Articles Tagged "Decorating"

A new home is like a blank canvas. There are plenty of Sarasota homes for sale, but it's your job to make that house your own, with everything from the colors of the walls to the style and layout of the furniture, and much more. Now, with fall upon us, it's the perfect opportunity to turn your new house into a home with some fun interior design trends. Here are a few you should know about.

• Vintage Pieces
  There's nothing wrong with a home full of basic, functional, and comfortable Ikea furniture. But most homeowners today are looking for something more. They want something with personality. Something that has a story behind it. That's why vintage furniture is becoming popular. It's high quality and built to last, so you can have it in your family for generations. It can also help give your home a cozier, more personal look. Plus, buying vintage furniture instead of new pieces is more sustainable, reducing manufacturing and lowering your carbon footprint.
  
  
• Natural Design
  Not everything can or should be bought secondhand. However, that doesn't mean you need to sacrifice sustainability. Simple choices like lighter, natural wood furniture pieces, rather than ones that have been stained darker, are more environmentally friendly. And when it comes to curtains and upholstery, choose more sustainable textiles, such as recycled cotton and organic hemp. Plus, those natural textures help give your home an upscale but cozy feel. It also helps to incorporate more natural light into the room, rather than relying on bulbs. And you can even add a few potted plants around the house, to complete the look. Being environmentally conscious doesn't mean you have to sacrifice style or decor. A little creativity and your home can be both stylish and sustainable.
  
  
• Layers
  By layering different pieces on top of one another, you can create a look of contrasting or complementary colors. Start with a simple throw on your couch, with a color that pops against the sofa fabric. You can also layer curtains with shades on your windows. You can even layer a small, patterned rug over a larger, solid color one to create a whole new style choice. This applies to bedding, too. Sheets, blankets, pillows, and comforter don't all necessarily have to be the same color and style. Try mixing and matching to build new looks. What's more, you can keep multiple pieces around and switch them out periodically, to keep things fresh.
  
  
• Compartmentalization
  A few years ago, open floor plans were all the rage. The kitchen, living room, and dining room were all one big space, and you could look over almost the whole house from a single vantage point. However, times have changed. Now, most homeowners want separate spaces and a bit of privacy between one room and the next. This is easily accomplished with a few partitions and room dividers. They allow you to define the spaces in your home more clearly. You can also create new spaces, like a home office, a den, or a play area for the kids. The mobility of these partitions also provides flexibility. And the dividers can be decorated in different colors and patterns, to blend seamlessly with the rest of your decor.

If you're looking for Bradenton homes for sale, our real estate agents can help you find the perfect one to meet your needs. Contact us to help you find your dream home, and find the design elements that will really make it yours.

Nothing warms the heart like a home that's decorated for the holidays. Decorating your home doesn't have to mean spending a fortune on impersonal, store-bought decorations. Even the most quintessential holiday decoration, a wreath, can be made at home with a little time and creativity.

Our real estate agents have noticed that a little bit of tasteful holiday decoration goes a long way when it comes to making a good impression with potential homebuyers. Whether you're selling or looking for a way to personalize your own home, break out the crafting supplies, and add some holiday cheer with these tips.

Find the Right Form

At the core of most wreaths is a form to give it shape. What you use depends on what your wreath is made of. For instance, many wreaths have a metal form that's useful for wiring greenery to. You can also find styrofoam wreath forms that can be spray painted or have decorations, such as jewels, glued to them. Even a cardboard cutout can provide the foundation for a wreath, with the right three-dimensional ornaments affixed to it.

Use Nature's Own Supplies

You can't go wrong with a traditional evergreen wreath, and you'll find many Bradenton homes for sale with these types of decorations hung on their doors. Finding materials for such a wreath could be as simple (and as cheap) as taking a walk. Collect small, thin evergreen branches that can be easily affixed to your wreath, as well as other potential decor, such as pine cones. Do make sure you have permission before you go stripping branches off someone else's trees, though, and try not to take too many from one tree.

Repurpose Like a Pro

If a more traditional wreath doesn't appeal to you, you can make a free or inexpensive holiday wreath by repurposing everyday items. For instance, holiday fabric (perhaps from those holiday pajamas you never liked?) can be used to cover a styrofoam wreath form, or other holiday items such as ornaments or holiday cookie cutters can be grouped to form a wreath shape. Don't forget to finish it off with some pretty ribbon!

Tie It All Together

Once you have an idea for your wreath, the real trick is to put it into action. Choosing a sturdy way of putting everything together will ensure your wreath lasts the season, especially if it's expected to get knocked around a bit. Sarasota homes for sale get a lot of showings, so make your wreath strong if it'll hang on the door of your home while it's on the market! When well done, a wreath that is wired together can easily stand the test of time. While it's quick and easy, remember that hot glue is simply melted plastic and won't withstand a lot of rough handling. Other glues tend to weaken over time and may not be ideal for wreaths you want to reuse in future years.

The holidays are exciting, and nothing gets you in the mood to celebrate quite like decorating. Feeling overwhelmed at the thought of selling your home during the busy holiday season? Contact us today, and one of our agents can take some of that weight off your shoulders.

