Abella Home Staging & Redesign

Posts Tagged ‘colors’

Wet Basement problems? Recently a client hired Abella Home Staging & Redesign to design a man cave in the basement. The issue with the basement is, it sometimes gets flooded. So I had to come up with a viable solution. Carpet was no good, mold issue. Wood out of the question. Laminated floors, adhesive gets wet making the tiles pop up. Floating floor, water will damaged the particle boards. So I did some research and found this great product. It’s called Place N Go Flooring. Place N’ Go flooring is recycled composition which is totally waterproof.

No adhesive and easy to install!!

Comes in different colors and styles

Kids & Pets friendly

Can be used in any room

Unlike conventional laminated floors, it won’t swell or buckle in high humidity. And if you get flood, you just pick up the tiles, let dry and put them right back. What is the secret? It’s an interlocking covering that is adhesive-free. Simply snap it together. No need to prep the floors. No underlayments or moisture barrier. Simply put it over your old existing floor. Damaged a tile? Simply pull up the tile and replace it. Easy to maintain, just damp mop using regular cleaners.

Painting can be a daunting task but with the right tools you can rest assure the task won’t be so daunting!! As a home stager and redesigner of Abella  Home Staging & Redesign. I often recommend my clients to paint the room. Painting is the less inexpensive way to dramatically change the look of the room without spending a fortune and if you’re a DIYer you can save a lot of money.

Here are 8 tips to get you started!!

1. What paint type to use. Latex is water based and cleans up with soap and water. Dries quicker and has less odor then oil. Oil is solvent -based. Dries slower and must be cleaned with mineral spirits. It also has a more durable surface.
2. Quality. Yes you do get what you pay for. The good quality paint comes with primer in it. Saving you time and money. Usually takes less coats so you use less!
3. Rollers. Synthetic for latex paint, natural fiber for oil paint. Here’s a trick I learned from my husband (painter). Take blue tape, pull out about 3-4 feet and run the roller over it a few times. This will trap all the loose lint from the roller so it won’t get on your surface.
4. Brushes. Again good quality paint brush will save you a lot of heartache. Look for angle brushes that are set in multiple lenghts. This will form a slim tip, great for cutting. For oil base use natural bristles.
5. Paint finishes. Choosing the right sheen can have a dramatic impact on your room. Here are my recommedations. Flat-good for ceilings. Matte-good for bedrooms, living rooms, dining room. Satin/eggshell-good for high traffic areas like hallways. Semigloss-good for trim work and doors. Gloss-also good for trim and door I don’t much recommend it anywhere else.
6. Low VOC. Volatile Organic Compound. These paint eliminate potential hazard chemical that can effect your health.
7. Calculating paint. Divide the square footage of wall surface by the coverage  per gallon (listed on paint can)= number of gallons to buy.
8. Pouring spout. Paint now comes in plastic snap-on spout that allows you to pour the paint, making it easier and prevents  it from clogging the lid.

DIY House Painting

White Kitchen, trendy or timeless? Have you notice when going through design magazines they are showing a lot of white kitchen? White kitchen seem to be stealing the show. And I couldn’t be happier!! As a home stager and redesigner and owner of Abella Home Staging & Redesign I often recommend painting the kitchen white, especially when it’s outdated. Why white? It’s crisp and clean. Makes your kitchen look bigger then it is. Works whether your kitchen is traditional, transitional, modern or even shabby chic country! Just make sure you add bold pops of color to ground the space. Add different textures and finishes to spice things up!

Colour me Happy

Decor Pad

 As you can see from these picture, by adding a dark floor, you help ground the kitchen and make it more balanced. Add old element with new finishes also gives it character. The options are limitless!! White kitchen I believe are here to stay. White kitchen, trendy or timeless? You decide. But it’s definitely here to stay!!

Decorating your Outdoor Space will not only give you more living space but will increase the value of your home especially here on Long Island New York. As a home stager & Redesigner, I always like to add value to my clients’ home. This is a great way. There are many things you can do without spending a fortune. Here are just some suggestions to get you started.

• Create an outdoor seating area.
• Mismatch furniture, paint it all the same color.
• Don’t forget to accessorize it with pillows, bringing in lots of color.
• Add drape to an arbor or gazebo.
• Treat your wall like an indoor wall, just make sure it can withstand the elements.

2 Clicks Outdoor Furniture

Patio  Garden Tips

Of course you can add more elaborate items and spend more money but you don’t have to. Check out magazines and your local garden shop to get ideas. And remember “Decorating your Outdoor Space” not only creates more living space but adds value to your home!

Living Room Before

Living Room After

As you can see from these before and after photos. I simply remove the corner section of the sofa and added an end table with a lamp and accent pillows. Changed out the curtains and moved the plant to a different location.

Dining Room Before

Dining Room After

In the dining room I had the home owners remove the curtains and added the plant (the plant detracted from the air conditioner unit in the wall).

Master Bedroom Before

Master Bedroom After

In the master bedroom I suggested that they remove the headboard. It took up too much space and it expended 6″ from the wall (radiator was there). By removing the headboard we gained precious space. We used pillow to detract from the fact that there is no headboard. I also suggested that she replace her comforter since it looked worn out. I gave her some suggestions as to what would work . She went shopping and picked out this comforter. We replace the lamps and curtains. Took down family photos and replace with neutral wall art. The transformation speaks for itself!!

In the office it was simply a matter of de cluttering and removing the hutch which took up too much space.

With the girl’s bedroom I had the homeowner remove the wallpaper, which was way to busy and paint the wall instead. They de clutter and removed the curtains.

