If you’re thinking of using a bright tone like yellow or orange but the idea of your entire room being that bright frightens you, there’s a simple solution. If you paint the walls white and put your color of choice on doors, moldings and baseboards. You really can have your cake and eat it too!

Want more? Sorry, you’re going to have to wait for it. Don’t worry, I’ll have it for you soon!

–

Hey, I said I’d have it soon, didn’t I? Here it is!

If you truly want to create a space you can love, start with something you love! Look at the predominate color in whatever you pick. That’s the color you should paint the walls. Accents should be colored after the remaining colors on the object of your affection.

The only limitation on what you can pick from is this; please, pick something you love, not someone you love. Trust me, it won’t turn out as well as you think it will.

That’s not all, read on to find out how to get any color you want, even if it’s not in the catalog!

If you have a favorite place, be it somewhere you vacation, a store you love to shop at, even a restaurant you dine at frequently, you can pick your favorite colors from that place and incorporate them into your home. It will help to remind you of that favorite place, in turn helping you relax and making you feel more comfortable.

If you would like more color tips, please, read on!

If you’re going to be bringing several sources of color into a room, maybe you should consider painting the walls one of the many hundreds of clean shades of white.

Furniture, bedding, accent pillows, photographs, paintings, sculptures, even a window with a view can bring all the color a room needs.

If you’d like more color tips, please, be my guest!

You want to make a statement to people coming into your home. One way, perhaps the best way, to do this is by painting your entryway a bright color. Strong colors, which would be suitable for such an area, should be kept out of a kitchen, however. There, you should use white or a very pale pastel. Dark or extremely bright colors aren’t relaxing enough for use in a bedroom. You’re better off with a neutral or softer color where you sleep. Pretty much anything goes in the bathroom; it’s such a small space that you can get away with almost anything. Except dark colors, that is. They make small spaces look even smaller.

Interested in thinking bigger? Read on!

If you’re thinking of a bright color but are hesitant to paint an entire room with it, consider painting one wall and keeping the others white or neutral. Not only does this ground the room, it becomes the focal point in what may otherwise be a boring room!

As always, stay tuned for more! This is only the second of ten color choosing tips I have to offer!

Want more? Don’t fret, I’ve got you covered!

One of the most important things to consider is how the color on a room works with the colors in neighboring rooms. One simple technique is to start with hallways and other common areas of the house, selecting a neutral shade, such as one of the many Freshaire Choice paint colors. Bedrooms, bathrooms, the kitchen and other rooms connecting to those common areas can be filled with similar shades of colors you like.

If you’re eager for another color tip, I’ve got more for you right here!

If that’s not enough to turn you off, consider the fact that you have to cut large holes in your ceiling and hope you have enough open area to safely install those recessed cans for your new lighting.

Don’t worry, you can still enjoy light from above. Pendant lighting, lights that hang a short distance from the ceiling, can provide all the light of a recessed lamp, with less installation hassle and a lot more style.

If you already have some idea what style you are looking for, you can find some pendant lighting available to order online.

• Move furniture closer to the wall.
  • Furniture that isn’t against, or near, a wall can block walkways and interfere with your view of a space, making it feel smaller.
• Light it up!
  • Brighter rooms look bigger! Let in as much natural light as possible; light is the only thing you can fill a room with that doesn’t take up space.
  • If that doesn’t work, replace any light bulbs in the room with a good quality, high output compact florescent bulbs. This will not only make the room brighter, it will lower your lighting bill!
  • If there is only one source of light in a room, consider adding a lamp.
• Keep it clean!
  • If you don’t need it in the room, get it out of the room! If it must be there, keep it neatly tucked out of the way. The more open space in the room, the bigger the room will feel.
• Use a simple color scheme.
  • Use colors from the same color family.
  • Cool and light warm colors on most surfaces will make the room feel more open, dark colors will make it feel more cramped.
  • If you have to paint any walls, we recommend Freshaire Choice paint for its environmentally friendly properties and premium durability.
• Soften up!
  • Again, dark colors make a space feel cozy and intimate; in a small room, this translates to cramped.
  • Lighter, cooler colors can make the same room feel more open and airy.
  • Soft blue and green tones give the best effect.
• Check your coordination!
  • Your furniture will appear to take up less space if it blends in with the rest of your decor.
  • Contrasting colors break up a room, making it look and feel smaller.

