Your home exterior is as important as the interior

When you are thinking about improving your home, make sure you allow a budget if your home's exterior needs help. It is more important to fix the roof, the gutters, and repair and repaint the exterior of your house because those improvements may save you energy or prevent major problems later.

Many people forget to clean the gutters before the rainy season. Leaves and debris clog your gutters and they will not function properly and result in leaks and costly problems.

If your roofing is older than 10 years, it may need to be replaced. The new roofing materials actually help save energy.
Repair any foundation or attic ventilation screens. Birds and animals can enter and make a nest.

Big cracks, chipped paint and wood rot under eaves and around the window frames will result in water eventually penetrating into your walls, and can result in mold and mildew inside the walls. Repair wood rot and cracks as soon as possible.

Once the major expenses are taken care of there are other improvements to help make the exterior more attractive.
Here are some money saving ideas for the exterior of your house:
1. Pick up whatever is considered not necessary and store them or dispose of them. Weed your lawn and landscaping using environmentally safe products.
Mow the lawn regularly depending on the type of lawn.
2. Reak any leaves away from the walkways, sidewalk and lawn and add to your compost.
3. Clean your walkway and front porch. You may need to rent a pressure washer to get the dirt and grime off these areas.
4. Place some attractive plants in nice containers on your porch. A bench with a couple of pillows make your front porch welcoming.
5. Make sure your house number is near the front door and is visible from the street.It may need to be painted fresh or you may need a new house number.
6. Repair and paint your front door in a contrasting color to be more appealing.

Step out to the street and enjoy your curb appeal.

Painting Tips: Proper disposal of paint and primer

Paint, primer and stains contain chemicals and compounds that should be properly disposed of. Never wash brushes and supplies or dump paint down to storm water drain or in your kitchen sink.
You may call your local paint disposal or recycle center if you have leftover paint you don't need.

When you are done painting, squeeze all paint from your brushes in a tray or bucket. Rinse your brushes in warm water in the utility sink (not your kitchen sink).
Leave paint cans in the sun to completely dry and then dispose of the cans.

Let disposable rollers and brushes dry completely before disposing.

Want color in your living room? Tips to add color in any room.

An inexpensive way to freshen up a room is to add some color. Here are some ways you can do that with little or no money:

1. Paint a wall
A splash of color on a wall can immediately transform any room. Find a color you like (see previous blogs on painting tips) paint one wall and make it a focal point.

2. Paint the back of the bookshelf.
This is probably one of my favorite tricks. It is so easy and so uncomplicated. But has a huge impact.
Paint a bookcase or shelving system in two colors.

3. Colorful pillows
Pillows are so versatile. They add comfort to a chair or bed and can easily be covered in a different color or texture. Pillow covers can be made of almost any fabric. A pair of jeans, bed sheets, an old skirt, mens suiting, a patchwork of men's ties, etc. the sky is the limit. You can even show your artwork on a pillow. Pick a plain fabric and paint your own artwork! Fabulous and unique.

4. Add an area rug 
Don't forget about floor, the largest surface after your walls. An area rug under the coffee table or dining area, at the bottom of your bed, or between two rooms ground the space and make everything look better.
You can move a rug in from another room. If you are purchasing a new one, be sure to take measurements before heading to a store. Take your tape measure with you!


5. Plants and flowers
Potted plants or flowers in a vase instantly add life to your room. For the short of time, (or those with pets) invest in good quality silk plants and flowers. But be aware of scale or your room. In a small room chose a taller plant. In a large room chose one with height and volume.

6. Colorful throw
A colorful soft throw on a beige sofa or a white bed instantly transforms your room. Try it!

7. Add a colorful lamp
Lamps provide light, but also can bring in whimsy and color into a room. If you have an outdated floor or table lamp, you can paint the base and buy a contemporary shade.



8. Fresh upholstery
Chairs can be upholstered with new fabrics. A slipcover is another option to get a fresh look.



9. Colorful accessories
Artwork and vases, candles, coasters, place mats, and runners can also be used to bring in seasonal colors. Accessories can be moved from room to room and freshen up the look on a regular basis. But be sure not to go overboard with too many of these items in one area to avoid a cluttered look.

You probably already own many things you can move about your home to creat a new look. So go one and explore and see what you can come up with.

DYI home staging: 8 quick tips for staging your home for a quicker sale

Do you have to spend a lot of money on professional staging? If you have some decent furnishings, you may only need to follow these 8 quick tips to achieve the same results:
A house should look like it is in moving condition when potential buyers arrive.

1. Curb appeal- Remember that the home buyer should feel at home as soon as they arrive at your drive way. A curb appeal is very important in selling your home.
So consult with your agent about the exterior of the house before it is on the market.

2. Paint- Many home buyers will not get passed that bright yellow wall you love so much. A fresh coat of neutral paint will make your home look more comfortable and relaxing.  Also no one likes to see dirty walls.

3. De-clutter- Store away all your excess accessories, furniture, artwork, blankets and family photos. A cluttered room looks smaller and distracting from all the nice features your home offers. Concentrate on one or two neutral colors with one splash of non-neutral in each room. Too many colors are seen as clutter.

4.  Focal point- Look for what is most pleasing about your living room area. It may be the view of the garden or the fireplace. Avoid creating a focal point around a non-pleasant view or the TV.
Make sure your focal point is dressed properly. Window coverings should be pulled back to show off the view. Fireplace mantel should have three nice accessories: a small bouquets of flowers and two candles. A row of three identical vases. Do not clutter your mantel. Fireplace screen is also helpful. But you could place candles in the fire box.

