My Oscars: If I Had to Choose Just Three Blogs...

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjniuw82naqxvxQ0cp1I1FAMSRDasSteiGsi_HNwgcO67J8LzXKnI3qIyI1OsgL7CGEb0GcZ2veLCponraYn3gPouGomznjLIdprjgz3VvfjzTvKhLPI0mt3ccFJVeV8L-QkTRIntnfttsQ/?imgmax=800" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="424" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjniuw82naqxvxQ0cp1I1FAMSRDasSteiGsi_HNwgcO67J8LzXKnI3qIyI1OsgL7CGEb0GcZ2veLCponraYn3gPouGomznjLIdprjgz3VvfjzTvKhLPI0mt3ccFJVeV8L-QkTRIntnfttsQ/?imgmax=800" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Maria Killam gets my vote for being the most helpful blogger when it comes to picking paint colors -- a crucial decision for someone staging a home for sale. Can you tell she's passionate about color? </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Photo: Jennifer Houghton</i></div><br />There's a ba-zillion decor blogs, and so many creative, inspiring, and instructive ones. You can't read them all. You have a house to stage! <br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">These are my picks </span></b>for the three blogs I would suggest to a homeowner putting her home on the market and wanting to stage it. If you think it was easy to narrow the field to three, you're crazy. My criteria focused on how seriously helpful the blog would be to someone relatively new to the design/decorating/staging process.<br /><br />That meant it had to be practical in a nuts-and-bolts way.<br /><br />It also had to be easy to read -- clear, concise, upbeat, and positive. <br /><br />In no particular order, as they say on the Academy Awards...<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Color Me Happy</span></b><br /><br />Maria Killam personifies my idea of what a design blogger should be -- a teacher who is candid, intelligent and stylish. I always learn something from each post. And she doesn't dumb this stuff down. If you are one of her many devoted readers, you already know she's been blogging since 2008. That means there's an online archive you can use like a textbook for color selection when it comes to paint, furniture, textiles, accessories, tile, carpeting, appliances, or whatever. <br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Maria's talent</span></b> is seeing colors and helping us see them, too.<br /><br />She explains concepts like the importance of undertones, the difference between muddy and clear colors, the irrelevance of the color wheel, and the ambiguity of warm and cool color classifications.<br /><br />She uses photos judiciously to illustrate complicated design decisions. Somehow, she's able to reduce puzzling dilemmas to solutions that work. She's Vancouver-based, but travels to do workshops and color consultations and to study. She's engrossed in the industry.<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">What else I like</span></b> about the award-winning <a href="http://colourmehappyblog.blogspot.com/">Color Me Happy</a> is that Maria posts regularly, not sporadically. The site has a girly vibe to it, but she's never gushy or redundant. There are no typos or multiple exclamation point series here, like this!!!! Which drive me nuts.<br /><br />Although she's light-hearted, she's very serious and ambitious about her career, and she shares that side of her life with us, admitting her own foibles along the way. So refreshing. <br /><br />Although many of her color choices are bold for home staging, her love of color is contagious. Hang out with Maria and you're bound to get over your fear of choosing colors for your staged home. <br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-large;">Young House Love </span></b><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://younghouselove.com/wp-content/uploads/press/about-john-and-sherry-petersik.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="http://younghouselove.com/wp-content/uploads/press/about-john-and-sherry-petersik.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>You gotta love these guys. Maybe you already do.<br /><br />They're devoted to doing it themselves, and although they're feeling their way, making it up as they go along, they have more creativity and energy between them than most of us have in our left big toe.<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">They've spent the past</span></b> few years turning a simple ranch house in Virginia into a one-of-a-kind home anyone would want. Their house sold in two days after listing with MLS, at a price they liked.<br /><br />Now they've moved and are feathering their new, bigger nest, and taking us all along for the ride. They make all the work they do look like fun.<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">What you'll learn</span></b> from reading their blog is a confidence that "if they can do it, I can do it." It's that mindset that is necessary to the success of DIY home staging. Without it, you'll never begin.<br /><br />From these two, you'll learn that there are no hard and fast rules about how to update a room, choose a rug, arrange bookshelves, organize a closet, or save on remodeling money.   <br /><br />Although they can be wordy, all the details are there, and all the jokes and tangents and photos and links and videos as well.<br /><br />Sherry and John give you all the nitty-gritty on each and every project -- where they bought the supplies, how long the project took, what mistakes they made and how they corrected them. Hey, over 9,000 Twitter followers can't be wrong.<br /><br />Their site's won numerous awards. And Nate Berkus put them on his show, so they are officially DIY stars.<br /><br />I regularly visit <a href="http://www.younghouselove.com/">Young House Love</a>, and always get my hit of imaginative decorating that doesn't break the bank.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Laura Casey Interiors </b></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.lauracaseyinteriors.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/LCheadshot-670x1024.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.lauracaseyinteriors.com/blog/wp-content/uploads/2008/07/LCheadshot-670x1024.jpg" width="261" /></a></div><br />What I appreciate most about <a href="http://www.lauracaseyinteriors.com/blog/">Laura Casey's blog</a> is the eye candy she loads into it. But there's more than pretty pictures here.<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">An interior designer</span></b> with impressive credentials, Laura seems to be at home in all kinds of circumstances -- doing budget remodels, hobnobbing with the design world honchos, tackling an extensive kitchen refit, updating a living room, sprucing up a foyer, or just kicking back in home base, Charlotte, North Carolina.<br /><br />I also like that she doesn't waste a reader's time with superfluous writing.<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Each post</span></b> is centered around a single topic. Her writing is to the point. She doesn't spend words when a picture will do, and I like that. She's obviously knowledgeable about history, architecture, and gardening as well.<br /><br />The best part is that Laura's generous in passing along her understanding of trends, history, art, and good design.<br /><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>Her taste is impeccable</b></span>, just the kind of person a beginner wants holding her hand.<br />    <br />But it's really the carefully chosen photographs that will be the most help to a home stager who's educating her eye about proportions, colors, styles, furniture placement, fabrics, window treatments, lighting, accessories, or floor coverings.<br /><br />Some of these shots take my breath away! <br /><br />Not all of Laura's selections will be appropriate to home staging. Remember that good style is good style no matter what era or budget. You'll just have to edit the rooms down to their stage-worthiness.<br /><br /><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">Let Laura </span></b> sharpen your eye on your way to creating a marketable home. Thanks, Laura, for sharing so much of what you've learned and what you do.  <i>Photo: Sean Busher Photography, Inc.</i><br /><br />In my <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">eBook,</a> <i>DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and For Top Dollar</i>, I give you helpful  ideas and inspiration to stage your own home, including links to more professionals like the ones featured here. Download today and start today to make your home stand out from the competition.     <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>

