Making Your Home Sing

Budget-Friendly Home Staging Consultations Work

2012-02-10T10:25:00.000-05:00

4060 Mizner Ct., Jacksonville, Florida 32217

Do you want to have your home professionally staged but worry about the cost? Do you need to sell your home quickly and make a decent profit? Consider a home staging consultation where you pay for my suggestions and you implement the recommendations. I have been successful in getting homes sold in as little as one day with this "do it yourself" home staging method!

My professional training focused on the proper placement of furniture for good traffic flow and room enhancement. I also know how to arrange accessories (the jewelry of the room) to create an appealing atmosphere. As a certified paint color consultant, I know which paint colors sell homes. In addition, I research who would most likely purchase your home and tell you how to stage it accordingly. Most importantly, I can be objective and know how to create an emotional connection between the buyer and your home.

When I do a home staging consultation, I accompany the homeowner or realtor throughout the exterior and interior of the property. I document all of the changes that need to be done to get the house ready to put on the market. Some of these include:

Tips on how to arrange furniture and accessories to best showcase rooms
Interior and exterior paint color recommendations
Items that need to be removed
Yard / Garage clean-up/ grooming suggestions
For vacant homes – suggestions on what furnishings to place in the home to give it some "personality”

All of my clients also receive a folder which includes easy cleaning solutions, recommendations on how to keep their house “show-ready” as well as other helpful information to realize a quick sale.

I offer two types of reports. The verbal report includes my hand-written notes and explanation about what to do and is less expensive; the comprehensive report is a written report that is emailed or mailed to you in a much more formal format and includes photos of what is not conducive to selling the home. For an additional minimum investment, I will return to ensure that you have staged the home properly for a quick sale.

I recently had the pleasure of doing a home staging consultation for a local realtor, Sharon McMullen of Watson Real Estate Corporation in Jacksonville, Florida. Sharon took my report and implemented all of my suggestions. Two days later, she informed me that on the day she listed the property she had two showings! She hadn’t even had her office realtor caravan, yet. Needless to say, she did an excellent job staging and her pictures were gorgeous. She truly felt that the investment in staging made a terrific difference.

Here are a few pictures of this property after being staged. Click here to get more details about this beautiful home and Sharon’s contact information. If you are interested or know someone who might be, you should act fast. The average time on the market for homes in northeast Florida was reported to be 120 days for the last quarter of 2011. I can tell you that this home will definitely not be on the market that long.

Angling the Couch and Layering Mantel Artwork/Mirror Improved the Look

Attractive Placement of Accessories and a Good Traffic Flow Are a Buyer's Dream


Removing the Floor Rug Opened Up the Space

An Inviting Master Bedroom

If you are a realtor or homeowner in northeast Florida and you don't want your listing or home to be on the market for 120 days or more, contact me for my results-oriented "Do-It- Yourself Home Staging Consultation." It will cost you a lot less than a price reduction if the home doesn't sell. "$taging" makes good "cents".

Mary Habres

Certified Home Stager, Redesigner, and Paint Color Consultant

Jacksonville, Florida

904-553-0366

Perception Marketing–My New Service

2012-02-04T18:25:00.000-05:00

A Bathroom Needing Perception Marketing

Have you ever had a bad experience in a new restaurant? Maybe the food was lousy or the waiter was rude. Did you ever return to that restaurant or did you decide that was your last visit? Did you ever visit a company’s website and click to another site because there was just too much information to digest? Did you ever throw away a person’s business card because you couldn’t read it? Did you ever decide not to buy a house because of its untidiness or foul odors? First impressions are powerful and can really help or hurt a business.

As a home stager, my job has been perception marketing – changing a potential home buyer’s perception of a home by showing its potential. This very same marketing approach can be applied to businesses to make them more profitable. Perception marketing is all about creating a strong effective branding message for a company. A company’s branding is the core of its being. It’s not just its logo, company name, colors or tagline. It’s the consumer’s perception of the overall purchasing experience with a company. It affects whether a consumer will purchase or continue to purchase from a company. Wouldn’t you say that’s important? Don’t you want to do business with a company that has its act together, is pleasant and eager to please you?

