Author Archives kathyregini

Gray reigns supreme as a neutral these days. But I always add a warm color so it doesn’t read cold. Yellow is one of my faves to mix it up and have a little fun!

The days of formal dining rooms away from where the family gathers daily are coming to an end. Living room/sitting rooms too. Open concept is taking over! Look at this great kitchen& dining room combo.

If you want to maximize time and cash, you should zero in on the two most important rooms of the house for resale: The Kitchen and Master bath.

Before you start, consider the neighborhood and your target buyer. Don’t over improve! Establish the quality of comparable homes. Then you can decide whether  granite and upgrading to stainless steel appliances make sense, for example. Your kitchen may need more of a budget remodel: painting the oak cabinets, replacing /adding hardware, installing a new faucet, upgrading the light fixture, and a new coat of paint.  Same goes with the master bath. Maybe you only change faucets, upgrade lighting and mirrors and add fresh new white towels. You would be amazed how much these changes will help the overall look of your home!

Window Panels: two design tips:

1. Hang above the window frame. To create the illusion of a taller window, mount the hardware (rod) 4-6 inches hove the window frame.

2. Hang wider than the window frame. Extending the rod 3-6 inches on each side makes the window seem larger and lets in more light.

If you are selling your home, here is a great article on improving curb appeal this time of year.

http://www.frontdoor.com/real-estate/tips-for-winter-curb-appeal

Dark, deep colors of eggplant, navy, taupe, grey and even black make for gorgeous front doors…

When considering color for a room, it’s good to think about what mood you want to create. Which colors will help you achieve that mood. Neutral (black, white, grey and brown) are basic to my decorator’s kit. When I stage a home, I always recommend these. Neutrals are amazingly flexible: add color splashes to liven up and subtract to calm it down. I only use black in small doses, as an accent, but a touch of black grounds the color scheme and gives it depth. But if you want a non-neutral, here are some guidelines:

RED- Creates Energy

PINK- Soothing

YELLOW- Happiness

GREEN- Restful

BLUE- Relaxing and promotes serenity

ORANGE-Excitement

So…choose wisely!

November through January are known for being slow months in real estate. But there are actually a few great reasons to list now, rather than wait ’til the spring. For starters, people who look for homes during the holidays are more motivated buyers.  Also, there are fewer houses to choose from, so you have less competition. And last, Homes show well when decorated tastefully for the holidays.

Now for  a few tips…

1. Don’t overdo it with large decorations that will actually make your house feel cramped. And no religious items.

2. Have your home professionally staged to show well both in pictures and in person.

3. Make your home extra cozy and inviting with a fire on, soft music and holiday treats.

Great post for DIYers…

http://www.houzz.com/ideabooks/18262852?m_refid=us-fb-content_18262852

A must read if you want your home to sell fast:

http://www.frontdoor.com/real-estate/staging-secrets-how-to-dress-your-house-for-sale-success