Archives – May, 2010
By Heather Segreti
Q. I’m happy to say that this summer, my home will be going up for sale and I’ll be moving into my new digs. My decorating style is… er… Let’s just call it an acquired taste. Can you suggest some ways to neutralize my décor (to appeal to a broad range of potential purchasers) without making it boring? Is there such a thing as “exciting neutrals”??
A. It’s a great time to sell! The market is hot and with the right finishing touches you can have potential buyers upping the ante for your place and bidding over market value.
Here are my suggestions to make the most out of your home before it hits the market:
First clean up and clear out. Clutter will be your worst nightmare. Potential buyers want to see an open space so that they can visualize their personal items in it. This means keeping the furniture to a minimum and removing any pieces that stand out or look out-dated.
Neutral is always a winner when it comes to paint. You can change the tones of the neutrals on the walls from one room to another but keep the colour palette consistent.
Accent your home with interesting lamps and mirrors. Mirrors can make your home appear larger when placed strategically. The front hall is a great place for a mirror. This makes a good first impression!
Add with texture and shine. Purchase new and unique toss cushions, which can be in different shades of cream and taupe. Throw in some neutral drama with a chocolate brown or black cushion. Instead of using colour, keep it neutral but use texture. This is an inexpensive way to cheer up a space and create interest. Another thing I always like to do is incorporate some shine. Maybe a shiny silver bowl or candle sticks or once again a mirror.
Kitchens and bathrooms can make of break the deal. Keep the kitchen neat and tidy, clear off countertops and cutesy tea towels need not apply. The bathrooms must be extremely clean and tidy. Purchase fresh new towels to give that clean spa effect. You can pick up new towels at your local linen supply outlet. Mix shades of white and cream for a neutral palette. Place an assortment of sea shells in a glass vase on the counter and you will catch any buyer’s eye. Sea shells
are a great combination of texture and shine, and cost next to nothing.
Q. My home is my castle and my backyard, my playground. I spend as much time outdoors in the summer as I do indoors, so I’d like to make the most of my outdoor living space. My kitchen opens onto a rear patio, and I’d like to extend my décor into the outdoors. Any advice on creating a seamless transition from indoors out?
A. Transitioning from indoors to outdoors in the summer has become a way of life – particularly with so many wonderful and practical furniture options that are really stylish and comfortable. The biggest trend in outdoor furniture is all-weather wicker. It is fabricated from a PVC or plastic that is washable and very durable. Select a few pieces that work into your space. If you have no room for the larger wicker sets then you can go for the cast aluminum in a wrought iron painted finish.
I love to carry the colours from inside décor to the outside. For example if you are using cream and chocolate brown on the inside, purchase some soft cushions for your patio chairs in the same palette. Be careful not to use too much pattern, this gets to busy if placed in close proximity to any other patterned pieces you may have inside. So, if you have
mostly solids inside you can go for the pattern outside. However if you have pattern inside then opt for the solid outside. I recommend staying away from large-scale patterns for the base cushions. Try a neutral stripe if you don’t want a solid and then add some colour or pattern with toss cushions! Restoration Hardware has great line of furniture and they have several accent cushions in wonderful colours to choose from.
To give that real indoor feeling outside, introduce some lanterns on the tables and other decorative items that can transition from inside to outside weather permitting.
erience. Working with both commercial and residential clients, Heather brings innovative design ideas to each one of her projects. For more information visit her online at segretidesign.com
Founder and president of Toronto-based Segreti Design, interior designer Heather Segreti is a member of ARIDO and IDC, with more than 22 years of experience. Working with both commercial and residential clients, Heather brings innovative design ideas to each one of her projects. For more information visit her online at segretidesign.com
May 28, 2010
By Hellen Buttigieg
Summer will be here before we know it (hurray!). If you can learn to stay on top of cleaning
and organizing your home, you’ll give yourself more time to enjoy the weather and your family and friends.
