You can grow a wee bit o’ luck by planting some Oxalis Regnellii, or lucky shamrock, of your own. $10 will get you 25 bulbs at www.easytogrowbulbs.com. All you have to do is plant the bulbs in a indoor container, place near a sunny window, and water sparingly. In about 8 weeks you should see pin-wheel shaped leaves with tiny white flowers…just in time for St. Patrick’s Day!

“Can you help me choose colors and furniture?” is one of the most common requests that we get from clients, friends, and family seeking interior design advice. Our response is to find pictures of rooms that they like in magazines. Another option on how to select colors, furniture, fabrics, and flooring is to check out Adrienne Chinn’s Home Decorator’s Color & Texture Bible. Chinn believe’s in starting from the ground up, which we agree with considering most people would rather work with the floor that they have than reinstall brand new hardwood, tile, or carpet. This lovely reference showcases 180 different decorating and color schemes so you will be sure to find inspiration.

The wirebound hardcovered book is published by Firefly Books and sells for $29.95.

Yesterday we told you about the great chalk product, the WallMarker. Well here is another great use for chalk. Putting a few pieces of chalk in cheesecloth and storing it with your silver will slow the tarnishing. Bet you wish you would have known that before you stored your fine china and silver last year! Try this trick this year and then next year when pull out the good stuff you will spend less time polishing silver and more time enjoying the season.

How many times have you heard that phrase with regard to design?  I was watching old movies and heard a quote from Spencer Tracy with regard to acting.  “Less is more on screen.  Most actors never learn how much gold is in the scene just by listening.”  He was referring to great actors who absorb the scene itself, the environment, and minimize their “acting” by just fitting into the scene. 

When stagers and designers evaluate a space to redesign, we first try to adapt to the environment.  What is naturally there, what emphasizes the architecture, the style of the area, the activity to take place there. 

It is important to keep spaces true to their original intent.  When redesigning or staging a colonial home, for example, we may suggest that the door be painted a bright red.  In Hudson, where colonial homes are abundant, you will often find a white home with black shutters and a red door.  This is consistent with the environment, a New England-style town, the architecture (exterior) and interior layout.

Just as the best actors will adapt to their scene, the best designers and stagers will encourage clients to do the same with their home environments.

Wednesday, at the Akron Area Board of Realtors office, I presented a 3 hour CEU on staging to 15 Realtors. The presentation was very well received and I got great feedback from the interactive group. The most notable feedback was receiving a 100% rating in these two areas: “did the course increase your knowledge?” and “did the course obtain its objective?” and the compliment from one attendee saying “This is a terrific course, the instructor was dynamic and interesting.” Thank you to all who attended!