Outdoor living spaces

Interior decorating is not limited to indoor spaces. When we decorate our homes, we always have to remember to include the outside spaces as well. In doing so we extend the beauty of our homes beyond doors and walls. Adding visual interest outside enhances the beauty of the inside.

Focus on what you see from the window

To create a beautiful interior, it is sometimes necessary to improve what can be seen on the outside. Try to add outdoor visual interest wherever there is a window in your home to improve the look a feel of the room from the inside. You'd be surprised how much this impacts the beauty of an interior space.

Create outdoor living spaces in multiple areas

Having one deck on your home is a nice feature, however adding lots of little outdoor hidden niches creates a little surprise around every corner. Designated areas that have a lovely view, are adjacent to entries to your home create welcoming areas to sit and enjoy your home and garden.

Limited green space doesn't mean limited options

If you have a small yard or little grass doesn't mean you can't create a beautiful little place to sit and enjoy the outdoors. Focus on container gardening, lovely small scale Bistro chairs and tables are all it takes to create a beautiful exterior space. Small bird baths and bird feeders will add to the space and also bring the nature to you.

Finding kitchen inspirations that make financial sense

It is easy to go crazy when it comes to updating your kitchen. However, more important than just getting what you want, you have to factor what makes sense in the financial realm as well. Kitchens are the heart of the home, and as such have to be given the greatest priority in renovation and design. So knowing what is financially savvy is important for long term reward.

Trends Trends come and go, so be leery of jumping on a trend train. Look for timeless upgrades that will keep their value and public appreciation throughout the ages. Timeless design never goes out of style, and this is a wise move in design financially.

Hardware In a kitchen there are many different ways to update a look simply through the various finishes supplied by the hardware. Whether it's faucets, lighting, or cabinet pulls, make sure to be consistent. Pick a finish and use it throughout the design for a polished and professional result. Don't get stuck purchasing from just one place, sometimes the best deals on items come from casting a wide net. Ebay, Amazon and other online outlets often have great prices on bulk items like kitchen drawer pulls and handles.

Pick a look you already live with
 We all have our tastes in design. Some may love vintage, old world, while others appreciate the clean lines of modern design. Thumb through magazines, and save pictures of designs that speak to you. Walk through your home and look for recurring themes in patterns, textures, colors and style. Chances are these are choices you can apply to your kitchen design that you will be able to live with for a long time. Financially this means you'll live with the look a long time and be less likely to grow tired of it. That means less money spent changing things later.

Open concepts
 If your home is an open concept design, you'll need to make sure that the small details make sense.  While the kitchen doesn't have to mirror the room it is open to, it is important that it compliment the room it is connected to. Find common finishes, colors and textures to tie the rooms together. For example, if your living room is open to your kitchen and is primarily traditional in furnishings and colors, don't be afraid to go modern or contemporary in your kitchen, just make sure both rooms share common ground in colors or finishes.  A contemporary lamp with an oil rubbed bronze base, will still still compliment an Old World style oil rubbed lighting fixture because both share the same finish, just a different design aesthetic.


Enjoy your project and see the video below for more great practical tips:

7

Brushing up on your curb appeal

Image by dawnella66 via FlickrEvery year its a good idea to consider your homes curb appeal in this zone 8 climate, as well as other areas in the country. Little things can add a lot to your  curb appeal, even if you are a novice gardener there are many tricks to sprucing up your home and yard.

Drive through your neighborhood- Take note of the plants that are doing well in the neighborhood. If you don't know what the type of plant is, ask. Many neighbors plant a beautiful yard to be admired, in most cases they will be flattered that you noticed. This little step will establish friendships, and save you money in the long run, chances are if it grows well in their yard, you have a good shot at having similar results. Don't forget to ask them if they do anything special for the plant. Take notice of the lighting and placement too. These are success factors.

Know your zone- To figure out what zone you live in, simply check the zone maps online, and purchase plants/seeds accordingly. Plants are expensive, and it is wasteful and discouraging to plant anything that isn't compatible with your current climate. Here in the south, we can enjoy a wide selection of flowering shrubs and trees, Mimosa, Oleander, Azaleas, Hydrangeas, the list is long, but all may require the right spot.


