How to Get Buyers to Fall in Love with Your Home

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/Romeo_and_juliet_brown.jpg/220px-Romeo_and_juliet_brown.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/Romeo_and_juliet_brown.jpg/220px-Romeo_and_juliet_brown.jpg" width="273" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Romeo and  Juliet couldn't resist each other. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Love happens. Literature, poetry, songs, and movies insist that you can't get someone to love you, that the magic is there, or not.<br /><br />But when it comes to convincing home buyers that your house is the one that will make them happy, the story is different.<br /><br />There's lots you can do to get them interested, and even excited enough to make a commitment, which in real estate terms means to make an offer. Here are the most enticing ways to create that magic.<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Seduce from a distance.</span></b> Your home has to look good -- very good -- even from afar. Yes, we're talking <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/10/guest-post-going-beyond-curb-appeal-to.html">curb appeal</a>. Again.<br /><br />Is your landscaping tidy and appropriate for the season? Is the area around your front entrance unobstructed, clean, and colorful? Do your siding and roof look problem-free? Have you removed all distractions, like bikes, garbage cans, and gardening equipment, from the front of your home?<br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Wow them from the start.</span></b> Make buyers feel that they have just opened a delightful Valentine's card when they open your front door. First impressions count, and most buyers make a judgement about a home during the first few minutes of a home tour.<br /><br />Is the first sensation one of being crowded into a foyer, or is it one of being welcomed to a spacious home? Are the <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/08/finally-simple-formula-to-help-you.html">paint colors</a> neutral enough that anyone could love them? Are your home's best features noticeable? Are its flaws de-emphasized? <br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Appeal to the senses.</span></b> Buyers make decisions based on sensory input. No matter how perfect the floor plan or how new the cabinets, if your home smells like <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/01/cats-dont-have-to-stink.html">pets</a> or <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/07/mildews-deal-breaker-for-home-buyers.html">mildew</a>, you're in trouble.<br /><br />Is the temperature right? Does your home smell good in every room -- closets and storage spaces included? Do doorknobs, countertops and other surfaces that will be felt, feel smooth and <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/03/how-to-clean-like-professional.html">clean</a>? Is the clutter gone? Is the artwork non-offensive? <br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Create desire.</span></b> People like to believe the house they are buying is a step up the social ladder. Make them feel like winners by looking like a winner yourself.<br /><br />Are there some status touches, like thick towels, contemporary electronics, bedding that is <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/10/trends-that-can-update-your-home.html">on-trend</a>, and even name brand foods in a pantry? Buyers buy the lifestyle, so don't underestimate the <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/07/is-your-bathroom-staged-to-impress.html">details that make your the home look luxurious.</a><br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Don't them them forget you</span></b>. Prepare a takeaway. Work with your <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/08/how-not-to-hire-realtor.html">realtor</a> to have a printed single sheet that points out your home's best features. If your home is a larger one, consider a more extensive printout. Include at least one photo.<br /><br />Buyers might tour a handful of homes on one day, so make your home the one they'll remember. Have something memorable, like a big bouquet of bright flowers by the front door, a humorous sign by the back door, or mints on the kitchen island, to leave a friendly, lasting impression.<br /><br />I give specific advice for staging your own home in my <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">$5 eBook</a>, <i>DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and for Top Dollar</i>. If your home is on the market, or you are thinking about selling, I'll walk you through the important steps to help you stage to sell. It's easy when you know all the subtle but powerful tricks of the trade! Download now and start staging today. <br /><br />

How to Get Buyers to Fall in Love with Your Home

Romeo and  Juliet couldn't resist each other.  Love happens. Literature, poetry, songs, and movies insist that you can't get someone...

Read more »