5.  Furniture arrangement- Arrange your furniture such that they do not block the natural flow of traffic. Upon arriving into the room, the most off-putting sight is the back of the sofa. It tells the buyer “do not come in.” Consider a diagonal arrangement of furniture. In a large living/dining area a sofa can be a divider between two rooms but in a smaller room, it cuts off the diners from the rest of the room.

6.  Lighting- Make sure there is plenty of light in your main living areas. If your agent is showing your home after dark, place floor  and table lamps if there are no ceiling lights.

7.  Function- Focus each room on its main function. If you have a home office, move away the workout equipment. If your have an office in the bedroom, move your office equipment temporarily out of the bedroom. Perhaps into a closet area in a guest room.

8.  Clean and repair- This seems like a no brainier, but I am obligated to mention it. If you have pets, you must make sure your buyers cannot smell them! Buyers open your closets to see the storage space. Make sure stored items do not avalanche on their heads. Clean dirty carpets, drapery, and shelves. If you smoke, clean and deodorize and do not smoke in the house till you move out. Repair broken door handles, railings, lights, etc. When one thing is not working it may signal the buyer that the house has not been maintained well.
Again, ask your agent for feedback. They are the experts.
...and good luck...

Planning for a successful makover, clean and cozy space to gather

If you are going to make over a room, think about what you would use it for first.

This unattractive breakfast/family room was right next to the kitchen. The client never really ate breakfast here. But when she entertained the guest chose to linger about this room.

So the logical choice was to make a comfortable seating area near the window. The room was cleared, painted with zero VOC paint in a soft butter cream color.

Worn out, broken, and unusable furniture pieces were recycled at the local recycle station. Usable items were donated.

New items:
1. Two identical small convertible day sofas, with washable slip covers. The Sofa arms unfold to create more seating (or serve as extra beds) if needed.
2. Two drapery panels that can easily be removed and washed, drapery rod, and a small coffee table purchased at the the local discount stores.
3. 100% wool rug with natural dyes was purchased at a local store at a deep discount. It can be removed and washed with mild detergent, and dried. The color and textures can only improve with age.
Wool rugs are inherently stain resistant making them perfect for an accidental party spill.

Client's existing lamp was placed here for additional lighting in the evening. Her Moroccan brass tray was placed on top of the small coffee table to make a larger table space. Her textile art previously folded in a drawer was framed prominently to create visual interest and speak to her personality and style.  The kitchen peninsula counter is used as serving station for parties.

Total cost of this makeover was under $1500.

 This room is easy to clean, its is clutter-free and yet has all the elements that makes guests comfortable. They love to spend time in this room!

Got Cables? Got cable Clutter and Dust! 3 products that make gadget life easier

With the myriad of gadgets and computer accessories you use daily, you also get to deal with all the unsightly cable and the nasty dust.

I have some solutions for you:

1. Ikea has a $5 cable organizer (pictured below), that is easily transportable and actually hides your cables it may not be the most attractive, but it really helps with the cable mess.

 2.Kangaroom 3-Pod recharger cost about $45 and can house 3 IPODs.The devices plug into a power strip in the attractive bamboo box.

front with sliding door

back side for access to the power strip

3. Another cable organizer from IKEA cost about $10. It can be mounted on the wall. The lid minimizes dust collection on your cables. So naturally I like this the best.






When shopping for cable management products, pay attention to the size of the product and if it can accommodate your needs.


The goal is to minimize cable clutter and dust collection on the floor and your desk. Less sneezing while you clean!

LED lighting, the answer to our prayers: cooler and no mercury

 In 2007, we thought LEDs, or light emitting diodes, were going to be mainstream REALLY soon, and it didn't happen.
Most recently, however, we have seen significant progress addressing issues such as cost, light intensity, and bulb diversification as well as replacement lights for existing fixtures.

Thanks to the semiconductor industry the LEDs advanced rapidly. The timing is more than ever right for these bulbs: Consumers are demanding more effiecient and environmntally safer products due to concerns with rising energy costs and global warming.
Governments are imposing higher energy standards and more money is invested in reseach.

LEDs are superior due to several reasons:

1. They generate more light far more efficiently than incandescent ones, because they do not generate any heat.
2. They are as efficient as CFLs, but unlike CFLs, they can typically be used with a dimmer, and they do not contain mercury, a hazardous substance.
3. Lately LED lights are closer to providing light with a warm glow.
4. They are more reliable and durable than CFLs or incandescent bulbs.

LEDs are now available for recessed down lights, task lighting, such as under cabinet lights and desk lamps and many other types of fixture.

Major corporations are entering LEDs into the consumer market:
Philips EnduraLED is designed to last 15000hours, with a 3-year life wrranty.

i-saveenergy.com has many diffrent fixtures and replacement bulbs . I have seen the recessed lights first hand and they are beautiful and have a wonderful glow similar to sunlight.





Lighting Science Group introduced the new ultra-effiecient LED replacement bulbs in May 2010.

Prices could run $20-$60 per bulb, but they make up by lasting longer than other types of bulbs in energy usage.
Consider LEDs for your next lighting application or replacement bulbs, they pay off in the long run.

LED: COOL task lighting that is not hot.

LED produces more light, much less heat and uses a lot less energy and lasts a lot longer. The LED technology has come a long way ans is becoming more affordable in residential applications.

Normally task lighting produces a lot of heat. Not the case with these colorful, bright, and good looking LED lamps by Pablo Designs (www.pablodesigns.com).

I especially love the variety of styles, sizes, and attachment capabilities of Pablo task lighting.

LED under cabinet lighting is also becoming mainstream as more designers are incorporating them due to the new energy saving requirements in the building codes. Next time you are looking for lighting, check for LED options. You may be surprised at what you find.