Decorating your entryway can be an easy, fun way to shift into the fall season without exerting too much effort. It's a smaller space so that you can create an effect with just a few accents. Maybe you're expecting company, but you're too busy to decorate the whole house, or you're expecting potential buyers to visit since you've listed your home among Sarasota homes for sale or Bradenton homes for sale. Why not just focus on the entryway, and say it all with a great first impression?

We're sure you'll love these tips for fall entryways that will dazzle your company.

1. Start with a Bench 
   You need a bench -- or something like it -- in your entryway, no matter what the season. If you've already got a nice entryway table or hall tree, so much the better. Metal, wood, wicker -- whatever suits your style. This piece of furniture will be the stage for all your decorating efforts. Here's where you change your seasonal pillows. Display your decorative gourds and pumpkins on top of it or under it. 
   
   
2. Chalk it up
   What could be simpler for wishing your visitors well than a fall greeting on a chalkboard? Think your artistic skills aren't up to the mark? Go online and look for some simple examples of chalkboard art, and you'll be surprised at how well you can do by just imitating and adapting. Your message and art can welcome visitors but can also be directional, as in, "Follow the pumpkins to the kitchen for Fall fun," or "This way to hot apple cider."
   
   
3. Did We Mention Pillows?
   A changing cast of seasonal pillows is an easy way to mark the passage of the seasons. Set the mood: spooky, fun, festive -- you decide. If you're handy with the sewing machine, you can make seasonal covers to slip over the pillows as the mood strikes you. For fall, you can, of course, go with traditional orange, cinnamon, and rust, but you can also jazz things up with a vivid purple or a striking green. 
   
   
4. Go Vertical
   Make use of the space above the bench or to the side of the chalkboard. Hang some decorative hooks or install a rustic coat or hat rack to hang stuff: a wreath, a lantern, or seasonal garlands. 
   
   
5. Seasonal Wreaths
   One of the best ways to mark the change of seasons is through wreaths, but you don't have to limit your display efforts to the front door. You can hang fun Halloween wreaths with pumpkin lights in the entryway to mark the spooky season, but also dried botanicals to signify the arrival of fall. 
   
   
6. Lots of Pumpkins
   Pumpkins just lend themselves to inspiring creative fall displays and arrangements. Big ones, middling ones, ginormous ones -- mix and match -- you can paint your entryway masterpiece on a palette of pumpkins and gourds. Put 'em on top of the entryway table or under the bench. Draw or paint faces on them to set the mood, or decorate your pumpkins with garlands of fall leaves. If you'd rather avoid the messiness of carving, create Halloween creatures or fall figures out of them, using felt or construction paper and a hot glue gun. 

Our real estate agents are always ready to share good ideas that can help you sell your home. Contact us today. 

Spring cleaning isn't something we all look forward to, but while we're sticking close to home, this is an excellent opportunity to organize and clean house. To make it more manageable, we advise creating a five-day plan, focusing on a section of the house each day. Set some goals, write them down and check them off. Here are some suggestions that you can adapt as needed.

1. Monday -- Clean appliances and cabinets under sinks.
   Let's get some of the most challenging tasks done first. Start by deep cleaning your kitchen appliances until they sparkle, but first remember to check cleaning recommendations for appliance surfaces, particularly stainless steel. Clean out cabinets under bathroom and kitchen sinks, throwing away whatever you no longer use, disposing of any cleaning products according to local regulations. Vacuum the coils under your refrigerator to keep it running efficiently.
2. Tuesday -- Clean closets, cupboards and the pantry.
   This is another task you may be putting off, but don't,  in fact, be merciless. Go through clothes, shoes, toys, household items, and if you haven't worn or used something in a year, it's time to say goodbye to it. If possible, box and save these items to donate them to charity. Throw away out-of-date food in the pantry. Clean shelves and redo shelf paper if you use it. 
3. Wednesday -- Perform outdoor tasks.
   Sweep the sidewalks, porch, and patio. Make your own glass cleaner with 2 cups of water (distilled or filtered is best so it doesn't leave residue), 2 tablespoons vinegar and 10 drops essential oil of choice to cut the vinegar smell) and clean exterior windows and door glass, light fixtures, and patio furniture. Take a look around the HVAC condenser and trim back bushes so the unit can maintain proper airflow. Clear grass, leaves, and weeds away from the base of the unit.
4. Thursday -- Clean interior glass.
   Grab an old t-shirt (they're pretty much lint-free), and continuing your window cleaning from the inside, along with door glass, and mirrors. Work top to bottom, wiping the water away with a squeegee to avoid streaks.
5. Friday – Clean the garage.
   Start by separating everything you absolutely need from items you can, want or should donate, sell or throw away. If you don't have shelving, cabinets or other types of storage units, now is a good time to consider them. Everything needs to have a place to avoid piles of clutter.
6. Saturday – Relax and take the day off.
   Time for a break! If you are thinking of moving, we recommend taking a virtual tour of Bradenton homes for sale and Sarasota homes for sale to see what's available in the area, and of course our real estate agents are happy to help. Contact us today!