Do some research-Annuals do not come back, Perennials do. Perennials will not come back either if you don't follow the info on the tag, so pay attention and make sure to follow the instructions. Give yourself an edge and make sure to fill in your hole with good quality potting mix for the best advantage from the get go. Annuals are great to mix in with perennials. They will provide a stream of color while you are waiting to see if the perennials you plants several weeks ago is actually going to live.

Get the scoop on your dirt- Sandy, loamy, clay-ridden. You'd be surprised how dirt affects the growth of your plants. If you're really unsure, grab up a handful, if it holds together, chances are it has a lot of clay, add some peat moss to the hole you're digging in, or the garden you're starting. If it falls apart in your hand, its sandy, this means good drainage at least. Adding potting soil and top soil should help you here. Also compost is always good to add. To know the condition of your soil, contact your local county extension office to find out how.

Thank you very Mulch- Mulch  is a great way to keep your newly planted shrubs and bulbs moist and cool. In Orangeburg, mulch is a valuable resource to combat drought and is in steady supply with the various pine trees  that shed their straw. Free mulch isn't as pretty perhaps but its certainly economical. For more aesthetic purposes, there are a variety of different types of mulch on the market.

Green Thumb Still Not So Green?- Think hanging baskets. For those looking for instant gratification, nothing gives your home curb appeal like hanging baskets. If you just don't have the time, interest or desire to work on your yard these can be a great help. If you want to beautify your yard, try investing in hanging baskets. Even if you opt for this to give your yard curb appeal, its still important that you water them regularly. It should be adequate if you water every two days in the dry months. When it rains, placing them on the ground and letting Mother Nature do it is great for the plants.

Last but not least, having curb appeal isn't just about plants and shrubs. Creating a beautiful habitat for both human and animal is an effort that will reward you many times over. Create little niches in your yard, add statues, bird baths, bird feeders, and little seating areas. This creates focal points that will inspire you to sit back, smell the roses and appreciate how lucky you are.

How to Improve your Home to Sell Faster

Image via Wikipedia

I'm sure you have heard this before, updating and staging your home can make or break a sale. The housing market is a tough sell now with far more inventory than ever. How will your home stand up to the competition? Is your kitchen updated? How are the baths? Is there clutter that needs moving out, even before you do? Are you willing to invest some money to get a return? These are all questions that need addressing if you plan on selling your home and actually getting it sold.

The biggest area to address in your home without a doubt is the kitchen

The real question is, not necessarily can you afford to update it, but can you afford not to? New construction prices are dropping everyday as builders scramble to move empty homes. Do you realize this is your competition? Well it is. Whenever addressing any area of improvement with your home, the template you must use is new construction. Not only new construction, but what is also available in your area. A shrewd seller will have already taken into account what comparable's are around. Have you done this? If not, check out your local real estate agency and view the listings in your area. Factor in age, size and location of the homes you are viewing.  The rule used to be not to over improve for your area. However, that doesn't mean you can't take it up a notch or two.

Do your research first before you spend a dime. There are sites that will let you factor in what sort of return you could possibly get per improvement. Bank of America has a calculator that can help you figure out what is worth it. and what isn't. Even at that to a  degree you do roll the dice.

If you don't have a vast amount of money, key improvements and updates can be done relatively cheap if you are willing to  do some of the work yourself.

I always recommend starting with your kitchen. I viewed many homes during my own house shopping, and the ones I steered clear of were old, outdated kitchens. Why? Well if it's not obvious, money. Taking the step at a major purchase is daunting enough without also factoring in renovation and updating costs. From the buyer's perspective, a home with outdated old appliances, fixtures, etc. scream "money pit", high energy bills, and potential break downs in the near future.

