The Organized Move: Preparing Your Home for the Publics Eye
June 22, 2007
(This is the first in a series of three articles on “The Organized Move”)
The thought of moving can set most of us in a tailspin, but what is more frightening is imagining the parade of realtors and home buyers marching through your very personal space and judging you on: neatness, maintenance and upkeep, and tasteful décor. (There will be a handful of buyers that are looking for a “fixer upper” and projects that last for years, but unfortunately only two exist to date).
So let’s discuss a few easy tips to get your home in market condition. Remember — realtors and prospective homebuyers can tell how a home has been cared for over the years. If your home is in need of major repairs it is always best to consult a professional to ensure proper technique and installation.
The month before you list your home, walk around with a notepad and write down everything that is in need of some minor repair or a little freshening up. It is very natural to focus on just the main living areas of your home and forget about the closets and storage areas, but this is a big mistake. In every home I ever bought or sold closets and storage areas were part of the public viewing. So lets divide the space of your home and get moving:
Daphnes for Scent and Colour
June 21, 2007
Anyone with even a passing knowledge of plants knows that daphnes have wonderfully fragrant flowers. And because some of them - usually the most scented - flower in winter, they’re the sort of must-have plants that are usually among the first planted in any new garden.
There are around 50 species of Daphne, many of which are choice garden specimens. They are widespread lot, ranging from Europe and North Africa to temperate and subtropical Asia. Most of them are evergreen or nearly so, but a few are deciduous, often flowering before the foliage expands.
The plant everyone calls daphne is Daphne odora, particularly the cultivar ‘Leucantha’ , which is often misspelt ‘Leucanthe’ . This shrub, a native of China and Japan, sells in vast numbers, mainly on the strength of its perfume, but also because it’s a reasonably hardy evergreen bush. It grows to around 1.5m tall with leathery, deep green leaves up to 80mm long. From mid-winter on into spring it produces clusters of small, starry, pale pink flowers. Several flower and foliage forms are available and the variety with yellow-edged leaves, ‘Variegata’ (sometimes called ‘Aureomarginata’ ), is often hardier and easier to grow than the species.
Are You In or Out of Balance?
June 20, 2007
CLUTTER: When clutter starts to accumulate in an environment, imbalance in our personal, professional and social lives always follows. This can range from health and financial challenges to struggle and conflict with friends, family, co workers, affiliates, as well as with buyers and sellers. Feng Shui is the communication that takes place everyday between you and your environment. At a glance, take a look at your home, office, desk, car and briefcase and check to see if you are in or out of balance!
DE-CLUTTERING: This is the first step in reclaiming your health, vitality, energy and business! Creating a sense of harmony and peace in your space will reflect the same in your life and career. Consciously letting go of “things” that no longer serve your highest good, will invigorate and energize your personal Ch’i, and empower you to attract blessings, abundance, health, wealth and good fortune in your life.
FENG SHUI… QUESTIONS & ANSWERS
“Should I include porches and decks in the Ba-gua when I Feng Shui my listings?”
Poster, Print or Painting. Where Are You Going To Put It?
June 19, 2007
If you are redesigning or decorating a room, or house, care has to be taken where your piece of art is to be displayed. Even if you have bought a picture on impulse there are a few tips that will not only enhance the picture but its surroundings.
As a good rule of thumb it is good to hang a picture so that its centre is roughly at eye level. If you have a grouping of pictures then also the centre of the group should be at approximate eye level.
Wall size.
ˇ For a narrow wall go for a smaller picture, or group of small pictures.
ˇ For large walls go for the larger pictures.
ˇ For walls that link to a low ceiling go for pictures that are vertically longer as this will help give the illusion that the ceiling is higher and open the room up.
Picture framing.
ˇ As a guide neutral coloured, plain or soft /delicate paintings will suit a more basic plain frame.
ˇ Dramatic pictures may deserve a much bolder frame.
ˇ Will the frames go together if pictures are hung in a group?
Patio Design ? Expanding Your Home Outdoors
June 19, 2007
A patio can be just like another room in your house. Effective patio design can mean that your increase the floor space of your home, by adding an outside room that allows you to entertain like never before. A patio can just be a rectangular slab of concrete with some plastic chairs and griller, but it can also be so much more.
What comes to mind when you think of a patio?
Patio design gives you the opportunity to create an outside living area ? an extension of your home ? for entertaining and relaxing all year round. For instance, people who like to entertain may want to consider a patio with an undercover kitchen and dining area. By adding a barbecue grill, a built in fridge and some quality outdoor furniture, the patio can, in itself, become a feature of your home.
The Great American Dream
June 18, 2007
Are you ready to starting building your dream home. House plan designs are abundant and easy to customize. Just getting started can sometimes be quite confusing.
There’s nothing more exciting than building your dream home. Take a look at your living area now. What would you change? The floor plan for more open space, the flooring or maybe add more windows.
How about a big kitchen with a bar or a spacious family room. An office or study is a great retreat for family members. Get your family together and sketch out your ideas. Make your dream come true.