My Oscars: If I Had to Choose Just Three Blogs...

Maria Killam gets my vote for being the most helpful blogger when it comes to picking paint colors -- a crucial decision for someone staging a home for sale. Can you tell she's passionate about color? Photo: Jennifer HoughtonThere's a ba-zillion decor blogs, and so many creative, inspiring, and inst…

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Five Things to Do to Sell Your Home

I could not have said it better than Barbara Cocoran did in an interview this week with Matt Lauer.  <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><iframe allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen" frameborder="0" height="266" mozallowfullscreen="mozallowfullscreen" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/3ZXkNIy1zNg?feature=player_embedded" webkitallowfullscreen="webkitallowfullscreen" width="320"></iframe></div><br />Funny thing is, watching this video, I count six tips to sell your home. To summarize, Barbara says:<br /><br />1. Time your selling right. February happens to be a good time.<br />2. Price your property 10% below your competitor's asking price, even though you may hate to do it <br />3. Get an inspection before listing your home. Fix what needs fixing.<br />4. Offer financial incentives upfront. Don't wait until you are negotiating to sweeten the deal.<br />5. Wage war online, including hiring a professional photographer.<br />6. Spend money on three key areas -- kitchen, living room, and front facade.<br /><br />Watch the video clip to learn the logic and details of each of these pointers. It's a terrific nutshell primer on selling a home in today's market. Thanks, from one Barbara to another.