Bathroom Before

Bathroom After

In the bathroom, I had them paint the cabinet which was worn out and the mirror frame (can’t see). Remove the shower curtain which, was too busy and replace with a simple white shower curtain. These were simple changes that had a dramatic effect on the home. After sitting on the market for five months, when the staging was done, they had an open house and an offer was put in!! Staging doesn’t have to be expensive, for the most part I work with what the homeowner has. Implementing small changes to have the dramatic effect we want.If you need help staging or redesigning your home call Abella Home Staging & Redesign, Long Island New York, and let’s get started today!

Rust-oleum Countertop Transformation, this is a relatively new product. Not too long ago I wrote a blog about Rust-oleum cabinet transformation. It’s nice to see they now make a countertop transformation. This is a great alternative for people who don’t want to spend a lot of money or time transforming their countertops.

Like it’s counter part, it’s easy to use. Comes in five different colors, and can be done in a few days. As a home stager & redesigner living on Long Island NY, I am constantly asked what can I do to update my kitchen without spending a lot of money or time. It’s great to know I can now offer this product as a solution. Imagine what you can achieve if you use both these products in your kitchen! It can totally change the look of your kitchen!!

Rust-oleum Countertop Transformation

The Seven Elements of Creating a Beautiful Room!

When you’re creating a room, there are certain aspects to consider. Using these seven elements will help you achieve a well balance room.

1. Balance: Have you achieved balance?  Horizontally? Vertically? Color?
(Three Zones?)Texture? ( all same finishes in your accent pieces?)Metal?
(all brushed nickel? bronze?)
2. Harmony: The way the rooms flow together. Do they tell a story or is it chopped                        up?
3. Proportion: The way things relate to one another. Ex: Is the lamp the best                                   proportion to the table?
4. Scale: The way things relate to the room. Ex: Is the sofa the right scale for the                           room? Or is it too big? Too small?
5. Color: Does it hit the 3 zones? Function, power and skyline?
6. Style: Does it have the flair and have you honored what it is you are trying to                             achieve? Does it pull the elements together?
7. Rhythm & Flow: Keeps the room moving. This is where you’re going to repeat                           things. Be true to the form.Ex: Round table has round table mat, round                                         accessories. Doesn’t mean everything in the room has to be round!

If you need help putting together a beautiful room consider using the services of Abella Home Staging & Redesign. They can help create the room of your dream!

Power of Pink, according to House Beautiful “Use pulsating hot pink. You will walk in and feel incredibly happy”. So does that mean pink is “in”.  Well according to Pantone “Colors for Spring” Honeysuckle is their color choice for the year, and 15% of the designers are using this color. So who/what is Pantone ? Pantone is an “innovative system for identifying, matching and communicating colors to solve the problems associated with producing accurate color matches in the graphic arts community”. It is the world renowned authority on color. So it’s safe to say they know a thing or two about color.

What does this mean to you? Well if your going to redecorate your home you might want to consider pink! You may not want to paint your walls pink but hot fuchsia pillows can give you that pop of color . Did you know that the Moroccans and the Venetians have been using pink for centuries? I can remember when I was a little girls and pink was popular, as a matter of fact my dad had a pink shirt. It has recently resurfaced  again. Pink and green a classic combination. Think outside of the box and don’t be afraid! If you would like to update your home but need help, contact me!

Color made easy. Many people fear picking out colors. Hopefully I can take that fear away. Most people are attracted to the level of saturation (Intensity of that color) and not so much with the color. Think blue and how many variations of blue there is. You many like one shade of blue but not the others. When picking a color there are many things to consider.

1. Visually- what are you attracted to?
2. Saturation- it’s the saturation of that color that matters most, not the color itself (Think shades of blue).
3. Col0r ratios-using the 60-30-10 ratio in a room will pull the room together. And add different values for interest.
4. Use color three times at different levels.
5. Adding a contrast wall actually shrinks a room.
6. Create balance-a room that has all the furnishing near the floor tends to be bottom heavy. Don’t forget adding visually interest near the ceiling (wall art, drapes).
7. Stay within three values of that color. When looking at a color strip go up or down the color.
8. Are your color current-like food, design has an expiration date. Has your’s expired?
9. When purchasing major items like sofa go with neutral and add punches of color. It’s easier to replace pillows then a sofa.
10. Love the color you choose-or you won’t be happy no  matter how great the room is!

If you need help in pulling together a room, or afraid to get started, give Abella Home Staging & Redesign a call. We can get started and give you the rooms/home you desire!

Kitchen cabinets with a spice of color, is this the new trend? Lately I’ve notice a lot of kitchens that have painted cabinets in unusual color combos. It would seem to me that the latest trend is painting your cabinets and not just your standard black or white, but in vibrant colors! I’m all for painting kitchen cabinets when selling you home, especially if you have old and outdated cabinets. However, I’m seeing a trend in new cabinets that have been painted a very bright color.

This old House

This kitchen is done in what looks to me in lime green and black. Unusual to say the least!  As you can see this is not an old outdated kitchen. The shaker style cabinet and the clam shell knobs all signified an updated kitchen.

Here’s another one. Pale yellow and light sea foam green.

Handy Man of Charlotte

This one is done in light turquoise!

Although I do like the brightness and versatility painting your cabinets can bring to your kitchen, I’m not sure most buyers would appreciate this look. Will this look become mainstream? Maybe in time, but for now I believe this is a trendy look. Not something I would recommend when staging a home.

Kitchen cabinets with a spice of color, what do you think?