Being a small business owner, I’m constantly reviewing all of my operating procedures, my forms, my marketing materials and my on-line presence. I’m contemplating how something went and how I can improve upon that service the next time. I keep in contact with all of you through my blog and my customers also receive my monthly newsletter. I have worked diligently to create a good business presence to experience growth and I now want to help other small business owners do the same.

I have started another blog until I can get a new website to showcase both my decorating/staging and new business perception marketing services. The name of my new blog is Making Your Business the Star. You can access it by clicking its name. I’m going to be mixing it up a little over there by posting some marketing, branding, and communication strategies for small businesses and telling the story of a lady named Susan , a home stager who has become disenchanted with her business. I’ll be taking my readers on Susan’s journey to Success! If you’d like to join us , subscribe to my new blog to receive my posts. You can also become a follower. That blog is on Word press which I finally figured out how to navigate. I found a star-themed template which ties in with the name of my blog. I hope you enjoy reading my posts on that site and will forward them to your friends. You’ll see the services I provide and a little more information about my background. By the way, if you’d like to leave a comment on a post over there, you need to click on the cloud-like image on the post until I can figure out how to get the comment box to appear below the post. Believe me. This has been a technological journey for me.

Design Trends for 2012

2012-01-30T20:38:00.000-05:00

What design trends are making a statement in 2012? We already know the hot color is Tangerine Tango. My friend Judy and I were shopping (favorite hobby) yesterday and could not believe all of the orange we saw in the clothing and the furnishings. Have you been noticing that , too? I purchased a fitness top in an orange color because I have been telling the people in my strength training class about the predominance of that color this year. Might as well personally advertise it!

Orange Makes a Bold Statement in This Room - Houzz

If you read my post on 2011 Decorating Trends I Like, you'll notice some similar styles that are continuing into this year. In addition to orange, we'll see lots of shades of gray from warm to charcoal in furnishings. Yellow will be featured a lot with gray.

Pops of Yellow Are Repeated in This Gray-Schemed Room -Jennifer Brower Designs

As in 2011 , manufacturers of furniture will include natural and reclaimed woods in their furniture pieces giving them a very rustic look.

Reclaimed Wood and Metal Wheels Create a Rustic Coffee Table -DIYInteriors.com

Walk through a lighting store or the lighting section of Pottery Barn or Ballard’s and you'll see some examples of repurposed lighting – reclaimed pieces that have been turned into lamps and lighting fixtures. Could you see one of the fixtures pictured below in your home?

Bottles, Paint Cans, and Mason Jars Repurposed Into Lighting Fixtures - designforrepurposing.com

The industrial look in design will also continue to be a popular trend. Don’t you love dining in a restaurant that has brick walls, exposed piping and a raised ceiling which have been painted black? I love this look. Always wondered what it would be like to live in a loft apartment in an old factory in some big city.

This Loft Apartment Epitomizes the Industrial Look -Trendhomedesign.com

The next time you're in Home Goods, take a look at the chairs. You'll notice the seating is getting lower, isn’t it? Chairs and sofas are sitting closer to the floor. I remember this fad back in the 50's. (Yes. I was alive then!!) The standard size for a lounge chair is 20” from the ground. Manufacturers are now making chairs 17”-18” off the floor to fit in smaller homes. Have you purchased a slipper chair for your home?

Lower Seating in Couches and Chairs for 2012 - furnishingzine.com

Oversized photography and artwork are also making the 2012 scene by infusing a very dramatic look into interiors.

A Large Piece of Artwork and Orange Accents Make A Bold Statement - Garrish Designs

Tile flooring that looks like wood will remain popular in 2012. This might be a less expensive flooring option depending upon the type of tile you select. You'll get the look of wood but not the softer feel.

Tile Floors Masquerade As Wood - Houzz

In 2012, we’ll continue to see metallic tiles by themselves or mixed with other types of tile.

A Solid Metallic Backsplash Reflects Light in This Kitchen - Jamie Laubhan Oliver

Beautiful vibrant wall coverings will continue to enhance homes in 2012. They were so popular in the 80’s and then vanished. Now, they're back better than ever. You’ll also see rectangular sinks in unique as well as traditional white finishes in bath design.