Five Things to Do to Sell Your Home

I could not have said it better than Barbara Cocoran did in an interview this week with Matt Lauer.  Funny thing is, watching this video, I count six tips to sell your home. To summarize, Barbara says:1. Time your selling right. February happens to be a good time.2. Price your property 10% below you…

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How to Faux Finish A Plastic Flower Pot

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/flowr3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="491" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/flowr3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <i>What looks like a cast concrete or stone planter is really just a plastic flower pot painted to </i><br /><i>resemble something much more hefty and pricey. A planter like this one will look </i><br /><i>great </i><i>in a staged home, either indoors or out, holding real plants or silks.</i></div><br />Take one cheapo plastic flower pot and turn it into a classy cement planter. Magic? No, it's just paint, and you can do it yourself, even if you've never done faux finishes before. Don't let the French word scare you.<br /><br />Here's my Step-by-Step for creating the flower pot pictured above. It's a quick and easy DIY project.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">1. Gather materials.</span></b> Doing this project outside is best. The paint will dry more quickly with better air circulation, and you'll have fewer surfaces to protect. However, if it's above 70 degrees, find a shady place or wait for a cooler time because the paint can dry too fast. Here's what you need.<br /><ul><li>Work surface and drop cloth. </li><li>Plastic or resin flower pot, preferably one with a thick top edge.</li><li>Gloves. </li><li>Two rags.</li><li>Medium grade sandpaper. </li><li>Paint stick to stir paint.</li><li>Paint brush, not an expensive one.</li><li>Plastic bucket, 1-quart to 1-gallon.</li><li>Screwdriver or painter's 5-in-1 tool.</li><li>Latex primer like Zinser or Kilz.</li><li>Natural sponge. </li><li>Cardboard, or 3 disposable paper or foam plates, or pieces of aluminum foil. </li><li>Three latex semi gloss or satin housepaints or craft paints (medium or light grey, white, and black).</li><li>Optional: clear sealer (either spray paint or liquid).</li></ul><b><span style="font-size: large;">2. Prepare the container. </span></b>Cover your work surface with a dropcloth to protect it. Using a dry rag, wipe the container to remove any loose dirt, including the inside. Put on your gloves. Sand the container's outside surface.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="392" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Sanding will give the surface "tooth" to help paint adhere better. As you can see, I am recycling an old container. The container you faux finish needn't be new, but it needs to be clean.</i></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;">3. Paint with primer.</span> Invert the planter and start at the bottom. Brush on paint. It will dry quickly, especially if you are working outside and it is warm or windy. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="484" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/3.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">  <i>If the planter has feet, paint all sides to be sure none of the old color shows when you are done.</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="472" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/4.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Paint the bottom half, and the underside of the top lip before you set the planter right side up. </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i> </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="434" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/5.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Next, p</i><i>aint the sides with the planter in an upright position. Use your gloved hands to </i></div></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>rotate the box from the top lip.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/6.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="454" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/6.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i> Paint inside the top edge, which will be visible even after the planter is filled.</i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="526" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/7.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <i>Your primed planter will look like this. Don't worry about coverage. You're just making sure the next coat sticks. Check for drips and runs before the prime coat dries.</i></div><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">4. Apply a base coat of grey paint. </span></b>Follow the same steps as the prime coat, starting at the bottom when the planter is inverted.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/8.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="492" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/8.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Your planter should look something like this when it has an even coat of grey as a background. </i><b> </b></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><span style="font-size: large;"><b>5. Sponge on white paint.</b></span> Dampen the sponge. Pour a small amount of white paint into the plastic bucket. Add an equal amount of water and stir. For my planter, which measured 15 inches tall, I used less than 1/4 cup of white paint for sponging. Dab the sponge into the paint and then dab most of the paint off onto a piece of cardboard, disposable plate, or aluminum foil. Practice on the interior of the planter until you get the feel of sponging to simulate texture. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/9.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="452" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/9.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;">  <i>Lightly dab paint onto surface, moving the sponge around to create a random pattern. I used a piece of aluminum foil to remove excess paint from the sponge. </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/10.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="408" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/10.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Overlap the sponging pattern, and leave some are</i><i>as grey.</i></div><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">6. Apply black wash.</span></b> After the entire surface is randomly sponged with white, wash your sponge well and put it away. Wash the plastic bucket, and use it to mix a small amount of black paint with an equal amount of water, about the same amount as you mixed of white paint.  