New Year's Resolution

It is that time again.  Each year it seems to come faster.  The New Year is upon us.  A time to reflect on past events and plan for the future. 

This past year found me earnestly working to grow my Home Staging business here in Broome County, New York.  I started off the year with a small ad in the For Sale by Owner and Realtor Magazine and now write a monthly column.

In March I sponsored a booth at the Greater Binghamton Association of Realtors Agents Day.

In June I traveled to Denver, Colorado to attend STAGE, a training event offered by the Association of Property Scene Designers.  I spent three days networking and learning the ins and outs of the business from stagers who came from across the United States and Canada.  I made many lasting friendships and continue to nurture them through social media sites.

      Me and Karen Schaefer, Founder of APSD                                          

2011 was a tough year economically for many.  My local area has been slow to embrace the concept of Home Staging.  However, 2012 will be the year I  redouble my efforts to share the benefits of Home Staging with my neighbors.  You only need look at the statistics to know that Staging is worthwhile and something sure to catch on given time.

SEE YOU ALL NEXT YEAR.

Embellishing for the Holidays

Getting ready for the holidays and thought I would add some more glitz and glam to the occasion.  I looked around to see what I might have that I could improve upon.

I took a yard sale wreath I found over the summer and clamped on a big glittery floral bow, two red birds and stuck in a couple of foliage and gold ornament picks.

Here it is adorning my front door to welcome guests.

I recently came across a bag of a dozen green wooden napkins rings for $.99 at the Salvation Army Thrift Store.  To dress them up I applied a 2 inch glitter snowflake ornament to each with my glue gun.  I also added clear self-adhesive gems I found at the craft store.

 

These will be the perfect addition to my holiday table.

If you have done any home decor shopping recently, you know mercury glass is big.    A colleague of mine told me about a product called Looking Glass from Krylon.  I found it in the craft store in the art glass section.  I took a basic glass hurricane vase I purchased at Walmart and glued a pedestal candle holder to the bottom to give it more height.  I spray painted the inside of the vase with several light coats of the mirror finish as directed.

After it dried thoroughly I placed a pillar candle inside.  The flame dances and glows beautifully from within and it too will be a great addition to my holiday table.

     

Adding Kitchen Storage

My bad!  My blogging schedule seems to have gone out the window.  I have gotten busy with many projects and the upcoming holidays.  So to get back on track let me tell you about one of my latest projects.

A couple of weeks ago I spent a Saturday at my favorite auction house.  Instead of getting carried away as I sometimes do, I had only one thing on my list.  I decided my kitchen needed more storage.  One small corner remained underutilized.  It held only a big bag of dog food sitting atop a heating register. 

My hunt was for a tall skinny cupboard to fit the space.  This particular auction advertised many primitive cupboards and I found just what I was looking for in the project barn.  For $35 it was mine.  On my way home I stopped at Lowes to purchase the items I would need to update it.   A couple of cans of spray paint, some small bun feet and metal anchors for the bottom and I thought some new pulls.  Instead I decided to use the existing pulls but to paint them with leftover bronze paint I knew I had at home.  As the unit had previously been used as a built-in it was missing portions of molding at the top.  To address that I decided to buy all new. 

The next day I got down to business.  I screwed on the metal plates to attach the four bun feet to the bottom.  I added some nails to the back to secure it where needed.  I removed the pulls and spray painted the unit and the molding piece satin leafy green.  I spray painted the pulls in bronze and left everything to dry.

The hardest part of the whole makeover was cutting and mitering the molding for the top.  I used a miter box and a hand saw.  Then I secured the molding with small finish nails.  Once complete and ready to go, I had my significant other help me get it into the house.  It fit perfectly and with the feet it was high enough off the floor to allow the heat out into the room.  We secured the top of the cupboard to the wall so it wouldn't tip.

I wrapped wood-look shelf paper around the shelves and installed them at the appropriate heights.    I left space at the bottom so I could fit in the large bag of dog food.  I also found wire racks to hang on the doors for my plastic wrap and garbage bag storage.  This allowed me to free up a whole drawer in another cabinet.  Check out the finished project below.

Ceiling Fans That Don't Look Like Ceiling Fans

If you watch design shows, you have probably heard all the designer negativity on ceiling fans.  I for one love having a ceiling fan in my bedroom.  I know it isn't as romantic as a beautiful hanging chandelier but it keeps me comfortable while I sleep.  Even during the winter months I run my fan to keep the air moving.

The designer in me knew it was wrong but now I don't have to choose.  Today while browsing the lighting department at Lowes I came across two great ceiling fans that don't look like ceiling fans.  Both were manufactured by Harbor Breeze.

The first which could fit into either a traditional or modern space is the 23" Eastview Ceiling Fan below. 

Lowes offers this fan by special order for $229.  It has a decorative leaf pattern in an aged bronze finish, a 3 speed motor, a 4.5" downrod mount, and comes with a remote control.

