Author Archives kathyregini

This time of year we put away the holiday decor and we usually want to shed a few pounds. Many of us also want to get rid of stuff around the house and make a fresh start to go with the new year. Martha Stewart has a great article on how & why to go about it. Read it.

www.marthastewart.com/271892/100–reasons-to-get–rid-of-it‎

1. Eliminate any potential objections that might keep the buyer from making a fair offer. People are always looking for a reason to offer you less money for your home, so fix anything that doesn’t work, paint, and replace anything that is worn out or outdated. If your home is competitively priced and it’s condition exceeds a buyer’s expectations, you’ll get a good offer.
2. Clean the house, top to bottom, and have it professionally staged. Buyer’s want to see an HGTV home, not your junk and clutter everywhere
3. Invite a couple of agents to create a comparative marketing analysis. Don’t just hire whoever sold you your house. See what each person is willing to do to get it sold-which marketing plan will work best for you. They might have differing ideas of how much the house is worth, and may even have a buyer in mind for a quick sale.

I’m so excited…Pantone announced the new color of the year 2014  and it’s a color I just LOVE!

RADIANT ORCHID

One of my mantras is that every room in your home should be used daily. The days of holding your living room hostage for company are over. –Jeffrey Alan Marks, The Meaning of Home

The key to creating a successful white holiday look is to layer shades of white and cream along with a mix of natural textures,  metallic finishes, and patterns. Adding natural elements such as burlap, branches, pinecones, candles, etc gives warmth.

“A house is much more than mere shelter, it should lift us emotionally and spiritually.” John Saladino

This is my 3rd year with this design blog and, as always, I have to put my two cents in about un-traditional Thanksgiving decor. It’s good to be different!

Whenever someone wants to introduce some color into a home, I recommend a 3-color palette.  Next, follow the designer’s color rule of dividing the colors into percentages: 60% dominant color, 30% secondary color, and 10% accent color. It’s really easy and fabulous! Picture below shows the neutral, cream/beige as the dominant, chartreuse green as the secondary, and plum as the accent.

It’s important to show how odd spaces are to be used in a home, so it will not leave potential buyers confused. This slanted ceiling in the attic could have just been left empty. By adding built in shelving, desk and chair, the area becomes a functioning office space. This cozy cove adds value to the home.

“I don’t think people have enough fun with decorating. It doesn’t have to be so serious. Design isn’t like marriage…you don’t commit for life!”  Ross Cassidy