Brush the entire painted surface with the diluted black paint. It should settle into any groves and crevices. Lightly wipe the surface to remove most of the black wash. It should give the planter a slightly aged look.      <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="444" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/12.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <i>Have a rag ready to wipe off the diluted black paint.  </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="418" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/13.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <i>The wash will look like this when you brush it on. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Don't worry about coverage, but make sure black paint gets into crevices.  </i></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/14.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="516" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/14.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>After the black wash is wiped off, your planter will have a softer look.  The paint should dry quickly.</i></div><br /><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="font-size: large;">7. Add splatter. </span></b>This can get messy, so protect any adjacent surfaces. Using the same black wash, load your brush with it, and then remove most of the paint. Rap the brush sharply against a screwdriver or 5-in-1 tool to make a splatter pattern of black paint on the planter. Rotate the planter to do all sides, including inside the top edge. You may choose to position the planter on a cardboard box and walk around it rather than rotate it. Aim for a random but all-over splatter pattern. If some drops are too large or look more like streaks than dots, use a rag to dab them away while they are still wet. </div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/15.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="442" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/15.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Practice your splattering technique on the inside of the planter before you do the outside. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Keep the brush at least a foot away from the surface.  </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/17.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="512" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/17.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Your planter should look evenly splattered when you are done. You can do a lot of </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>splattering or a little. I can imagine two of these, each with a topiary on either side of a front door.</i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/18.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/18.jpg" width="434" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>It's optional to cover your work with a coat of clear sealer. It can give the paint an extra layer of protection if used outside, and it can add a subtle sheen to the finish. I sprayed a coat of clear satin finish on this planter to make it look more granite-like. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/frontpot.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/frontpot.jpg" width="436" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>This is a resin pot that I faux finished with pinkish undertones. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>You can choose natural stone colors that work with the colors of your staged home.</i></div><span id="goog_2077417840"></span><span id="goog_2077417841"></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/wood1-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/wood1-1.jpg" width="384" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Ordinary plastic flower pots for indoors are perfect for faux stone finishes.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i> Just prime, sponge and glaze.</i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/vase1-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/vase1-1.jpg" width="365" /></a></div><div style="text-align: left;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i> Even glass vases can be converted to stone planters. Look for classic shapes like this one. </i><i></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><br /></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/B2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/B2.jpg" width="520" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>I paid just $8 each for these planters at Big Lots. They were plain brown plastic. One great thing about plastic pots is that when you move, they're lightweight so they're easy to take with you. </i></div></div></div><span id="goog_1516564961"></span><span id="goog_1516564962"></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"> <a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/brushdestroyed-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/brushdestroyed-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>This is why I suggest using an old or inexpensive paint brush. The splattering will destroy it. The side of my brush is all banged in and the bristles are splayed. Save your Purdy. </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>You're just a few steps away from creating an impressive but thrifty staging prop for your home. Let me see your results!<br /><br />And help yourself to more ideas and instructions for DIY projects in my <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">eBook</a>, <i>DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and for Top Dollar</i>. Surprise yourself with what you're able to do to stage your own home!<br /><br /><br /><a href="http://www.theshabbychiccottage.net/" target="_blank"><img alt="Transformation Thursday" border="0" src="http://i208.photobucket.com/albums/bb119/tightwadtips/buttonwithstarfish.jpg" /></a><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href="http://homeandgarden.craftgossip.com/"><img alt="CraftGossip" border="0" height="150" src="http://craftgossip.com/files/2007/10/as_seen_on_cg_twitter_150x150.jpg" width="150" /></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjarilPbjoonjc9mDEMUJVmrOu26yjwGPCkAOubFsknWZoL0iKYhY01YFFd30eCmSxUdqFBxjL4-AnUXLThw-NV_TzisNt5mO_LdmtX8_cSLaorbNU62qd7StdT53PaS_iqcZgdSQCqzVYD/s400/Chair+on+right+like+header.jpg" /></a></center><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.betweennapsontheporch.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i264.photobucket.com/albums/ii164/Magnolias_Moonlight/butterfly-09-t-1.jpg" /></a></center>