Bold-Patterned Wallpaper and a Rectangular-Shaped Sink Reflect Design in 2012 -Rachel Reider Interiors

What other design trends are you seeing this year? Do you like them or do you wish they would disappear? Notice how the past is being repeated? It's a sign of the times.

Doctor Décor Tends to a Color Emergency

2012-01-21T19:19:00.000-05:00

Dr. Decor (Me) Prescribes the Right Hue

Last Wednesday, it was my pleasure to speak to the Southside Newcomers’ Group in Jacksonville, Florida at the Marsh Landing Country Club. When called to do this speaking engagement, I thought about a topic that would be appealing to the ladies. It was color. With all of our colorful seasonal decorating accessories away, January can be a bleak month. I wanted to talk about something that would give their “anemic” looking rooms some life! What could I do to make it entertaining and educational? I decided to dress as a doctor and call myself "Doctor Décor". Humor is always a great way to captivate an audience. However, I looked so authentic that one of the ladies thought I really was a doctor. Too funny!

Dr. Decor Shares Her Color Remedies

My presentation covered the basics about how to select the correct paint color for your home. I jokingly gave them the House Beautiful Color Personality Test to elicit if that was a safe way to pick colors. We all agreed that you need to start with a leading pattern to determine your wall color. Your leading pattern can be your rug, a piece of artwork, or a piece of fabric from your upholstery or window treatments. We also discussed how lighting; room direction; and undertones in furniture, countertops and cabinets can affect paint color. Did you know that the new fluorescent lighting no longer casts a blue light on things but is still a cooler light? With incandescent lighting, warm colors appear brighter and cool colors appear duller because it is a yellow-colored light. LED lights can change a color’s intensity or boldness. Halogen lights are most like natural light and make colors more vibrant. Needless to say, they are a designer’s favorite type of lighting.

Rooms that get eastern light have light that has a green cast to it; those that get western exposure, get lighting with an orange cast to it. Likewise, rooms with a northern exposure get a blue cast of color and those facing south get a yellow cast to them. That’s why it’s important to sample your paint colors using the actual paint color painted on poster board. Cut four 12”X12” squares of poster board painted in your selected paint color and tape each square to a wall. Observe how the natural and artificial light affects the color throughout the day. Don’t paint the proposed color directly on the wall because the color that is already there will interfere with how it will really look. You need to use the white poster board for the true look.

How Much Color Can You Tolerate? - Hooked on Houses

We also talked about color value and color saturation. Color value is how light or dark a color is on a paint strip. Think of a cup of black coffee. As you continue to add milk, the coffee gets lighter and lighter because you are adding something white to it. On a paint strip showing related colors, the top chip has the most white and the bottom chip has the least. If you want a color that is between chips and not appearing on the strip , you have to tell the paint store to add more white to the darker color of the two chips.

Saturation is how bold or muted the color is. Think of espresso as being the most saturated color of coffee and a light roast being the most muted. People are becoming much more tolerant of bolder colors. One of the reasons for this is the Internet. Generation Y'ers, otherwise known as the Millennials, who grew up during the computer age, are accustomed to seeing bolder colors on the Internet and have gravitated to artwork, clothing, cars, appliances and furnishings which showcase them. I, myself, am seeing some dissension in the staging industry as to whether to use bolder paint colors or use neutral color and introduce color with accessories. Do we appeal to the masses of buyers who want a neutral background or do we target a particular buyer who would fall in love with a home wrapped in color? Are the masses becoming more comfortable with color? Decisions. Decisions. What’s your take on this? Leave me a comment and tell me if you were purchasing a home, would you choose the house with the more neutral wall color or the more colorful one?

More Neutral Colors in This Home - Hooked on Houses

Last but not least, we talked about the value of hiring a paint color consultant. If you are not comfortable making decisions about color, it's wise to hire a paint color consultant. I think about the lady that I mentioned in one of my blog posts who selected the exterior paint colors for her home and hated them. Her husband told her that she would now have to live with her mistakes for another 5-6 years. She was certainly a "penny wise and a pound foolish". Hiring a paint color consultant can save you the aggravation and expense of having to repaint your mistakes. If you are living in the Jacksonville, Florida area, make sure you contact Doctor Décor ( me) before you have a color emergency!

