is what human nature is really about.

Enjoy this busy season. Give someone that parking space. Hold their place in line while they look at a last minute item nearby. Let them ahead of you in the checkout, if they only have one or two items. Smile at someone. Donate to a cause, or buy someone a coffee.  You’ll see why this truly IS the accessory of the season.

Fall Is Upon Us, Bring in the Warmth

Fall is definitely here, with all the leaves changing colour and falling. As messy as it is, autumn is really a beautiful season. The days and nights get much cooler, and for some, this is a great relief from the summer heat. (I’m a summer girl so I’m just fine with the heat, hence my enthusiasm to light a fire every night during the cooler months.) 

In keeping with the cooler weather we need to look at how we dress ourselves and also how we dress our homes.  In fashion we begin to layer our clothes, we bring out the sweaters and heavier fabric items.  Items that keep us warmer as the temperatures dip down.  In addition the colours deepen in our wardrobe as well. The colours become darker, which psychologically add warmth.

As interior design generally follows fashion, we must do the same for our home.

Now is the time to put away the light and airy bedding, cushions, towels and in some cases window treatments.    It’s time to layer the soft furnishings in our home. Time to bring out the throws, blankets (that you may wish to cuddle with on the sofa) and the cozy cushions.  I have a few of the lambs wool /microfiber throws (from Costco) and they are lovely to curl up with on cold evenings.  They are a great addition to a family room or a bedroom.

It is also the time to deepen the colours of your home.  Bring out the warmer tones, the browns, deeper beiges, black and darker hues of blue, green, even orange is a big colour this season.  Whatever colour of your space or main pieces, darken and warm up the space with new deeper / darker fabrics. There are beautiful tablecloths or table runners (which are my favourite) in all shades and styles.

Texture is equally as important as colour and tone.  You can add soft silky fabrics along with plush velvety or natural cotton or wool to your home.  A mixture of texture and pattern in the same tones works beautifully to create ambience, beauty and warmth.

In addition to soft furnishings, now is the time to accessorize in warmer fashion as well.  There are a lot of deeper toned accessories, like vases, candles, and just ornamental pieces.  Even picture frames or actual pictures/artwork can be updated seasonally. 

So as we begin to settle indoors more this season, we want to make our homes as cozy and warm as we can, to nurture that comfort of home.  Take a look around you. There are warmer tones and colours in nature and in stores with items for any space in your home. 

Keep warm and Happy Autumn.