How to Faux Finish A Plastic Flower Pot

 What looks like a cast concrete or stone planter is really just a plastic flower pot painted to resemble something much more hefty and pricey. A planter like this one will look great in a staged home, either indoors or out, holding real plants or silks.Take one cheapo plastic flower pot and turn it…

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Strategies for Staging a Vacant House

<div style="text-align: right;"></div><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-bistrotable.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="272" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-bistrotable.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Staging an unoccupied house is never easy.<br />One way to soften the look is with some<br />durable outdoor furniture and routine yard care.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><br />You may have inherited it, moved from it, or bought it to flip.<br /><br />How you came to the project of staging a vacant property isn't important.<br /><br />What's important is to get creative. Here are some pointers to help you do it right.<br /><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><div style="text-align: left;">Unless you have deep pockets, you'll need to marshal all your inventiveness. Gather ideas from online, model homes, shelter magazines and retail stores. Get current with what people expect in that neighborhood and that price range.</div></div><ul><li>Rental furniture is an option, the bugaboo being you don't know how long you'll need it, so budgeting is tricky. Alternatives are borrowing from family or friends, loaning the house some of your own furnishings, or buying some essentials that will work for your own home when the property sells.</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-Amazing-White-Decor-600x395.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="420" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-Amazing-White-Decor-600x395.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Large art or mirrors will fill empty wall space and large plants and oversized <br />lighting fixtures also help. Modern furniture looks more natural in a <br />sparsely furnished room. Designer: Greg Natlae </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table></div><ul><li>Sources for cheap furniture are garage sales, estate sales, thrift stores, Craigslist, and curbside. All these approaches work best if you have the kind of schedule for it. And luck. You have to be in the right place at the right time. Start looking now, and be persistent.</li></ul><ul><li>Remember that furniture doesn't have to match. Gone are the days of matching suites for dining rooms, living rooms and bedrooms. Thank goodness! Paint can be your unifier. A large area rug (or a carpet remnant the carpeting store will bind on the edges for you) can tie together an eclectic furniture mix as well. </li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.countryliving.com/cm/countryliving/images/SD/clx-Revealing-Nature-dining-room-0211-mdn.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://www.countryliving.com/cm/countryliving/images/SD/clx-Revealing-Nature-dining-room-0211-mdn.jpg" width="480" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Don't be afraid to mix things up. It looks trendy, as long as there are other quality touches in the same room. This group works because all the chairs are classics in themselves. The soothing chocolate and cream color scheme helps, too. Photo: Country Living.</i></div><ul><li> The kitchen and the baths in an unoccupied house are easy to stage. They usually don't require furniture, only props. So concentrate on setting the right tone in these rooms, and they can carry the house. Declutter, clean, and then add freshness -- fake fruit in the kitchen and fluffy towels in the bath.</li></ul><ul><li>Decide on a simple and singular color scheme for the entire house. Hunting for furniture and accessories will be <i><u>so</u> </i>much easier. You'll be able to experiment with different arrangements on site until you've tweaked it just right!</li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://katyallgeyer.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/picture-135.png?w=500&h=417" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="532" src="http://katyallgeyer.files.wordpress.com/2009/05/picture-135.png?w=500&h=417" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Use your imagination to make the most of what you have available. </i><br /><i>These two etagere units stand in for traditional nightstands and make </i><br /><i>the room look important and full.</i> <i>Photo: Apartment Therapy.</i></div><ul><li>What not to ignore: upholstered furniture, window coverings, wall art, and lighting fixtures. These are the elements that make a difference. Make them large so the home feels luxurious,and make them look appropriate to the style of the home.</li></ul><ul><li>Stretch your budget with DIY projects, including those <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2012/01/no-sew-window-treatments-why-stitch.html" target="_blank">essential window treatments </a>and works or art. Other frugal ways to fill up space and make a style statement are paint-worthy bookcases, occasional chairs, and end tables, all of which are waiting for you at your neighborhood thrift store.  </li></ul><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://img4.realsimple.com/images/home-organizing/new-uses/0511/night-lamp_300.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://img4.realsimple.com/images/home-organizing/new-uses/0511/night-lamp_300.jpg" width="336" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Think outside the box. Look outside your home for accessories and even furniture. </i><br /><i>A trellis, a garden sculpture, clay pots, a wooden bench, or a metal chair </i><br /><i>might be just what your living room needs. Here, a ceramic planter </i><br /><i>becomes a table base. Photo: RealSimple.com.  </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><ul><li>Remember that spacious is good. You needn't fill every room with furniture. Every bedroom doesn't require a dresser and every living room doesn't need to seat eight.  </li><li>Work with your realtor to locate furnishings. She may know people who have too much furniture in their home on the market, people who could sell or loan you some of what you need. </li></ul>I wrote more about the benefits and pitfalls of marketing a vacant house <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/08/staged-and-vacant.html">here</a>.<br /><br />Read about what the essential pieces are for each and every room in my<a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank"> eBook</a>, DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fat and For Top Dollar. Download now and begin your staging today.