How to Organize Bookshelves

2012-01-15T14:10:00.000-05:00

Beautifully Arranged Bookcases Flank the Entrance to This Room - Houzz

January is the month to organize, right? Out with the old and in with the new! Let’s take a look at some of your bookshelves. Sorry to say this but I think you should just remove everything from the shelves – start fresh. Get the old dust cloth out and clean those shelves, books, and accessories. Decide if there is anything that’s beyond saving - you know the Salvation Army is dying to get it! You should see some of the things I sent them. I’m sure they were tossed. Now that you have cleaned everything, you’re ready to arrange your bookshelves. Here are some ideas to create attractive bookshelf arrangements.

Bookshelves Are a Great Place to Repeat Color - Maison21 for Houzz

1. Consider painting the back of the bookcase a color that will accent the room. You can also paint foam core board, cut it to fit the different sections of your bookcase, and insert the boards into the back of each section. If you’re smart, you will paint one side of the foam core a color for the winter and the other side for the summer. Just reverse the boards for a new look during the year.

Don't Forget to Accessorize the Top of a Free-Standing Bookcase - Decor Pad

2. Remove all of the paperback books that are overly colorful. Choose the books that are color-coordinated with the room. Arrange just a few on each shelf ensuring that you balance the entire shelf unit. Arrange a variety of heights together. I prefer to place the tallest book on the end of the shelf and work inward decreasing the size of the books as you continue. Avoid placing books of equal height unless you’re arranging a collection of books like a set of encyclopedias. ( Don’t think we have current sets any more. I remember my World Book sets. Guess they’re antiques now.)

Include Different Shapes in Your Accessories - Kerrie Kelly for Houzz

3. Don’t fill an entire shelf with books standing vertically. To make it interesting, lay some of them in short stacks on their sides. Slant a few books against an accessory or stack of books. Mix in other items such as pottery, vintage pieces, figurines, globes, lanterns, plates, greenery, awards, photos, etc.

A Collection of Globes Adds Interest to This Bookcase - Pinterest

4. If you need more books, take advantage of the annual used book sale at your library. You can purchase books for very reasonable prices. Stick to hardback books that will blend in with the books you have or act as an accent color for your room.

Layer Accessories or Display Them on Top of the Books - Pinterest

5. If you don’t want any color at all, face the books with their spines facing the back of the shelves so the white pages face forward.

For a Monochromatic Look, Face the Book Pages Out - Billinkoff Architecture

6. Look to fill both the height and width of the shelves.

Interesting Display of Books and White Accessories - Centsational Girl

Leave Some Shelves for Accessories Only - Encore Home Staging and Redesign

7. If you have floating shelves, try layering books and including accessories like letters, vases, and even vinyl graphics.

Animal Graphics Draw Your Eye to the Floating Shelves - Houzz

I hope you have found these ideas helpful in organizing your bookshelves. They are great places to tell a story with your accessories, infuse color into a room, and display your taste in reading.

"I cannot live without my books." ~ Thomas Jefferson

Curvy Furnishings = Cozy Rooms

2012-01-07T16:32:00.000-05:00

House Beautiful

A recent article in my local newspaper, The Florida Times Union, caught my eye. Apparently, Oregon State University conducted a study that revealed “people react more positively to and prefer to socialize in spaces filled with curvy forms and shapes as opposed to rectangles. Round objects add to a room’s approachability."

"Curvilinear forms create warmth," said Sibel Dazkir, a doctoral student in design and human environment who conducted the study. "They're associated with organic forms found in nature."

In this study, more than 100 undergraduate students viewed four gray-scaled computer-drafted room interiors. Two of the rooms contained rounded furniture and the other two rooms had rectangular furniture. The participants found that they were much happier , more hopeful, comfortable and relaxed in the rooms with the curvier furniture than the sharp-angled rooms.

I can understand the results of this study because curvy or rounded furniture opens up a room and makes one feel less confined. Round furnishings like tables and mirrors soften a room’s hard edges. A curved chair can soften the straight lines of a table. Curved furnishings are gracious and may make people feel more relaxed. Therefore, they are well-suited for living rooms and bedrooms.