Planning is crucial, therefore have a well developed plan and put it in action. Knowing what features you need will simplify the process. Consider everyone’s needs when deciding on a home plan.
Carefully research home design plans and make scetches of your own for comparison. Often planners will customize pre-designed plans that will functionally meet your needs. Deciding on a home plan should be fairly easy, it’s the choice of materials that can send you reeling.
New-age Paint Thickening & Rheological Additives : Solvitex & Solvizen
June 17, 2007
For Paint Manufacturers worldwide, there has come a radical new development in the legion of Thickening Agents & Colloidal stabilizer for Aqueous Latex Paints. So far most of the companies producing aqueous Paint emulsions, the most preferred thickening agent was Hydroxy ethyl cellulose (HEC). The HEC based thixotropic additives is produced by some of the renowned multi-national companies such as Hercules, Akzo Nobel & Dow.
Here we refer to a Biopolymer based on Polysacchride derived from controlled derivatisation process from plant origin. The product developed by Asian Trade Link Chemicals Division in India has already been a successful venture for replacement of HECs for many paint companies. The Product is known as Solvitex thickening agent & colloidal stabilizer.
The solvitex range of products is offered in wide range of viscosities of aqueous solutions. It comes in Powder form of Offwhite color and the thickening properties are similar to HEC.
But the Advantages of Solviex against HECs are many. The prime factor is the stability & economic pricing. Its been observed that for a Medium viscosity range of products such as Natrosol 250 HBR or Bermcoll 381 the intial drop after settling is by 20% and then the finished paint adheres to be stable for six months.and the viscosity further drops. Solvitex has an initial drop of settling to 10% and the product is stable in physical observation for more than 1year exhibiting the same viscosity.
If You Think Mold and Mildew Hibernate During The Winter, Think Again!
June 16, 2007
If You Think Mold and Mildew Hibernate During The Winter, Think Again.
Free Tips For Removing Winter Mold & Mildew Stains From the Makers of InstaGone
“The development of mold and mildew stains can actually be intensified during the winter,” says InstaGone Consumer Products president Peter Chicarielli. “That’s because people tend to lock-down their houses to prevent cold air from coming in and heat from escaping. The reduced circulation of fresh air results in a higher concentration of airborne spores which in turn, can increase the likelihood of mold and mildew stains on ceilings, walls or other surfaces.”
Chicarielli adds that in a warm house, mold and mildew will continue to grow in areas such as basements, attics and crawl spaces. “Once the Christmas decorations are put away, emerging mold and mildew growth has a free, undisturbed ride until Memorial Day when the summer gear gets pulled out.”
The worst-case scenario is mold that silently grows behind a wall, under flooring or above acoustical ceiling tiles. ‘This type of mold growth is usually caused by a leak that wasn’t repaired properly, or if it was repaired, the surrounding area wasn’t sufficiently dried or treated before covering it with new drywall, tile, etc,” explains Chicarielli. “If any part of your house has water damage history, it should be inspected carefully.”
Discount Patio Furniture ? An Easy Way to Get the Best
June 15, 2007
Buying discount patio furniture is an economical way to obtain quality furniture for your patio.
Many department stores offer patio furniture at discounted prices towards or at the end of the summer season. Many people can obtain quality teak or cedar furniture to enhance their patios by watching the advertised sales from department and hardware stores. You can save yourself hundreds of dollars by just waiting a month or two for that special piece of patio furniture you have always wanted. You don’t have to buy the cheapest furniture just to be able to enjoy your patio.
There are disadvantages to buying discount patio furniture. Ensure the quality of the workmanship of the pieces you buy so that you are not buying junk furniture that will fall apart the first time anyone sits on it.
When shopping for discounted patio furniture, you should always look for chairs or benches made from solid wood. This kind of patio furniture is durable and well worth the money you pay. Solid wood patio furniture never goes out of style and matches any décor. Having wooden patio furniture, discounted or not, makes a statement about your patio without you saying a word.
Light Up Your Life
June 14, 2007
A house or any particular room can be carefully planned, well thought out and perfectly executed but without the proper lighting it never really comes to life. A perfect example is a tile back splash in a kitchen. Without some nice under cabinet lighting to show it off it never really reaches it’s potential as an eye opener.
As you plan each room there are three basic forms of lighting. General Lighting - which is the light you need in a room to function. A means to safely navigate the room in the dark of night. Accent Lighting - light that highlights a particular item or items of importance to you or the room design. Task lighting - light that serves a function related to a particular task or area where work is performed.
A kitchen benefits most from all three forms of lighting in most cases. Recessed lighting combined with a pendant or two and possibly a ceiling fan can provide the general lighting. Under cabinet lighting serves two functions. It acts as Task lighting for working on the countertop as well as Accent lighting to highlight that beautiful countertop and back splash. Additional accent lighting can be added in glass cabinets, which really brings them to life. In some cases where crown molding is installed and there is space above some cove lighting can create a wonderful effect and ambience to a room.