Want Some Holiday Scents? Make a Citrus Pomander

<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1740-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1740-1.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>You won't believe how easy it is to make a fragrant pomander!</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Citrus tops the list of fragrances sure to please everyone. So why not greet visitors to your home on the market with the scent of fresh lemons, limes and oranges?<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>For the holidays</b></span>, I like to mix citrus scents with the spicy aroma of cloves by making pomanders. They're pretty, they're easy to make, and the smell is natural so it won't offend anyone, even the chemically sensitive.<br /><br />These pomanders are exactly like the ones people used to put in closets and dressers to make things smell pretty in the time before Fabreeze or Lysol.<br /><br />Originally, pomanders were made and worn to ward off evil spirits and diseases, not to mention body odor in pre-deodorant days. Both men and women wore gold and silver containers as jewelry that held fragrant, stink-masking spices. As much as I love knights of bold in days of old, I'm glad I didn't live in those times.  <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Now that your home is for sale</b></span>, I am sure you have cleaned and decluttered, and made it smell fresh. To add a pleasant layer of fragrance, hang a pomander from a ribbon in a closet, set one on a kitchen window sill, leave one on a bedroom nightstand, or just pile some on a plate in the foyer.<br /><br /><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/homestaging/IMG_1803.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1803.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Oranges, tangerines, lemons, limes and clementines all make great pomanders.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Once you see how festive and fragrant these citrus pomanders are, you may want to add them to wreaths, cluster them into centerpieces, or attach them on gift-wrapped packages.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Remember high school </b></span>geography stories about European explorers sailing east to discover trade routes to parts of the world where spices grew? They needed exotic ingredients like cloves and cinnamon and pepper to preserve their meats, fruits and vegetables. Your inserted cloves will act as a preservative for your homemade pomanders. Unless you live in a very humid environment, the citrus rind will turn dark and leathery, and the fruit will be naturally preserved.<br /><br />If your fruits develop any signs of mold as they are drying, move them to a warmer, drier location with good air circulation.   <br /><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/homestaging/IMG_1744.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1744.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>These fruits are a week old, and show signs of drying. Eventually, the color will even out. </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>My version of citrus pomanders is simple. If you like being more elaborate or more precise, it's your call. You can completely cover the fruit, or make intricate designs, or write a person's name or a word like "Noel," or roll the fruit in spices like cinnamon when you're done.<br /><br />Rather than buy whole cloves in cute little bottles at your supermarket, buy them in bulk for much less money at an ethnic grocer or a natural foods store. <br />  <br /><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/homestaging/IMG_1746.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1746.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>The supplies for this DIY project are ordinary and cheap.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>What You Need</b></span><br />Fresh citrus fruit like lemons, tangerines, limes, kumquats, or oranges<br />Whole cloves<br />Skewer, ice pick, or fork<br />Small towel or rag <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>How to Do</b></span><br />Set yourself up by laying the towel or rag on your work area to provide an absorbent surface. Decide on your pattern, and begin by inserting the skewer, ice pick or fork to make holes. The fork will give you evenly spaced holes, but they will be in a straight line.<br /><br /><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/homestaging/IMG_1754.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1754.jpg" width="300" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Make good sized holes, so that you don't have to push hard on the cloves.  </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />After punching in ten or so holes, insert a clove in each. You can be as choosy as you want, using only those with seeds in the head, or ones without, or both. I use both. If you want to get fussy, you can sort by size, and use all large or all small cloves, or create a graduated design. Arrange them close together, or further apart. You're the artist!<br /><br /><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/homestaging/IMG_1757.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1757.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>You will find some cloves that are small or broken. Discard those, and use the best.  </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />In a few days your citrus rind will begin to darken slightly, but your pomander will still smell delightful and look attractive. Some people save their pomanders from year to year, because the fragrance never entirely dissipates.  <br /><br />When <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/12/tis-season-for-thievery.html">your house is for sale, and it's holiday time,</a> keeping <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2010/11/how-to-stage-home-for-holidays.html">seasonal decorations</a> to a minimum makes good sense. Scented pomanders are one decoration that is simple and effective, yet inexpensive.<br /><br /><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/homestaging/IMG_1799.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="434" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/homestaging/IMG_1799.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Who doesn't love the fresh scent of lime? And the color is perfect for Christmastime. </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Discover more tips to help sell your home 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>.<br /><div align="center"><a href="http://everything-underthemoon.blogspot.com/" title="Everything Under the Moon"><img alt="Everything Under the Moon" src="http://i73.photobucket.com/albums/i203/niquealodeon/EUTMbedazzle-s.jpg" style="border: none;" /></a></div><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>

Want Some Holiday Scents? Make a Citrus Pomander

You won't believe how easy it is to make a fragrant pomander! Citrus tops the list of fragrances sure to please everyone. So why not gre...

Read more »