Strategies for Staging a Vacant House

Staging an unoccupied house is never easy.One way to soften the look is with somedurable outdoor furniture and routine yard care.You may have inherited it, moved from it, or bought it to flip.How you came to the project of staging a vacant property isn't important.What's important is to get creative…

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50 Reasons I Love My Husband

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_0105.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="409" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_0105.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The Man: He likes the outdoors, but he won't hunt or fish.</i></div><br />1. No matter how crazy my ideas sound to him, he always encourages me to do what I want.<br />2. He smells great, even when he's a mess.<br />3. He's quiet as a mouse in the morning so he doesn't wake me.<br />4. He's quiet all day long.<br />5. We never lack for conversation.<br />6. He's generous.<br />7. He's loyal.<br />8. I know I can trust him with my heart.<br />9. Even his corny jokes are funny.<br />10. He never says, "What's taking you so long?!"<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/johninmg.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/johninmg.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <i>The patriot: Ready for the July 4 parade in the 1977 mgb he restored. </i></div><br />11. He's never late. <br />12. This guy can fix anything!<br />13. He's sexy, but no one knows that (until now).<br />14. He's smarter than I am, but he thinks I am smarter. <br />15. <i>Never</i> makes a mistake when he types. Amazing.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/Kiss-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/Kiss-1.jpg" width="252" /></a></div><i>The kiss that sealed the deal. August 15, 1992.</i><i></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div>16. He doesn't swear. Except to be funny. And then, it cracks me up!<br />17. He loves dogs and horses.<br />18. He never yells. Ever.<br />19. When he decides to do something, there's no stopping him.<br />20. He's much stronger than he looks.<br />21. He's kind, and he makes it look easy.<br />22. Football and fishing bore him.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/Johnuphigh.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="483" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/Johnuphigh.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The worker: </i><i>Mr. Lucky painting his mother's house. Such a son!</i></div><br />23. We both love baseball.<br />24. When there is one chocolate left, he will leave it for me, even though I would not do this for him.<br />25. When he snores, it's melodic.<br />26. He shaves every day.<br />27. He doesn't ogle other women or flirt with them.<br />28. He's handsome.<br />29. He doesn't smoke, drink, or gamble.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/CloserCapt.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="483" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/CloserCapt.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The man of leisure: </i><i>His other woman will always be his boat. I hope.</i></div><br />30. He has a full head of wavy hair.<br />31. He gave up junk food and cigarettes for me. <br />32. He's always there for his family, even when "there" is a two-day drive.<br />33. Other men respect him and seek his advice.<br />34. Cute buns.<br />35. In 20 years he has never criticized or embarrassed me. So far, so good.<br />36. He's incapable of lying. Not even little white lies. <br />37. He personifies kindness.<br />38. He will eat whatever I cook and serve. <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/SanFrancisco.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/SanFrancisco.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>The dude who makes all my dreams come true. I have to be careful what I wish for.</i></div><br />39. He likes going out to eat. With me.<br />40. He never presses his religious or political opinions on others.<br />42. Did I mention the buns?<br />43. Nothing seems to scare him. How can that be? <br />44. He will work harder than any one I know, and he never leaves anything unfinished.<br />45. He doesn't brag or boast.<br />46. He's efficient. Very. Opposites attract. <br />47. He's always polite and courteous to strangers.<br />48. He doesn't worry. <br />49. Revenge and spite are foreign concepts to him.<br />50. He takes good care of our money, our dog, our yard, and our cars. And me.<br />51. Bonus Point: He's a good kisser.<br /><br />Happy Valentines Day, Honey. I love you.  <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/JBAlbtourists.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/JBAlbtourists.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"> <i>The traveler: While we were vacationing in New Mexico last month. </i><br /><br /></div>

50 Reasons I Love My Husband

The Man: He likes the outdoors, but he won't hunt or fish.1. No matter how crazy my ideas sound to him, he always encourages me to do what I want.2. He smells great, even when he's a mess.3. He's quiet as a mouse in the morning so he doesn't wake me.4. He's quiet all day long.5. We never lack for co…

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What Do Chips and Salsa Have to Do with Home Staging?

