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Thursday, June 30, 2011

Home Staging in Alexandria VA

 


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How to decorate a small space...

Location! Location! Location! This post is a shout out to all my city dwellers who'd rather rent/own a studio apartment in the city than a single family home in the 'burbs. I feel you.

1) When you're working with a small space, the key to good design is choosing furniture that is multifunctional. Coffee tables can double as seating. Dining surfaces can be supported by storage shelves. Sofas can be sleepers.

2) Don't forget to build UP, not just OUT. A floor-to-ceiling bookshelf can house your tchotchkes, baubles, and books. Not mention, it just looks awesome. Paint the backside (inside) of the unit a darker color to complement the recessed look.

3) Just because your space is small doesn't mean you need to decorate with doll-sized furniture. It's better to anchor your space with a few large pieces than lots of tiny little ones.

4) Maximize lighting of all kinds. It goes without saying that natural sunlight should gloriously shine through your place as much as possible. In addition to that you'll need to address the issue of ambient, accent, and task lighting. Get creative (and heavy-handed) in this department. It's makes a difference.

5) My last tip may seem counter-intuitive, but trust me... Dark colors are OK. [Say it with me] Dark colors are OK... when used in the right way. For instance, a dark accent wall can trick the eye in a long narrow room by making the wall appear to be farther away.

Follow these simple rules and you've got a great foundation for a small, yet snazzy pad.

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Monday, June 6, 2011

The truth about Makeover shows....

I love HGTV & DIY Network just as much as the next person. But be warned. Most of the time, while the programs may be entertaining and enlightening, it's not real life. Oftentimes the cost of labor is not included in the project budget. A team of people aren't going to come to your house and refinish your kitchen cabinets, build you a custom built-in bookshelf AND replace your leaky faucet for $999. The actual cost of the materials may be cheap, but the labor is not. In real life, it's cheaper for you to buy a new dining room table than it is for a carpenter to build you one (a good one, that is).

These shows are super fun to watch. Who doesn't love a good "before & after"? Just keep in mind... it takes longer than 30 minutes to landscape a backyard and it costs more than $500 to stage a house for sale.



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Thursday, June 2, 2011

The red accent wall...

Anyone who knows me knows that I am NOT a fan of "the red accent wall". This is mostly due to the fact that it's been done (wrong) so much, that now it's just one big unoriginal joke to me. But, if you insist on taking on this project...here are a few tips to make it not suck (as much)...

- DON'T just paint that one wall and leave everything else untouched.
- DON'T choose a huge wall.
- DON'T be sloppy (crisp lines are essential to a good paint job).
- DON'T have that be the only red element in the room.

- DO choose a tone of red that makes sense for your room.
- DO hire a professional if you're unsure of any of the above.

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