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"I wonder if any element of interior design is more personal than color? Nothing can more quickly reveal aspects of personality and character than the choice - or absence - of color." - Van Day Truex, Interiors, Character, and Color
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Home staging is the act of preparing a private residence for sale in the real estate marketplace. The goal of staging is to make a home appealing to the highest number of potential buyers, thereby selling a property more swiftly and for more money. - from Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.
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"The living room should be a place where we feel totally at ease - temple of the soul." - Terence Conran
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"Have nothing in your house which you do not know to be useful or believe to be beautiful." William Morris |
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Please feel free to contact us with any questions or concerns. We are here to help you. |
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630.991.7123 | |
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We would like to help you create a warm and inviting home.
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Hue Gotta Love It!
Each month, in our Hue Gotta Love it section, we feature some of our fresh and favorite colors to provide you with a little inspiration and entertainment. Here are few of our favorite paint colors this month which were inspired by the Southern Living Idea House in Cinnamon Shore, Port Aransas, Texas.
Valspar - SR214 - Moonlight Beach
A sophisticated yet earthy hue from the taupe family. Best suited for a living room or even a bedroom.
Valspar - Crimson Glow -2011-5
When using the 60-30-10 Rule -- Crimson Glow would be a wise choice for that 10% that pops and adds a bit of excitement to an otherwise neutral space.
Valspar - Aquatic Edge 5003-5A
This ethereal blue is calming, restful and cooling, just as the name would imply.
Remember; try using no-VOC (volatile organic compound) paints which have fewer odors and less impact on air quality!
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Selling a Home? Check out our Staging Tip of the Month...
The Family Room: The Hub of the Home
The family room is usually one of the main focal points of a home. Wow prospective buyers by arranging the furniture in such a way that allows them to visualize themselves enjoying family time or entertaining in that room.
TIP:
One of the most common mistakes we see in decorating and staging is the lack of a focal point in the family room. Furniture should be arranged around a focal point in a room (i.e. a fireplace, a gorgeous view or an entertainment center.)
THINGS TO DO:
Create a feeling of spaciousness by de-cluttering the floor -- remove all small baskets, books, small plants and other accessories that might create "visual clutter" on the floor.
If you have a fireplace, make sure it's clean. Vignette the mantle with a minimal amount of decor (i.e. one large piece of artwork and 2-3 smaller accessories that vary in height.)
Use at least 3 lamps (with the highest wattage bulbs possible) placed in a triangular configuration throughout the room.
Remove draperies that may block light or draperies that are dated. Also, take down any draperies that are not neutral in color and style.
Place high end magazines on the coffee table (Conde Naste, Vanity Fair, Architectural Digest.)
Sometimes pulling the furniture in (closer together) and off the walls will help the room feel larger.
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Design Trends
Trash to Treasure
Reduce - Reuse - Recycle - Repurpose - Redecorate!
If you're ready to revive a space in your own home, I encourage you (check I challenge, you!) to seek out one piece that you refurbish and save from ending up in a landfill. You don't have to be Martha Stewart to quickly and easily re-purpose and makeover a flea market find.
 Use the photo to the right, as an example. The featured piece was an old china cabinet for less than $50 at an antique store (called Antiques and More) This was clearly not an antique, so it goes in the "more" category. After a quick coat of paint and new shelves purchased at Lowe's for $20, this eye sore was transformed into a custom piece of furniture and casual "dry bar". The paint used was leftover from the living room and kitchen walls (Chelsea Grey for the main body and Mill Springs Blue for the back and accent/edging -- both Benjamin Moore paints.) Making over this piece was a snap, and easy on the wallet, too! So, the next time you need a new piece of furniture, before you head out to the new furniture store, I encourage you to try to make over a piece first. Here are a few tips to inspire you:
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Shop in your own home, storage room or garage FIRST. See if there's a piece you can use without having to purchase something new. If you don't have anything that will fit the space/design/functional requirements you need, then check with neighbors or family members to see if they might be interested in freeing up space by getting rid of an old piece of furniture they aren't using. Perhaps you could even swap!
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When painting, use no-voc paints. Check out Natura by Benjamin Moore, which is available at your local Benjamin Moore dealer.
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Shop for used hardware at flea markets, antique stores or even in your own junk drawer.
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Keep in mind, there's a consequence for every one of your actions. When you are decorating or redecorating a space, every decision you make will have an impact not only on your personal space, but also on the environment. Try to make decisions that have the least impact by asking yourself:
Will this off-gas into my home?
If I throw this old item away, where will it end up and how long will it take to break down?
Is this product made from sustainable materials?
Remember: "Creating a beautiful space shouldn't break the bank, or the environment."
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