Take a look around your home. Do any of your rooms include curvy or rounded furnishings? My guess is that we all have a tendency to use more rectangular- shaped furnishings. Why not try cozying up your rooms with a few of these ideas?

Encore Home Staging and Redesign

When accessorizing, incorporate round or curvy accents. On this buffet table in my foyer, notice the round balls, pumpkins and curved container. They soften the rectangular shape of the mirror and the lampshades.

J Banks Designs

In this picture, we have a curved buffet table, round dish, and round-circled pattern in the wallpaper to soften the rectangles in the four wall pictures and make the room a little less formal.


knightmovesblog

The circles that border the mirrors, the curved lampshades as well as the curvy designs in the rug and footboard of the bed create a relaxed feeling even in the presence of the striped bench.

Sherwin -Williams Color Visualizer

Notice how the curved lines of the chair and the round table soften the cold industrial look of this kitchen.

HGTV

A round table and the curved shape of the chairs cozy up this contemporary room.

Laura Manning Bandik for Houzz

Who wouldn’t love to listen to music in this room? A round rug with circles on the border, the round-shaped back of the chairs and the round balls on the lamp base create a relaxing mood.

I hope you will take the time to incorporate some round shapes or curvy lines to your décor and let me know if you feel more relaxed in the room. Remember try to think outside the box! (rectangular lines)

Make a Resolution to Read These Quotes

2011-12-31T16:16:00.000-05:00

Have you thought about what your new year’s resolutions are going to be for 2012? Ever read any quotations in hopes of getting ideas? Today I’m sharing some of my favorite words of wisdom from one of my Pinterest boards called “Wordy Wisdom”.

Pinterest is a site which is basically a collection of everything imaginable that people find on the Internet and post. Every one of these quotes really made me stop and think how true each one is. Which ones will affect your resolutions for next year?

weheartit.com

I think I’m going to try to enjoy the ride better. Life is too short to make yourself crazy! Take it one day at a time.

Yes, sometimes when you are adamant about a belief or an issue, you are not very popular. You are forced to choose between popularity and your values. Are you going to work on honoring your values or being popular?

If you have courage combined with a good sense of humor and imagination, that roller coaster ride should be a breeze.

Christie Williams

How is your “people account”? Do you have individuals in your life who are constantly draining you rather than supporting you? Only you can balance that account!

How many times have you said, “She or he belittled me or upset me?” Maybe 2012 is a good year to read a book on assertiveness or how to handle people who try to intimidate you. Sharpen those communication skills!

Beautifully said. How many of us beat ourselves up by constantly worrying about the consequences of our mistakes? Learn to forgive yourself because mistakes can help you grow and succeed if you learn from them.

erindavenport.tumblr.com

Your thoughts will make or break you. I am currently reading a motivational book by Joyce Meyer called Living Beyond Your Feelings. Joyce talks a lot about how powerful your thoughts are. Negative thoughts can stop you from keeping resolutions and realizing success. I highly recommend this book if you need to work on thinking positively.

imgfave.com

When you end up in the right place after making the wrong choice, you know there is a Higher Being watching over you. I look back at several careers I had which were not the right match for me. However, the experience I gained in those jobs helped me get to the job that was perfect for me. Sometimes, things have a way of working themselves out despite a poor decision. All it takes is a little patience and adaptability.

emilymcdowell.posterous.com

Understand who you are and what makes you tick. You will never be happy if you try to be something that you’re not. What makes us different is what makes us great. Maybe it’s time to make an investment in yourself and try a life coach.

I hope you found some inspiration from these quotes and that your resolutions for next year will enable you to become a better person.

Thanks for reading my blog. I really enjoy writing about decorating, paint colors, and home staging so I hope one of your resolutions for 2012 will be to continue to follow my posts. Stay on that roller coaster with me! Wishing all of you a happy, healthy, prosperous new year.