When your home is not updated, think what this is saying to the buyer. It says, what else is old and fixing to go? Probably a safe assumption is, everything. Not to mention, if you can see it and it's bad, what you can't see is probably worse. If you only have a small amount of money, update your appliances. In my neck of the woods, refrigerators often times are not included in the sale price, but ovens definitely are. Check to see what is the "norm" for your area. A modestly priced refrigerator, and matching brand oven, can immediately update the kitchen. If you can add in a dishwasher of the same style, and brand. Those are your big ticket items in a kitchen.

However, if that is out of the question, survey the counters, flooring, and cabinets. Cabinets can be refaced, painted and new hardware added. Flooring can be easily updated if you are willing to do the work yourself. A good alternative to vinyl flooring that is outdated, is the new high end peel and stick  tile. For around $1.00- $2.00 a square foot you can really update the floor. Some look so much like stone, you'd have to get down close to it to know the difference, even coming with "chiseled edges" for a real look.

Choose neutral tones. This is no time to get wild and creative.  Painting cabinets used to be voodoo, but if they are dark and old, you will save a lot of money by painting them a fresh bright color and adding new hardware. If you can't replace your counters, At least de-clutter them and have them as clean as possible.

Fresh new curtains, clean counters, fresh painted cabinets and walls can usually make a huge difference in how fast your home sells

 If you have old appliances and cannot afford to replace them, have them be sparkling clean and fresh smelling. Old is one thing, old and dirty is another. Organize your cabinets and keep them clutter free. I know we all love to see a well stocked pantry and cabinets, however overly filled cabinets and pantries  can send a red flag to a buyer that there  is limited in space. We want the buyer to feel like there is more than enough storage.

 Ceilings and ceiling fans need to be clean as well. Buyers notice everything. From floor to ceiling, and everything in between. Never over crowd the square footage in your kitchen. Better to be slightly sparse, than overly cluttered. You are selling your home by the square foot, buyers want the most square footage they can get for their money, so why hide it if it isn't necessary?

If you can afford it,  the second area in your home that will probably help you get an offer would be the bathrooms

 Bathrooms can be costly renovations, however, many of the same tactics used in the kitchen can be applied to your bathrooms. Update fixtures, paint old cabinetry, a new shower curtain and towels can go a long way at making your home feel well cared for. If you have it in your budget and your home is older, you may want to consider having your sink and tub re-glazed. This can be done cheaper than replacing these items and they can turn an unsightly Avocado green sink into a newer looking white one. The same with your tub.  A new toilet can also spruce up the area. New toilets can now be purchased as a complete set for as little as $100.00 and be better looking than a green, pink or blue model from times past, not to mention use less water. Fresh white towels, guest soaps, can add little details that stage a scene and tell a buyer that your home was well cared for. This translates as a home that is move in ready, and problem free.

Living areas need to be clutter free, personal belongings can be packed away

 This is a great idea anyway because if your home sells, you will be ahead of the packing game and be relieved! Steam clean the carpets, add new bedding in the bedrooms, and make sure your home's furnishings don't distract and overcrowd the space. Buyers are not interested in your collections, photos, or mementos. Having too much "stuff" can make a buyer think you will take forever moving out if they make an offer and this is always a potential headache, especially if they have their own time frame to work in. De-personalizing, and de-cluttering will say to your potential buyer  that you can be out of there in no time, and they can envision their own belongings in the space much easier. If you have to, while your home is on the market, it would be a good idea to rent a storage unit to do this. Think of how stress free your moving out will be knowing that the majority of your things are out of the house, and already packed and waiting for your next home. Its a little investment now, but a huge relief later.

Lastly, address your curb appeal

 Lawns should be cut, hedges trimmed, fresh potted flowers can be a nice touch and fences should be mended. Have a friend walk around your home inside and out and tell you what they think you need to do to spruce up the place. Sometimes a fresh honest pair of eyes can be enlightening, since we tend to overlook things we see every day. With limited funds, you should always make a list of what you can do, versus what you can't do  and make the best of it. Many buyers will do what I call " a drive by" when they are considering your home. What they see from the road could either have them hit the gas and floor it, or slow down and admire. Which do you think will get their name on the dotted line? You are not just selling your home, but to the buyer, you are selling a lifestyle, make it as desirable as possible.