On Lowes.com it had a 4 star rating.  Main negative being that it didn't provide sufficient lighting to be the only light source in the room.   Not a problem since you always want to have more than one source of light anyway.  You need ambient as well as task lighting (ie., table lamps).  

For those with a more modern aesthetic the fan below might be a better fit.

 

The 28" Dexter Ceiling Fan above is also from Lowes.  It has a contemporary wooden and brushed nickel finish.  It can also be special ordered and is $299.  It has a 3 speed motor, 4.5" downrod mount and is remote controlled.  On Lowes.com it has a 5 star rating.  The reviews note that it provides good lighting and a strong air flow.

As soon as my current ceiling fan bites the dust, and it probably won't be long as  it has started to whine, I will be all over one of these.  

No Sew Pillows and Valances

You don't have to know how to sew to make your own soft goods for your home.  I do it all the time.  I found a product called Peel n Stick Fabric Fuse at my local craft store.  It is a permanent adhesive that comes in a roll.  You lay the sticky side face down onto the fabric and then you peal the tape to reveal another sticky side to adhere the other fabric end to.

I needed two pillows for my couch.  I had a couple of older pillows that had some pulls from my cat.  I figured they would make great inserts for some new pillows.  I found fabric quilting squares for only .97 cents each at Walmart that were just the right size to cover one side of a pillow.  In order to fuse two squares together I laid the fabric right side down, folded about a one inch seam all around and fused the fabric together on three sides with the tape.  I then inserted the pillow and closed up the top using the fabric tape in the same way.  To embellish the pillows further I hot glued trim along the seams.  They look great.  Not sure how they will hold up in the wash but by then I will probably be ready for a change anyway. 

I also tried my hand at some valances for my kitchen windows.  I found some pretty print sheets at the thrift store and cut them to the appropriate size to fit my windows.  I then used the fusable tape to make a finished seam all around and a pocket for the rod at the top.  I found the look too shear so I took a coordinating solid sheet and backed the reverse side of the valance with that.

For a few bucks in fabric fuse tape and some fabric you may already have around the house you can do the same.  If I can do it, anyone can.

Columbus Day Weekend Projects

I couldn't have taken off four better days weather wise.  I had big plans and many projects I intended to complete.  Saturday I did my usual yard sale shopping.  I don't know what I am going to do with myself when winter arrives and the yard sales go the way of the dinosaur at least temporarily.

A year ago I purchased a primitive style desk covered in many layers of paint at a yard sale.  I paid $5 for it.   With all of my other obligations it has sat in my garage since then.   This weekend I took it out and set my mind to completing its transformation.  I used paint stripper to take off what I could.  Then I sanded it down with my electric sander and course grit paper.  I spray painted it cream and added some nice deco style silver knobs to the drawer.  What a feeling of satisfaction.  To shed light on the situation I hung up a 1960's wicker swag lamp.

Moving my new gem to its spot in the corner of the Master Bedroom meant making space for it.  It gave me incentive to do much more.  I also moved in from the garage a mid century modern stand I bought at the Thrift Store a while back.  It too was only $5.  It needed just a bit of a wipe down and I added two storage baskets to the bottom shelf.   I made a wall unit out of it by combining it with a bookshelf I had found on one of my Auction House excursions.  I don't remember what I paid for it but I am sure it was cheap.  Above the wall unit hangs another yard sale find.  It is a Maio City Scene I found for $2.  To update it I painted the frame a nice glossy black.

 
At the far corner of the room sits my $12 recovered Estate Sale chair, $5 Thrift Store ottoman and $5 Flea Market floor lamp.  I can't wait to curl up in my new reading corner with a good book and a cup of coffee.  Maybe next time I take a few days off I will get to enjoy that pleasure.

 

A Mirror for Mom

This past weekend I made a trip to Connecticut to visit family.  Mom and Dad will be heading to Florida for the winter months the beginning of next month and Mom's birthday is the end of November. 

I have always enjoyed making things.  When I was a teen I used a shallow wooden crate that previously held mail order fruit to make a wall hanging for my Mom.  I painted it blue, framed it in silk flowers and glued vintage porcelain doll house bath fixtures inside like a shadowbox.  It still hangs in her bathroom to this day.

Since my Mom obviously appreciates my handiwork I decided to make her something special for her birthday this year.  In order to see her reaction and avoid shipping charges and possible breakage, I decided I would present it to her this trip.

I purchased a large chunky plain mirror for $4.99 at my local Salvation Army Thrift Store (my favorite haunt by the way).  My intent was to dress it up.  Using leftover sheets of glass mosaic tile from my bathroom back splash project I did just that.  I cut the mesh between four rows of tiles and adhered them to the mirror with white tile adhesive.  To avoid having to cut the tile to fit the miters I left the four corners uncovered.  Once dry I grouted each section with unsanded grout so as not to scratch the glass.