Last Minute Christmas Decorating Ideas

2011-12-24T12:01:00.000-05:00

Purple Adds a Regal Holiday Touch - Home Decorating Trends

T’was the night before Christmas and all through the house; not an ornament was hung, and I felt like a louse. A little late on your holiday decorating? Got some last minute shopping to do? Haven’t baked those cookies, yet? Feeling stressed? Welcome to the club. With everything we have to do to prepare for this season, things can get hectic. Sometimes, you just need to take a little breather. I can’t help with the shopping or the baking of the cookies, but here are a few more pictures to inspire you to decorate. I hope you enjoy them and that they help you create the “holiday spirit" in your home.

The Repetition of the Mercury Glass Accessories Enhance This Tablescape - Between Naps on the Porch

For those of you who like greenery in your tablescape, take a look at this creation from Susan of Between Naps on the Porch. Place a runner down the center of your table and line it with greens, votive glasses with candles as well as some holiday accessories that give height to the arrangement. You can also place some Christmas ornaments or pine cones throughout the display.

An Ornamental Tablescape

Another idea for an easy tablescape is to place a runner of netting or other textured fabric which complements your color scheme on your tablecloth. Place a two-tiered cookie plate in the center of the runner and fill it with some of your holiday ornaments. For a little more bling, lace a strand of beads throughout it. Bring out your glass candlesticks and place your larger ornaments on them. Scatter more ornaments and strands of beads throughout the arrangement. Don’t forget to include some real candles also for a truly festive look.

A Holiday End Table Arrangement

Want to decorate an end table? Use a festive fabric for your base. It could even be a large holiday napkin. Place a tall seasonal accessory in the center and use greenery around it as well as a larger ornament or two and some greenery and a strand of beading . For this arrangement , I placed the conical tree in the center of a candle ring made of Christmas greenery. The trick in making any of these vignettes is to mix textures, shapes and sizes and repeat colors.

Giving a Corner a Festive Look

In this photo, you see I used a gold netting fabric which you can stretch or crinkle . I placed it on top of a pedestal in my dining room and put a holiday arrangement in the center with some ornaments and greenery at the base of the vase. It makes a festive statement in the corner behind my dining room table.

Don't Forget Your Staircase Landing

Here is a fun vignette that I created on my staircase landing. Again, notice the different shapes, sizes, and textures – fabric, rattan, ceramic, and wood. The colors serve to unite the arrangement and the books provide some height. Covering the books in holiday wrapping paper would also add cohesiveness to the display. You can see this vignette as you go up the steps and also when sitting in my family room. At night , I turn on the battery-operated red candle for an enhanced holiday look.

A Rustic Holiday "Mantelscape" - Funky Junk Interiors

Here is an adorable holiday mantel idea from Funky Junk Interiors. The ladder and metal container lend a very rustic or shabby chic look to this display. Notice the repetition of the color red throughout the arrangement.

A Ladder Christmas Tree - Home Decorating Trends

Last but not least, we have a ladder Christmas tree from Home Decorating Trends. What a neat, creative idea! Great spaces on the ground to place your presents, too.

I hope you have found these ideas helpful. Remember to select your color scheme and theme first (mine was gold and red this year and a general Christmas theme) and use accessories that will lend to your color choices. Use accents of different sizes, textures, and shapes.

Thank you so much for reading my posts, following me, and for leaving your comments. If there are any topics that you would like featured in 2012, contact me. Wishing you and your family a very happy holiday season!

Why Hire A Certified “Paint Color Picker”?

2011-12-16T16:33:00.000-05:00

Source

I love color. Within the past two years,I participated in two paint color trainings , Color With No Regrets and Sensational Color for Your Home. As a result, I became certified as a paint color consultant, or as people sometimes call us a “paint color picker”. There’s not a day goes by that I don’t read an article about color. I do this for my own enjoyment and to enhance my knowledge of the science of picking paint colors. Last evening, I took a webinar about the new color trends for 2012-2013 to confirm what they are and why they are happening – very interesting subject matter! Hope to to do a post soon to clue you in on what I learned. If you are “into” color like I am , you will love it!

