Posts Tagged ‘colors’

Rust-oleum cabinet transformation, is a do-it-yourself cabinet refinishing system. It is sold at Home Depot. It is a great way to refinish your cabinets without spending a lot of money. Although I’ve never used the product, I was impressed by the color selection and the easy of this product. It comes in dark color kit and a light color kit. The dark color kit has 24 tintable colors and the light color kit has 11 tintable colors.

This could be a great way to update your kitchen when you’re looking to put your home on the real estate market. As we all know kitchen and baths sell a home. If your kitchen is looking out dated, this could potential be a great way to update it. As a home stager  in Long Island NY, I am always looking for way to save homeowners the cost of remodeling or refacing.Rust-oleum Cabinet transformation could be the answer people have been looking for!

Rust-oleum Cabinet Transformation

Bland is Boring!

When selling your home, Bland is Boring! Most people have probably heard the term Home Staging or have seen staging on HGTV. But what they don’t realize, it’s not as easy as removing clutter, or family photos. In a recent episode, I saw a home owner remove all family photos, including all wall art. Her walls were bare and she had removed all clutter to the point, where  there was no centerpiece and no accessories  at all! Her home was bland and boring. Buyers are not going to “Fall in love” with a home that is bland or boring.

Many people think they know how to stage their own homes, because they’ve seen it on HGTV. It’s not that simply! It takes an expert to see what needs to be removed and what need to be brought in. Removing to much is just as detrimental, as having to much!  There is a fine line and a home stager knows the difference. A Home Stager can make recommendation on paint colors, furniture placement and even updating accessories.

Buyers have to picture themselves living in your home, they won’t do that if it’s bland and boring!

Bland & Boring! No Charm or color!

Granite Vs Quartz: Who wins?

Granite vs Quartz: Who wins? Granite has been all the rage for the last 10-15 years in kitchen and even in baths. Here on Long Island, New York, granite has very popular with real estate buyers. But recently the has been a shift towards Quartz. Why?

1. Contrary to popular belief. Granite has to be resealed every year.
2. It can be chip if you hit a corner or a vein.
3. There is less radon in quartz because quartz, although a natural stone is mixed with polymers, making it the best of both worlds, engineered and natural.
4. Quartz is less porous than granite making more resistance to bacteria.
5. Quartz is available in more colors.
6. Quartz has increased in popularity by 13% in the last year, while granite only %5.

In my opinion, while granite is unquestionable beautiful, I think it quartz is the new “Trend”. It will continue to raise in popularity, while granite takes a back seat. They say it take ten years for a trend to come in and go out. Since it’s been about 15 years for granite, I say its long over due for a new stone to take its place and that stone is quartz!

Granite

Quartz

The colors of Puerto Rico!! Recently I was on vacation and was surprise to see so much color in Puerto Rico! This is a vibrant culture whose people are NOT afraid to use color!! Everywhere we went we saw a rainbow of colors, from the small homes to estates,to bridges and even highway dividers! It was refreshing to see so many colors. We can learn a lesson from these people. Step out of the box and don’t be afraid to use color. Color can infuse us with happiness. And we can all use happiness in our lives.

As home stagers we see so much bland and boring colors. Not so in Puerto Rico! Old San Juan was breathtaking! Bright colors from pinks, blues, purple, green, all in a row!! But don’t take my word. They say seeing is believing. So here are the pictures to prove it. The beautiful colors of Puerto Rico!

Bright and Cheerful!!

 

The street of Old San Juan!

Colorful Hillside!!

Even the bridges are painted in color!

An old Firehouse in Ponce!!

Should you hire a home stager, when selling your home? Most homeowners can decorate their house to sell for the most part. They can repaint, get rid of clutter, clean the carpet and on on. So why use a home stager? At Abella Home Staging & Redesign, Long Island New York, we think staging is much more then simply painting, cleaning and eliminating clutter.

A home stager can give an unbiased opinion of what needs to be done. The see what a buyer will see when walking through your home. And even though a home owner can paint, they are often unsure of what color to choose, or what items to eliminate. There many good reason to hire a home stager, here are just some of the reasons:

1. A home stager will know where the correct placement of furniture should be and if there are too many pieces.
2. A home stager can view the house objectivity. They are not emotional attach to the home. They can see faults that you can no longer see.
3. A home stager can bring in the necessary accessories needed to update the look of the home at a substantial saving to the homeowners.
4. A home stager has knowledge of what the buyers are looking for in a home.
5. A home stager knows the real estate market and can create the right atmosphere needed to make the buyers “fall in love” with your home.