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/doover2-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/doover2-1.jpg" width="356" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Recently a recipe</b></span> of mine was featured on Foodie-isms.com, where the tag line is "Obsessively Interested in All Things Culinary."<br /><br />Stephanie, the brains behind the Foodie-ism site, writes inspiring and informative posts about cooking, nutrition and travel. She's always looking for good recipes from people who love to cook, and love to eat. Count me in.<br /><br />I'm a big fan of salsa, especially ones with more flavors than just tomato and spices. Please visit <a href="http://foodie-isms.com/?p=2816">Foodie-isms</a> and see what the foodies are cooking and eating. You'll find an intriguing collection of  temptingly delish recipes contributed by cooks and chefs. If you're a foodie yourself (no credentials required), consider sending Stephanie one of your own.<br /><br />My recipe includes directions for making your own homemade tortilla chips. Why make what you can easily buy, you may ask. Because once you eat your oven-baked, ultra crispy chips, you won't be happy with what comes out of a cellophane bag. You'll be spoiled good.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Sweet and Smokey Salsa</b></span> <br /><br />1 14 1/2-ounce can diced tomatoes, drained well<br />3 tablespoons minced onion<br />3 tablespoons minced fresh cilantro<br />1 tablespoon lime juice<br />1 teaspoon sugar<br />1/4 of a canned chipotle pepper in adobo sauce, chopped<br />½ teaspoon granulated garlic<br />salt to taste (optional)<br /><br />Process all ingredients except salt in food processor. Add salt to taste and process again. <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Oven Baked Tortilla Chips </b></span><br /><br />Why would anyone bother making homemade chips? Well, just taste these. They are shatteringly crisp, fresh-tasting, and low in both salt and oil. It’s worth the work and the wait.<br /><br />2 tablespoons vegetable oil<br />5 corn tortillas <br /><br />Drizzle oil over baking sheet or jelly roll pan. Stack tortillas neatly, slice stack in half across the top, then slice each half into three wedges, to yield 6 triangle chips from each tortilla. Arrange the wedges in a single layer on the baking sheet, rubbing both sides of each wedge in oil, using the wedges to push the oil around the baking sheet. Bake in a 250 degree oven for 1 hour. They should be very crisp, but not browned.<br /><br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>But what do </b></span>chips and salsa have to do with my on-going blog topic, staging your home for the real estate market? Not much. Honestly...I'm just trying to prove that I'm not a one-trick pony. I could invent a connection, like...once your home sells you should have a little celebration and serve this snack with those margaritas.<br /><br />Or I could point out that Stephanie's motto is, “ That tastes good….but how can I make it taste even better?” That attitude is akin to the attitude an effective DIY home stager takes. "That looks good...but how can I make it look even better."<br /><br />I could also say that making things yourself rather than buying off the shelf is gratifying. DIY projects can also be more specific to your needs. If you need less salt, you can have it your way, and if you want more lamps or chairs than a hired home staging service recommends, you can do it your way. That's why I encourage people to DIY home stage, even though it doesn't make me friends in the professional home stagers community.<br /><br />Bon app<span id="taw" style="margin-right: 0pt; visibility: visible;"><b>é</b></span>tit!<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href="http://www.handymancraftywoman.com/"><img border="0" src="http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v127/lars72/733blog%20design%20images/WAW_BUTTON.png" /></a></center> <br /><br /><a href="http://southernhospitalityblog.com/"><img alt="southern hospitality" height="125" src="http://southernhospitalityblog.com/wp-content/themes/thesis_17/custom/images/shbutton.png" width="125" /></a>

What Do Chips and Salsa Have to Do with Home Staging?

Recently a recipe of mine was featured on Foodie-isms.com, where the tag line is "Obsessively Interested in All Things Culinary."Stephanie, the brains behind the Foodie-ism site, writes inspiring and informative posts about cooking, nutrition and travel. She's always looking for good recipes from pe…

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If You've Got Location, Flaunt It. Here's How.

