Archives for December 2016

How to Turn Your Coffee Table Into a Treat for the Eye

coffee-tableTry out these design ideas to create a living room centerpiece that’s gorgeous and practical

If your coffee table is a focal point in your living room, show off your design flair and set the tone for your space with a well-styled surface. Use these rooms as inspiration to display your treasures and books to maximum effect.

10 secrets to selling your home

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source: http://www.coastalgroupoc.com/blog/proven-secrets-for-selling-your-home.html 

The Third Rule of Home Staging: Add a Splash of Color

splash-of-colorIntroduce just the right amount of color to help a staged home feel stylish and fresh

When it comes to staging a home for sale, the classic advice to keep color schemes neutral is still spot-on. White or pale hues make a space feel simple, serene and more expansive. These unobtrusive colors act as a blank canvas; they allow potential buyers to imagine themselves living in the home.

But many homeowners who already have colorful walls or furniture may wonder if it’s possible to keep some color in their staged home. The answer is absolutely yes. You can maintain — or even add — just a pop of color to create the right amount of personality and style in your staging. In fact, a splash of color can make a space feel designed, perhaps allowing it to linger in the memories of prospective buyers. As a bonus, color can also brighten your listing photos. Remember, you’ll want to add the color only after you’ve done the first two steps of home staging, paring down and freshening up. Here’s a game plan for strategically adding color to each staged room of your home.

10 Ikea Hacks to Take Your Design to the Next Level

decorating-hacksCreate a luxe look on a basic budget with these clever DIY projects

Tired of your existing furniture but don’t have the money for an upgrade? Looking for a DIY project for the weekend? Check out these smart Ikea hacks and see what you can create with a small budget and a big helping of creativity. From elevated units to customized bedroom storage, these furniture upgrades will have you asking, “Why didn’t I think of that?”

How to Remove, Hide and Play Down a Popcorn Ceiling

popcornWhen it comes to dealing with stucco overhead, you’ve got options

Don’t love your popcorn ceiling? You’re not the only one stuck with some unwanted stucco overhead. There are many options for moving on from it, but not all of them are equally effective — or equally easy. To help you decide how to address your popcorn problem, here are some top ways to remove, cover or distract from stucco ceilings.

Why European cities are denser than cities in the US

desnity
The densest city in the United States is New York. The European city of comparable density is sixth on the list of Europe’s densest cities. What gives?
Rich Americans live in the Suburbs; Rich Europeans live downtown. Why do cities on the two continents have different structures? This video explains.

7 Favorite Indoor Plants for West-Facing Windows

plantsThese houseplants, and many more, thrive in the bright sun of a window that looks to the west

For most indoor plants, the light from a west-facing window is a welcome compromise between the bright but usually weaker light from an east-facing window and the direct and often very bright light let in through a south-facing window. As a result, plants that like a little more light but can’t handle hot direct sun are happiest with this exposure. It’s often a good location for flowering houseplants as well as ones with variegated or even nongreen foliage, as it tends to intensify foliage color.

A west-facing window is also a good spot for many plants that do well with either an eastern or southern exposure, so feel free to experiment with including them. Those preferring an eastern exposure may need to be placed away from the window or shielded by a light curtain, while those preferring a southern exposure may need to move closer to the light. Either way, you’ll have plenty of options to fill your space.

Americans Are on The Move [INFOGRAPHIC]

movingacrossamerica2016

How to Design a Family Photo Wall

family-wallNew project for a new year: Display your favorite images of loved ones for the most personal gallery wall of all

In the digital photo age, not only do most of us have cameras on us at all times, but we have printers that can turn them from pixels into paper. There’s been no formal study I can find, but it only stands to reason that people have more photographs of friends and family in their possession now than at any other time in history.

How to display them? Interior designer Emily Mughannam of EM Design Interiors in Sonoma, California, says technology may change, but the desire to surround ourselves with family images seems to stay the same. “An interior should tell a story,” she says. “A photo wall can show us where we have been and where we are going. Frankly, when I’m in a home without one, it can feel a little sterile.” Whether you choose to do it yourself or hire a professional, once the photos are 2-D, the process of creating a photo wall can be decidedly low tech.