Welcome summer with a clean garage
Choose a dry day and pull everything out of the garage and onto the driveway or front lawn. Place all the similar items together and weed out the excess. Give the garage floor a thorough cleaning. When putting things back, store similar things together; this will be easy because you’ve already sorted them in categories. Use the vertical space to clear as much floor space as possible so you can park your car. A no-cost solution is to nail slats of scrap wood horizontally between the studs of an unfinished garage and store long-handled tools behind them. Place nails on the wall to hang other supplies. For bulky items, purchase heavy-duty storage shelf units from your local building supplies store (polypropylene is durable and won’t rust).
Change the setting
If you can’t seem to get started when it comes to sorting through your piles of paper, gather them up in a box and take them outside. Choose a beautiful day and sit in your backyard, on your balcony or front porch and go through them. Or take them to a friend’s house and keep each other company over a cup of tea as you each go over your paperwork. Changing the environment where you do your organizing may make it less of a chore.
Quick clean-up routine for the whole family
Provide a personalized bin for each member of the family for things that don’t belong in the common rooms. Determine a regular time to do a quick tidy-up daily (perhaps just after dinner or before bed). Each person is responsible for picking up their own things and
placing them in their bin. Once a week (or when the bin is full), each person empties his or her bin by returning things to their rightful home. When the job of keeping the house tidy is shared by all and spread throughout the week, it frees up family time on the weekend and everyone benefits.
Listen to some tunes
Listening to music makes tasks feel like less of a chore, relieving stress and increasing enjoyment. Put on your favourite high-energy tunes while you clean and organize. Some people even pay their bills while listening to music; they report it takes their mind off financial stress and makes the job less daunting. Challenge yourself to finish the task after a certain amount of songs to increase your efficiency and make it more fun.
Take a walk
Getting outside in nature can be extremely relaxing. Going for a walk with a friend makes it even more beneficial to both our emotional and physical health and well-being. Rather than going out for lunch, consider going for a walk together instead. You’ll be nurturing your friendship and relieving stress at the same time.
Freshen your wardrobe
Now is a great time to evaluate last season’s wardrobe. Were there any clothing items you didn’t wear? Why didn’t you wear them? If it was because they needed dry cleaning or repair, put them in your car right now and deliver them to the cleaners. If it was because they
didn’t fit, didn’t work with your lifestyle or felt uncomfortable, take them to charity today. If you didn’t wear them last year, chances are you won’t wear them this year either. Weeding out your wardrobe now will make you feel lighter and create some breathing space for your summer clothes.
Hellen Buttigieg, is a Certified Professional Organizer, life coach, TV Host and owner of We Organize U. She is the author of the best-seller, Organizing Outside The Box, now available on Amazon.com For tips on organizing your home, your office and your life, visit WeOrganizeU.com and sign up for Hellen’s free newsletter. To contact Hellen or for information on hiring a We Organize U organizing specialist, call 905-829-2219 or e-mail info@WeOrganizeU.com
May 28, 2010
We are thrilled to be able to provide the content you’ve come to enjoy in our Home and Décor magazine, online!
The content of our new site will offer more in the way of photos and information, and we plan on updating frequently so you can always see what’s new in the marketplace.
Through homeTRADER’s Home and Décor site, our plan is to bring you all the latest and best design news, products and inspiration you need to get going on your next reno, remodelling or decorating project. With plenty of advice on these topics, plus entertaining ideas and much more, we hope you enjoy this site as much as we do.
On top of these great features, you’ll also be able to connect to our advertisers using the Where To Buy link and the Contest link.
This exciting homeTRADER initiative was designed to enhance homeTRADER’s goal of being a one-stop destination for all of your home’s needs. From renting and owning, to buying, selling and investing, homeTRADER is with you each step of the way. homeTRADER is a comprehensive real estate search destination that supports consumers in finding the right place to live.
Visit us often and let us know what you think. We’d love to hear from you!
Susan Legge
Editor in Chief
homeTRADER
May 20, 2010