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.homes-for-sale-by-owner.info/photos/8922-2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="452" src="http://www.homes-for-sale-by-owner.info/photos/8922-2.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"> <i>Whatever is characteristic of your locale needs to be part of your home's sales pitch. Even though this home is not old, the design and decor styles stay true to historic Southwestern traditions.  </i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Do you have a home in a location that's unique? Do people buy into your area of the country, or your town, or your neighborhood, because it's special?    </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">When I talk about staging a home for sale, I usually advise against staging with big, in-your-face personality. But owners of homes in unique locations would miss an opportunity if they didn’t stage to emphasize the specialness. Resort properties are prime examples, but so are homes in historic or especially scenic locations. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Santa Fe</b></span>, New Mexico, is a city that calls itself  "The City Unique."  It deserves the title because there’s no place like it. If you ever want to be swept away to another time and place, but your passport isn’t up to date, you want to go to Santa Fe. Mr. Lucky and I have just returned from a week's vacation there.  </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Through careful local planning, Santa Fe still looks a lot like the village it was 400 or more years ago. The narrow, winding roads maintain their Spanish names and the buildings are low, with the soft contours and colors of adobe construction. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/SantaFecondo-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="387" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/SantaFecondo-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><i>The hotel we chose is a complex of adobe-style condominiums in the historic downtown area. The sun is going down. The air is scented with the smoke of pinon pine fires burning in kiva fireplaces. </i><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/SantaFekiva1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/SantaFekiva1.jpg" width="356" /></a></div><i> Our living room. A kiva fireplace is what makes a living room authentic in Santa Fe. If you're staging your home, ask yourself what's expected by buyers in your market and emphasize it.  </i><br /><i></i><br /><i> </i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span id="goog_1413976789"></span><span id="goog_1413976790"></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">Staying in a managed condo complex means staying in a home while the owners – whoever they are – work at their desks in New York City or Los Angeles or somewhere, waiting for the time when they can spend the summer or holidays or retirement there themselves. These kinds of resort properties can be sweet deals because everything you need is there – from movies and books to coffee filters and dishes. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>It was like</b></span> living in a staged home. With a housekeeper who comes when we went out to eat, shop, hike, or explore. I really am Mrs. Lucky! </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.realestateinsantafe.com/photos/farolito.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://www.realestateinsantafe.com/photos/farolito.JPG" width="640" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: center;"><i>From the holiday season through January, buildings in Santa Fe display lighted luminaries. It's a perfect time to visit because the crowds don't come until summer.</i><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/SantaFeJackaloupe.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/SantaFeJackaloupe.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><i>In winter, merchants and hotels are happy to offer tourists real bargains.</i><i> Here I am, in the mirror, shopping at Jackalope Pottery, full of fun imports.   </i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/SantaFeintbedroom.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="372" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/SantaFeintbedroom.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><i>Our bedroom. Tile floors, Mexican tub chairs, lots of natural light, chunky furniture, and oversized  tapestry-covered pillows. Santa Fe has a look all its own. </i><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/SantaFeinthall.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/SantaFeinthall.jpg" width="376" /></a></div><i>As soon as we entered our home away from home, we felt surrounded by the attitude of the locale. That's what the effect of good home staging should be! </i><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/SantaFekitchenart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="425" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/SantaFekitchenart.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><i>The kitchen featured a print from popular local artist R.C. Gorman. Hanging good local art is perfect for reminding buyers what's different about your part of the country. </i><br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/SantaFecondoristra.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/SantaFecondoristra.jpg" width="435" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><i>Typical Santa Fe: chili ristra hanging in an adobe wall opening. Whatever is indigenous to your region can become part of home staging that really speaks to buyers, especially ones relocating there. </i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in; text-align: left;">Whether we're talking about food, fashion, architecture, music, crafts, art, or interior decor, Santa Fe's style is rustic and artsy, like most of the Southwest, only more authentic and at the same time, more sophisticated.<br /><br />Define what the style is for your part of the country or neighborhood, and stay true to local traditions, especially when the area is unique. Like Santa Fe.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>There are more</b></span> tips for making your home appealing to buyers in my <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">eBook</a>, <i>DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and for Top Dollar. </i></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0in;"></div></div>

If You've Got Location, Flaunt It. Here's How.

 Whatever is characteristic of your locale needs to be part of your home's sales pitch. Even though this home is not old, the design and decor styles stay true to historic Southwestern traditions.  Do you have a home in a location that's unique? Do people buy into your area of the country, or your t…

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