In this post, I have included "before and "after" photos of a home for which I selected paint colors. The brick and the roof had red-orange undertones. I decided to use Sherwin Williams colors on the house which had orange undertones . For the front door, and house numbers , I recommended a blue which is the complement to orange. It adds a great "pop" of color also because the house color is a warm hue and the door color is a cool hue. To create more drama, mix complementary colors whereby one is a warm color and the other is a cool color. In addition, use a satin, or semi-gloss finish on your front door to emphasize it.

Before - Sample Paints Tried on the House

A few days ago , I stumbled upon a discussion board about paint colors on the Internet. The first post read: “My wife wanted to change the color of our house so I left the color picking up to her. Well, she picked out like three or four different colors, selected the color, and then went out to Sherwin Williams and bought the paint. So, now that the paint is up on the house she claims that she hates the color ‘she’ chose. I say, ‘ Well, we spent all this money on the paint now it will have to stay up there for a few years because the paint is too expensive to be changing like it's water.’ She got upset with me and said, ‘I want to live in a house where I enjoy driving up to.’ I told her,’Well, maybe you'll have that feeling in a few years.’ “

Before - Sampling a Color I Recommended

This is a typical thing that happens when homeowners are in a rush to get their homes painted and think they can do it on their own. They spend lots of money with no guidance, are unhappy with the results, and have to live with their mistakes. Wouldn’t it have been much better if these folks had called a paint color picker like me who would have selected the right colors for their home?

After- Revitalized! - My Recommendation: - Dhurrie Beige,SW7524, on the House

A certified paint color picker is trained in the undertones of paint colors. They take into consideration the direction the house faces, the color of the roof, the color of the stone or brick and windows ,the other homes in the neighborhood, the landscaping. They know the right hues, saturations, values, and finishes that will make the home attractive and blend in with its surroundings.

Before - A Dark and Dreary Entrance

The next time you want to pick paint colors for the exterior or interior of your home and you don’t want to live with a costly mistake for five to seven years or hate how your home looks every time you pull into the driveway, hire a certified “paint color picker”. If you live in the Jacksonville, Florida area, contact me so I can pick the right paint colors for you. I’d love to meet you and help you pick paint colors that will make you proud to “drive up to your home”!

After - A Bright Welcoming Entryway - I Recommended Rainstorm - SW6236 - for the Door and House Numbers in a Satin Finish

After - The Finished Product - Trim in Kestral White, SW7516

“Color is a matter of taste and sensitivity.” ~ Edouard Manet - French Realist Impressionist Painter 1832-1883

Tangerine Tango - Pantone’s Color for 2012

2011-12-08T13:25:00.000-05:00

Pantone's Tangerine Tango

It’s out! It’s out! Pantone, the color authority that determines the popular hues for many industries , has proclaimed the 2012 color of the year! It is…… Tangerine Tango! According to Leatrice Eiseman, the executive director of the Pantone Institute, “…Tangerine Tango is an orange with a lot of depth in it…it marries the vivaciousness and adrenaline rush of red with the friendliness and warmth of yellow to form a highly visible magnetic hue that emanates heat and energy.”

Tangerine Tango Makes an Impact in Clothing and Accessories

Last year, we saw plenty of Pantone’s Color of the Year for 2011, Honeysuckle, in paint color, , furnishings, clothing and cosmetics. How many of you added this color to your wardrobe or decorating accessories? It definitely wasn’t a color for the faint of heart! This year’s color is bold, also. However, we will be seeing plenty of orange in a range of hues. I think orange is a color you either love or hate. There are probably more people who shy away from it than gravitate toward it. However, colors in the orange family are associated with excitement, affection, radiance and heat. They are warm, friendly, inviting, and denote a sense of home. Deep oranges like Tango Tangerine are associated with dependability , strength, rich beauty, wealth and fame. Lighter hues provide comfort and can relieve stress. Orange is known to increase the appetite, induce relaxation, slow down the rates of blood flow, and increase the potential for sleep. Good rooms for orange are the dining room, the family room, the guest bedroom, and the entryway. A color like Tangerine Tango could be used as an accent wall or in your decorating accessories. Sherwin-Williams includes a reddish-orange color in their 2012 Color Mix palette called Daredevil SW 6882. (need I say more?)