Take these ides and run with them. Apply them to your smallest room first, then try them in your biggest room. You may be pleasantly surprised to find that your house is bigger than it looked!

You’ve been to Home Depot and seen the kitchen displays that have been painstakingly set up. Did you know that the designers at Home Depot can make your kitchen just as beautiful?

Next time you visit Home Depot, stop by and talk to one of the designers. Bring in a diagram of your kitchen, mark out the locations of windows, doors and outlets, as well as your existing plumbing and show this to them. It should be all they need in order to start building your dream kitchen and getting your family gathered around the dinner table, rather than the table at the diner.

Freshaire Choice

VOCs, or Volatile Organic Compounds, can cause eye, nose and throat irritation, headaches, loss of coordination, as well as organ and nerve damage. These are not things you want in your home! Fortunately, Freshaire Choice Paint is available at your local Home Depot, which means no going out of your way to buy it.

Get started repainting today with 3 free samples of the 65 premium colors! For more information, click any of the links on this page or watch this informative video!

From meters that tell you how much energy you’re currently using, to automatic composters that turn your leftovers into fertilizer, going green doesn’t have to cost a lot. In fact, there are many inexpensive ways to reduce your environmental impact, while holding on to more of your hard-earned income!

Take a look at this insightful and informative article at dvice.com, titled 7 Household Upgrades that Prove Going Green Isn’t so Hard (or Pricey).

Here is some history on Samara House:

• The original owners were John and Kay Christian whoe decided to build near the campus of Purdue University in 1950.
• The project took six years
• The exhibition features a collection of furnishings, textiles and other items Wright designed specifically for Samara, one of the late Usonian style homes he designed.

Planned lectures at the exhibit:

• Frank Lloyd Wright and the Art of Building will be given by Richard Cleary, Ph.D. on Thursday, March 13, at 7 p.m. Cleary will discuss Wright’s vision of organic architecture and his innovative approaches to structural systems and construction techniques.
• On Thursday, April 10, at 7 p.m. Margo Stipe, Curator and Registrar of Collections, at The Frank Lloyd Wright Archives, Taliesin West, will discuss Wright’s revolutionary reworking of architectural space, how he dissolved interior walls and opened interior spaces allowing communion with the natural world he believed was a great spirit.

The Westcott House is located at 1340 East High Street in Springfield, Ohio. Admission fee is $5; free for members of The Westcott House Foundation. For more information call 937-327-9291 or visit www.westcotthouse.org. 

(Article from www.Ohio.com, the Akron Beacon Journal’s online website)

Zillow has an interactive Home Value Report Map that, I have to admit, surprised me quite a bit… but in a good way. You may be shocked to find out where the values have gone up and where they have drastically gone down in the United States. Check the mad map out here.

A couple of things to do there:

 

See how home values have changed across the U.S.

Click on cities to compare neighborhood home values.

Download detailed city reports for more information, including single family vs. condo comparisons, and a ranking of neighborhoods within an area that are most popular on Zillow.

Here is a schedule of the presentations at the event:

11:00 - Baker Knapp & Tubbs with Kim Garr introducing the Lexicon Collection, a sophisticated early 20th century inspired group.

Noon - Roth Collection with John Crosby featuring Glant’s Capri Collection inspired by the manufacturer’s Mediterranean homeland.

1:30 – Great Lakes Marble & Granite with Desiree Stimac of Oceana Glass presents superior roc glass products such as sinks and accessories.

2:00 – J Hall Design welcomes Jennifer Connolly of the Cleveland Green Building Coalition. Join her in discussing green residential design projects and learn how you can make your home more environmentally friendly.

3:00 – Monroe & Associates presents Antonette Smith of Ralph Lauren Home to introduce the luxurious Spring 2008 fabric and wallcoverings collection.

Throughout the day be sure to visit all of the showroom openhouses. Showrooms not to miss include Bello Design, Brunschwig & Fils, Classic Oriental Rugs, Donghia, Gregory Alfonso, R.W.Shea & Co., and Scalamandre.

The Ohio Design Centre tends to be for the trade only. If you are a homeowner looking for a residential interior designer and are interested in attending this event, please contact us by clicking here.