I think the finished product looks like something you could easily spend $100 or more on.  More importantly Mom loved it.  She hung it up in her foyer before I even left for home. 

Before

After

How to Make a Candy Corn Wreath

Fall has arrived and it is time to cozy up your home.  One of the first places I like to start my decorating for a new season is the front door.  A welcoming wreath says it all.  One thing that really screams Fall to me is candy corn so I decided to combine the two.

I purchased a foam wreath form at Jo-Ann's Fabrics and Crafts, an autumn floral pick, a roll of duct tape in orange, yellow and pinkish swirls to cover the form, and a package of candy corn at my local supermarket.   I originally planned to cover the whole form in candy corn but once I put on the tape I couldn't cover it up.  It looked interesting and very Fall like all on its own.  Instead I used my glue gun and just did one ring of candy corn around the center of the form.  I centered my floral pick at the bottom and hot glued on some extra silk leaves and then I tied a brown ribbon at the top.  To keep the bugs away from the candy corn I sprayed the wreath with a clear top coat protectant.


Now for about the cost of $10 I have a one-of-a-kind and very cool looking wreath to hang on my door.  Sure I could have bought one at The Dollar Store but it just wouldn't have been the same.  You be the judge.

My Retro Bar Cart

If you find yourself one of these at a flea market or yard sale scoop it up.  I found this one at a yard sale for $1.00.  I believe it is an old Costco kitchen cart.  It even has an electric outlet attached that plugs into the wall to plug in your blender for mixing margaritas or your coffee pot if an Irish Coffee is more to your liking.  It would be the perfect retro bar cart for my new mid century modern decor. 

I cleaned it up with soap and water.  I unscrewed the metal shelves from the base for painting.  I scuffed up the surface a bit so the paint would adhere better.  I painted the two lower shelves a glossy black and the top shelf and the base with a metallic silver spray paint.  After letting it dry overnight I put it back together (of course, not after a trip to the hardware store to replace the screw I managed to loose somewhere in the garage).

All it needed now was a little set dressing.  I placed an acrylic tray with matching ice bucket, stainless drink shaker and blue corked glass bottle on the top shelf.  On the middle shelf I placed a small round ruffled silver tray with blue and white teapot and sake cups.  Finally, on the bottom shelf I placed a shallow rectangular  wicker basket and four black and gold retro tumblers.   All of the items used are items I found at yard sales or flea markets or that I bought at my favorite auction house.  It makes for a very collected over time look.  Check it out.

More Than Staging Needed Here

Spent today with my son and a couple of his friends emptying out his muddy place.  Could never have imagined what it would be like to have everything you own destroyed in a flood.  Sure I have seen it on the News.  We all remember Katrina.

Binghamton is at the confluence of two rivers the Chenango and the Susquehanna.  We experienced severe flooding back in 2006 which was suppose to be the 100 year flood.  So shouldn't it be another 100 years before we suffer another?  Guess not.  This time it was worse.  First some areas experienced flash flooding from creeks overflowing and then it was the major rivers.  It rained so hard in a 24 hour period that the rivers rose a foot an hour.

My son was evacuated from his home in the early hours on Thursday by Fan Boat with the water chest high.  Today the water receded and left a thick sticky muddy layer on everything in its path.  My son didn't have much, a few pieces of hand me down furniture mostly.   Now all his stuff sits at the curb in a pile awaiting the trash hauler to take it away.  His whole neighborhood is suffering as are others in the area.  To see the possessions that people held dear, their cherished family heirlooms piled on the curb was almost too much to bare.  To be displaced from your home, your sanctuary from the world, many forced to live for days in a high school gymnasium or similar facility, I can imagine few things more stressful.

We can be very thankful though that no lives were lost.  The human spirit is resilient and those affected will rebuild.  I will be there for my son every step of the way.   I will seek out just the perfect new hand me downs to replace his old ones.   After I do, I will post pictures of his cute new place and we can all celebrate his fresh new start together.

Lamp Renovation

Above are the before and after pictures of a small bronze lamp I found at my local thrift store for $2.99.  You would normally put a round shade on a lamp with a round base but I wanted to mix it up a bit.  I found the square shade for $2.99 at the same thrift store.   The shade was a bit dingy but I figured I could do something with it and I really loved the shape.

To update the lamp I picked up a can of silver metallic spray paint, a roll of adhesive shelf liner and some decorative ribbon that had elements of the green and pink found in the shelf paper.  I spray painted the base and the electric chord and when dry I cut a piece of the shelf paper to fit, pulled off the backing and adhered it to the shade.  I then glued the ribbon around the top and bottom edges of the shade.   I actually purchased two of the lamps and shades so for $12 and the cost of about $6 in supplies I now have a cute pair of bedside lamps to grace my guest bedroom.