Tangerine Tango in Design - Source

Adding Some Fun Colors in This Boys' Bedroom - Daredevil,SW6882 and Major Blue, SW6795

I am really excited about Tango Tangerine for 2012. It’s a warm color that will really pop especially when paired with a cool color like blue, red-violet, or blue–green. Just think about all of the fun you can have with this color. The next time you visit a department store, notice all of the orange in the clothing, jewelry, and other accessories. Go to the bed and bath sections and you’ll see lots of orange in the towels, bedding, rugs, and bath accessories. The cosmetic counters will feature plenty of reddish-orange lip colors and nail polishes. How many orange cars do you see on the road? Color is powerful. It influences our lives in so many ways.

Decorating Your Front Porch for the Holidays

2011-12-03T11:06:00.000-05:00

A Festive Look Is Created From the Walkway to the Front Door - Source

Where should you start decorating your home for the holidays? Why not start on your front porch? It will take you less time to put a few things on the porch than it will to dress your interior and you'll give the impression that you are ready for the holidays. Let’s take a look at some ideas for creating a festive front porch.

Group lanterns or glass hurricane lamps along the front steps or porch ledges to welcome guests by candlelight.

Lanterns Light the Way to This Home - Pinterest

Change things up with an asymmetrical look. In other words, don’t make everything on the right of your door the same as what’s on the left. In the picture below, the homeowner placed the taller branches on the left of the front door and the chair and wreath on the right.

An Asymmetrical Arrangement of Holiday Decor Gives an Unexpected Look - The Inspired Room

Incorporate some natural elements in your decorations such as grapevine garland, fruit, pine cones, etc. as pictured below. Hang something on the diagonal on your door for a different look. I love the metal container with the greenery and fruit.

Notice All of the Different Textures Present in This Holiday Decorating Scheme - My Home Ideas

Swap your doormat for one that has a festive color or holiday theme. This homeowner has a lime green and red color scheme which is popular this year. Likewise, lime green and purple combinations are also a trend for holiday decorating this season. Make sure the color scheme you choose complements the colors on your exterior.

A Lime Green/Red Color Scheme Enhances This Black Front Door - Pinterest

Hang two or three wreaths on the front door, securing them with a wide ribbon or sleigh bells on a leather strap. Notice how these red wreaths pop against the royal blue front door.

Three Red Wreaths Pop Against This Royal Blue Door -BHG

Door alternative: Hang a stocking filled with fresh greens, branches, pine cones or candy canes.


A Stocking Filled With Greenery and a Bow Proclaim a Holiday Message -BHG

Instead of putting a wreath on your front door, accent your door knocker with a festive picture frame. Dress it up with small red berries, holiday ribbon and more of your favorite Christmas decorations.

A Festive Frame Coordinates Well With This Door Knocker - BHG

A pair of vintage ice skates filled with tiny wrapped gift boxes makes a fun and creative front door decoration. Put the look together in a wintry blue color scheme, pictured, or use a more traditional red and green combination. Again consider the colors you have in your exterior.

Ice Skates Filled With Wrapped Packages Beckon Visitors to a Winter Wonderland Inside - BHG

Similarly, you could fill the skates with greenery and attach them to your front door.

Two Pairs of Greenery-Laden Ice Skates Adorn This Front Door - HGTV

Create a unified color scheme by repeating the colors in your wreath, in your garland and other decorating accessories.

Lime Green and Red Colors Appear in the Packages, Wreath and Garland - Google Images

Tie a pair of ice skates to a sled and prop it up next to your front door to capture a winter holiday look even if you live in a place where it doesn’t snow.…Pretend!

Ice Skates Attached to a Sled Create a Winter Holiday Feel - Between Naps on the Porch

Use burlap garland and twigs sprayed white and glued together in the shape of stars as ornaments to decorate a tree on your front porch. What a natural look! This homeowner introduced another natural texture by placing the tree into a wicker basket.

Use Natural Elements in Your Holiday Decorating - HGTV

Think about coordinating your holiday exterior decorating with your interior holiday decorating to really make a statement. If you have a nautical theme outside, carry it inside.

I hope you found these ideas helpful in getting your front porch dressed for the holidays. Which one are you going to try? Drop me a line and let me know. Have fun!