What makes selling a home more stressful? Selling it in the middle of winter.  The lawn is brown, the weather is usually bad and, unlike the longer days of summer, you have less time to show it off during daylight hours.But not everyone has the luxury of waiting until the traditional spring or summer home buying season to plant that “for sale” sign, and while it’s true that in most areas you’ll probably have fewer buyers during the winter, you will have less competition from other sellers.That makes staging — the concept of showing your house at its best — even more important.

If you do it right, you can really make your house stand out.

1. Keep snow and ice at bay. The top tip from Realtors: If the buyer can’t get in easily, the house won’t sell. That means keeping walkways and driveways free of the frozen stuff. Just like trimming the lawn in the summer, you want to make the home look like it’s been maintained. If you’re away frequently or live in an area that’s subject to bad weather, it can pay to hire a service to regularly salts or shovels the driveway and sidewalks.
2. Warm it up. If you’re showing during the winter, think “warm, cozy and homey,” says Ken Libby, owner of Stowe Realty in Stowe, Vt., and a regional vice president of the National Association of Realtors.Before a buyer comes through, adjust the thermostat to a warmer temperature to make it welcoming. “Sellers like to turn the temperature down because of heat costs,” says David Ledebuhr, president and owner of Musselman Realty in East Lansing, Mich., and a regional vice president of the National Association of Realtors. “But buyers who come in and aren’t comfortable won’t stay long.”If you have a gas fireplace, turning it on right before the tour can give the house “a little ambience,” says Libby.With a wood-burning fireplace, you’ve got to be a little more careful. If the house is vacant, don’t chance it. If you’re still living there and will be there during the tour, it can be a nice touch. Many times, sellers leave right before the agent and prospective buyers arrive. In that case, adjust the heat to a comfortable temperature and have the hearth set for a fire. Buyers feel the warmth and see the potential, and you don’t have to worry about safety concerns.
3. Take advantage of natural light. “Encourage showing during the high-daylight hours,” says Ledebuhr. At this time of year, “if you show after work, you’re totally in the dark.”Make the most of the light you do have. Have the curtains and blinds cleaned and open them as wide as possible during daytime showings. Clean all the lamps and built-in fixtures, and replace the bulbs with the highest wattage that they will safely accommodate. Before you show the house, turn on all the lights.
4. Get the windows washed. “Buyers act on the first impression,” says Ledebuhr. Windows are one thing that many sellers don’t even consider. In winter that strong southern light can reveal grime and make it look like the home hasn’t been well-maintained.
5. Play music softly in the background. To create a little atmosphere, tune the radio to the local classical station. Turn it down so that you just hear it quietly in the background. ”It’s soothing,” says Libby, who finds that soft classical music tends to have the most appeal to buyers. ”I think people tend to stay around a little longer and look a little longer.” 6. Make it comfortable and cozy. Set the scene and help the buyers see themselves living happily in this house. Consider things such as putting a warm throw on the sofa or folding back the thick comforter on the bed. Tap into “the simple things this time of year that make you feel like you’re home,” says Phipps.
7. Emphasize winter positives. Is your home on a bus route or some other vital service that means it’s plowed or de-iced regularly in bad weather? Be sure to mention that to the buyers.
8. Set up timers. You want your home to look warm and welcoming whenever prospective buyers drive past. But you’re not home all the time, so put indoor and outdoor lights on timers, says Phipps. Look at the outside lighting around the door. Is there enough illumination to make it inviting? If not, either get the fixtures changed or have new ones added.
9. Make it festive. Even if you’re not actually going to be present, greet your buyers as if they were going to be guests at a party, says Phipps. Set up the dinner table with the good china and silver. Have a plate of cookies for your guests, some warm cider or even chilled bottles of water. “First impressions are so powerful,” says Phipps. “If it looks like you’re expecting me and greeting me as company, that’s a powerful impact.”
10. Give the home a nice aroma. The No. 1 favorite? “Chocolate chip cookies,” says Libby. “Just about everybody likes that smell.”Other popular scents: cinnamon rolls, freshly baked bread, apple pie, apple cider or anything with vanilla, cinnamon or yeast. “But don’t overdo it, either,” says Ledebuhr. Scented candles in every room or those plug-in air fresheners can leave buyers wondering what you’re trying to mask.Watch the bad smells, too. Pet smells, smoke and musty odors can cling to curtains and carpets. Ask your real estate agent or a friend to give it a sniff test. Then clean the house, air it out and replace drapes, carpets or rugs before you show it.
11. Protect your investment. Some sellers (or their agents) will ask buyers to either remove shoes or slip on paper “booties” over their footwear before touring the house. Many buyers like that, says Phipps. It indicates a “pride of ownership and meticulousness that resonates with buyers,” he says.�
12. Use the season to your advantage. While the holidays are over (and the Christmas and Hanukkah stuff should come down), you can still use winter wreaths and dried arrangements around the door to give interest. “Anything seasonally appropriate is fun,” says Phipps.In the winter, with the leaves off the trees, you might also have a nice view that isn’t as apparent in the spring and summer months. It’s a great time to sell waterfront properties, says Phipps. “You can see the views better this time of year.”
13. Consider the area. In some parts of the country, such as ski areas or warmer regions where the snow birds flock, winter weather can actually be a selling point. “We’re right in the middle of our selling season,” says Libby. “It’s not always spring and summer.”
 Article written by Dana Dratch • Bankrate.com