Most homes today need to stand out among the competition. Staging your home will give you the edge you’re looking for. Not only will it stand out it among the rest, but chances are it will sell faster and for more profit. When you take into consideration that your home is probably one of your biggest investment, why wouldn’t you want to get the best return on your investment?

Make you home stand out among the rest!!

Making your bedroom serene!

Making your bedroom serene doesn’t mean you have to lose style. A soothing bedroom doesn’t have to be boring. Here are some easy step to achieving the bedroom of your dreams!

1. Imperfection-don’t try to fight it, instead embrace and work around it.  Long narrow horizontal   windows can be a problem but if you get floor to ceiling curtains, that will give the illusion of wider windows.
2. Matchy, Matchy-this is one place you can and should match. Matching nightstand , lamps these will give the room a symmetric look and feel to the room. This will enhance that soothing feeling that we want to achieve.
3. Fabric-use fabric that can withstand stains
4. Color-when choosing sheet for your bed, my rule of thumb is to match the bedspread. Too many color  are jarring to your sense.
5. Be practical-don’t try to have a high fashion bedroom that only looks good but is difficult to live in. Be practical and make it livable.

Remember this is your bedroom, use items that will appeal to your sense. Limit the amount of furniture (over crowding is a huge problem in bedrooms) and if you can at all help it, don’t put your office in the bedroom. Think 5-star hotel feeling and you won’t go wrong.

When selling your home, Curb appeal matters!

When selling your home, curb appeal matters. Does your home have great curb appeal? Do potential buyers keep driving past your home? What kind of impression is your home saying?

The color of your home has a great impact, but painting your entire home may not be in your budget. There are still many ways to change the look without breaking the bank. How about repainting the shutters, trim, garage door, railings, front door?  You can update your house numbers, mail box and light fixture. Buyers spent a long time at your front entrance waiting for you to open the door, so the front entrance should be meticulous. Change out the old mat for a new one. When selling your home curb appeal is crucial. It’s the most important step right after posting your photos on the internet. If they like your photos buyers will do a drive by, if they like what they see, then and only then, will they make an appointment to see your house.

Consider resealing your driveway, power washing your house, reseeding your lawn. In fact if you can hire a landscaper until the house is sold that would be ideal. Plant flowers or use flower pots to add a splash of color.

By now you can see there are many ways to inexpensively spruce up your curb appeal. Remember curb appeal matters when selling your home, so don’t over look this very important step when putting your home on the market.

Immaculate Landscaping

Romancing your home can be easier then you think. With Valentine coming up quickly,  and people suffering from the winter blues, sprucing your home may be the cure for boredom. So why not get it ready for Valentine? When we think of romantic homes , we naturally think Victorian homes, perhaps a nice English Cottage or even a Tudor. Seldom do we think of Contemporary , Ranch, or even Mediterranean style homes as having a romantic feel to it, but if you decorate it right any home can have that romantic feeling.

Here are just some of the ideas that you can implement to get that desire effect:

1. Pay attention to the details of your home. Do you have a lake or ocean view, perhaps a beautiful garden? Don’t hide it, instead play it up. These elements have a natural romantic feel to it. They will naturally enhance any room.

2. Color. Think pale colors with warm undertones, colors that give a beautiful glow to the skin and make people look good. Special techniques, like sponging or even marbling can add to that romantic feel.

3. Furniture. Love seats with big fluffy pillows. Padded headboards or daybeds with fancy iron work for the bedroom. Using lots of big oversize, fluffy pillows can make any room look sumptuous.  When we see a bed covered with big fluffy pillows, we image throwing ourselves onto it.

4. Fabrics. Silk, satin, and even velour. Throw blankets draped over a bed, chair or sofa. Playing with patterns and layering different finishes to see what suits your taste.

5. Window treatments. Add full length sheer curtains to add fullness. Let them billow on the floor. Layer curtains to add depth and you can’t go wrong.

6. Smells. Use fresh cut flowers. Nothing awakens the sense more then nature. Incense works just as well, so long as it’s not over powering.

7. Lighting. When we think of romance, nothing comes to mind faster then candlelight. Dimmer switches can have the same effect.

So use your imagination and have fun!