 

 

]]> http://mystagedlife.com/2008/01/13-tips-for-selling-your-home-in-winter/feed 0 http://mystagedlife.com/2008/01/water-to-wine http://mystagedlife.com/2008/01/water-to-wine#comments Mon, 28 Jan 2008 14:20:53 +0000 Sharon Kreighbaum http://mystagedlife.com/?p=137 Looking for a beverage center, wine cooler, and a mini refrigerator? Consider the multiple-use Liebherr RU500 undercounter refrigeration unit. It stores up to 29 wine, champagne, beer, liquor, or water bottles or 88 soda, beer, or – as we say in Ohio - ”pop” cans. Unlike common wine storage units, the Lieberr unit has pullout racks and glass shelves that are adjustable to suit your needs. Silent storage is a bonus feature thanks to a vibration free-compressor that keeps contents quiet.

Side note: Liebherr also is a manufacturer of concrete mixers, aerospace products, cargo handling machines, earthmoving and mining equipment, all sorts of cranes, and other large machines and tools!

]]> http://mystagedlife.com/2008/01/water-to-wine/feed 0 http://mystagedlife.com/2008/01/readymade-magazine http://mystagedlife.com/2008/01/readymade-magazine#comments Tue, 22 Jan 2008 21:48:52 +0000 Sharon Kreighbaum http://mystagedlife.com/?p=134 Just when you’ve think you’ve seen all the home improvement, interior design, and do it yourself magazines out there something new comes from out of nowhere. I got yet another free magazine offer in the mail today, which is perfectly normal. But this one was different. I had never heard of this one, ReadyMade. Curiousity made me open it up. I scanned the brochure…so good I ended up reading ALL of the material and sent in the free issue postcard. My first reaction was, “How did they find me?” It’s like they knew I was into thinking outside the box and giving objects second lives (for cheap). One of a kind, hip, crafty, geeky, inspiring, recycled, reused, transformed and always changing. Am I talking about me or the contents of the magazine? I can’t wait to find out what this magazine is all about! I mean I know it is about insanely creative, out of the ordinary, unique, and inexpensive projects that almost anyone can do. Some examples are using a surfboard as a floating shelf (sounds tacky but is surprisingly striking), making a mid-century mod clock out of chopsticks (think Herman Miller style), creating a bird feeder out of martini glasses, turning a old radio into a vintage style mp3 player, etc. One I love is making a faux mosaic table out of paint swatches. As soon as I read some of the project ideas, I was ready to get started!

When doing research for this blog I found the ReadyMade Magazine website which has a million projects that anyone can search through with complete instructions – magazine subscription free! So if you like the mid-century post-war modern (Design Within Reach style) and IKEA or - better yet - Salvation Army prices, then this magazine might be for you!

]]> http://mystagedlife.com/2008/01/readymade-magazine/feed 0 http://mystagedlife.com/2007/12/reuse-or-refuse-plastic-bags http://mystagedlife.com/2007/12/reuse-or-refuse-plastic-bags#comments Wed, 05 Dec 2007 05:23:57 +0000 Sharon Kreighbaum http://mystagedlife.com/?p=114 “In the United States, 12 million barrels of oil and 14 million trees go to producing plastic and paper bags each year.”

Time to vent! I refuse to throw away plastic bags and I just won’t use paper grocery bags. Now I have bags of bags of bags, especially during this shopping season. The collection is getting out of control but there is an answer! No, I am not going to break down and throw them in the trash. (Speaking of break down, it takes plastic bags as much as 1,000 years to break down in landfill and 450 in water.) I plan on taking my bags to a local recycling bin (as seen in many Medina, OH parking lots) or to the local Giant Eagle grocery store which also has a bag-recycling bin. I will also stash a folded-up fabric shopping bag in my purse. Maybe this will relieve me from the funny looks I get when I reuse or refuse a bag at the store! 

Furthermore, I will now give preference to retailers that sell reusable shopping bags, like Giant Eagle. When I am not at a green store, I tend to apologize to clerks about my proactiveness, but why should I? I think I am hip and ahead of the crowd, kind of like the city of San Francisco who recently banned plastic grocery bags. You can read more about that in this past post by Sharon.

My friend’s think I’m crazy, but I know I am just more educated and aware about the issue. Now you are too.

More facts on plastic bags and their unfriendly impact on the earth:

• Plastic bags don’t biodegrade because their components do not biodegrade (especially oil). They actually break down into smaller toxic bits which become consumable contaminants for animals, even humans.
• Other than oil, plastic bags contain metals like chromium and copper. Exposure leads to diseases.
• Oil is expensive! Can avoiding plastic bags lower gas prices? Yes, if more people change their ways! 12 million barrels of oil, remember?
• My fave environmentally friendly, earth-loving, life-changing website ever - IdealBite – is chock full of facts like the one at the beginning of this article. 

]]> http://mystagedlife.com/2007/12/reuse-or-refuse-plastic-bags/feed 2 http://mystagedlife.com/2007/11/foreclosures-double-across-the-us http://mystagedlife.com/2007/11/foreclosures-double-across-the-us#comments Fri, 30 Nov 2007 16:25:36 +0000 Sharon Kreighbaum http://mystagedlife.com/?p=110 We aren’t kidding when we say the market is rough and that you need to stage your home to sell it as quickly as possibly to avoid taking a loss. Here are some terrifying facts from foreclosure1.com:

• Last October 115,568 foreclosures had been listed 
• This year it is 224,451, showing a 94% increase.
• In October the ratio was 1 foreclosure for every 555 houses.
• The foreclosure filings are inclusive of default and auction sale notice as well as bank repossessions.
• 45 states saw a high jump rise from last year.
• Year by year the number is still up but it had leveled during the last two months after making an all time record in August this year.
• The pace has slackened most probably because of the lenders bending to pressure and beginning to modify terms of loans. Another reason may be a lull in filings after the shooting up following a new surge in interest rate rise.
• It usually takes two to three months for a borrower to be marked as defaulter after the reset sets in.
• Roughly 2 million loans are about to reset in the following eight months. Inevitable this would lead to a surging of foreclosures.
• In October lenders repossessed more and more houses after failing at the trustee auctions. Very few of those who were marked foreclosed managed to save their houses.
• In Ohio especially 45% of all the filings were bank notifications for repossession.
• In Missouri and Michigan the numbers were 46% and 37% respectively.
• Apart from the sub-prime other causes were economic woes like job loss.
• Nevada topped the foreclosure list with a ratio of 1:154 compared to the national average of 1:555.
• In October the filings numbered 6,618 showing a rise of 20% from September and triple that of what it was in the same month the previous year.
• In California the ratio was 1:258 but it recorded the highest number of foreclosures – 50,401. It had come down by 2% from September but triple that of what the numbers were in October 2006.
• The ratio in Florida was 1:273 with the state recording 30,190 foreclosures. It was a 9% drop from September but up by 165% from the previous year.
• Ohio showed 1:290 with 17,276 foreclosure listings – 10% more than last month but 136% higher than the last year.
• The other top ranking offending states were Georgia, Michigan, Colorado, Arizona, Indiana and Illinois.

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