A Color Consultant Tells How to Pick a Paint Color

<div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"></span></span></span></span><br /><div style="color: black; font-family: inherit;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span">We have a guest post today. I asked Donna Frasca, a color specialist from Charlotte, North Carolina, to </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span style="font-family: inherit;">tackle a topic that interests most people who home stage -- what color walls should be.  And now, here's Donna...</span></span></span></span></div><span style="font-size: small;"></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #351c75;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></span></span><br /><div style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Choosing color for your home can be a challenge. I can show you where to place color and also offer you some color suggestions. It's really as </span></span>easy as A, B, C, D, ... and maybe E. </span></div></div><div style="text-align: left;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcvoOqn0zKpu78raB1B12V-m4rnK2Eue0pccHkjMzBfBitrKRRIFM8V9atQi7LTp0Rgt65NoZfs28X4VxYRELbjwUJtfNSfPvUoST1ZLefyEndFk4wXTn6N9VWifUUBfb1ukeORWaWk9c/s1600/foyer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgcvoOqn0zKpu78raB1B12V-m4rnK2Eue0pccHkjMzBfBitrKRRIFM8V9atQi7LTp0Rgt65NoZfs28X4VxYRELbjwUJtfNSfPvUoST1ZLefyEndFk4wXTn6N9VWifUUBfb1ukeORWaWk9c/s1600/foyer.jpg" /></a></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;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VuW0O-Cexxo/TdFNbwhJ66I/AAAAAAAAA6E/gMLs7Udd9v4/s1600/a-foyer.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" j8="true" src="http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-VuW0O-Cexxo/TdFNbwhJ66I/AAAAAAAAA6E/gMLs7Udd9v4/s400/a-foyer.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">THE FOYER</span></span></b></div></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif; font-size: small;">When I design a color palette for my clients, I refer to the interior as a 'tree'. The </span><span style="font-size: small;"><b><a href="http://colorspecialist-charlotte.blogspot.com/2011/02/color-advice-for-foyers.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">foyer</span></a></b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> is the trunk which is the core of the home and the rooms are the 'branches'. This is like a 'color map' which helps my clients visualize the layout of their ho</span>me instead of being so overwhelmed with color placement.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The foyer is usually a neutral color such as the one you see (</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">) above. Most of the foyers where I live in the </span><a href="http://www.findmycarolinahome.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">south Charlotte</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> area are very open and continue up to the second floor. Keeping that in mind, a light, neutral color seems to work best.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I also like to put the foyer color in the hallways. Most hallways that I've seen have very poor lighting thus having a tendency to be shadowed. To compensate for this, it's best to keep the color here fairly light.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In most cases, the dining room is to the left or right side of the foyer. Now again, most of the homes in Charlotte follow this type of layout which is also called an open floor plan. Don't have a home with an open floor plan? That's ok! You will still have an entrance way and hallways where your (</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A)</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> color will work.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">THE DINING ROOM</span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr8G4ioJwirbroQrRN52oY3C43Z3EI-_ucrEK052o_bt2WkXlTLhb_wKGtqoSQ945OKNtSM8JmN6qON27Jcm2fPyfFZT71Eif_v_M5vh0SSqq8cIFXKzYDd341iaTzCXRwVzePOrmTLxk/s1600/dining+room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="271" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhr8G4ioJwirbroQrRN52oY3C43Z3EI-_ucrEK052o_bt2WkXlTLhb_wKGtqoSQ945OKNtSM8JmN6qON27Jcm2fPyfFZT71Eif_v_M5vh0SSqq8cIFXKzYDd341iaTzCXRwVzePOrmTLxk/s400/dining+room.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBhLl4BHRKPttLLUnf721mIdDDGQEH1mSFHzUtYmtM8XwDHIgB7XymVOvG7T0Kt2zF0ue3BaCJNDR4_7YM-4oU7KYH6Ypvt7Xevt4370Sl3oI6vuikcIZ5BJgfZ7N8O6tak9FZopTIF_A/s1600/dining+room+donna+frasca.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgBhLl4BHRKPttLLUnf721mIdDDGQEH1mSFHzUtYmtM8XwDHIgB7XymVOvG7T0Kt2zF0ue3BaCJNDR4_7YM-4oU7KYH6Ypvt7Xevt4370Sl3oI6vuikcIZ5BJgfZ7N8O6tak9FZopTIF_A/s1600/dining+room+donna+frasca.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I find that many of my clients ask for a </span><a href="http://colorspecialist-charlotte.blogspot.com/2010/06/scarlet-red.html"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">red</span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> dining room but be careful with this hot hue - it's tricky to pick and to paint. Red will make a striking statement in your home but keep in mind, it's a typical choice to choose red and can be a dated look. Stick to something fun and updated as I pointed out with the </span><a href="http://colorspecialist-charlotte.blogspot.com/2011/02/how-to-use-warm-grays.html"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">warm gray</span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> shown as color (</span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">B)</span></b>.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">THE LIVING ROOM</span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3QCQzqFYG4cVRpIwghZ2Mky-S91RycNMDP7Cy417I3xVtK5Lo2pRRAVMTgznUEjxOyXc1m8xyVyVByTP0Ze4zEsigjgEY09GJxPEGe1J3PzQSLYnTGQfKwXjTI2fCnUpBs4AilLtdUA/s1600/living+room.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="287" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiK3QCQzqFYG4cVRpIwghZ2Mky-S91RycNMDP7Cy417I3xVtK5Lo2pRRAVMTgznUEjxOyXc1m8xyVyVByTP0Ze4zEsigjgEY09GJxPEGe1J3PzQSLYnTGQfKwXjTI2fCnUpBs4AilLtdUA/s400/living+room.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGo8tArM211mcidTfQOchWt-JI4FgUzboR9tIUUcFfZJVWyzjnHvXheNxhXCEavZBXjxu1wSZv7pBJsCI5wKBSu-clU-JrjmaTPUJNru3DzKO28Ao3XERITFQlNqlXw_7ofsdtM5ekSDE/s1600/living+room+donna+frasca.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhGo8tArM211mcidTfQOchWt-JI4FgUzboR9tIUUcFfZJVWyzjnHvXheNxhXCEavZBXjxu1wSZv7pBJsCI5wKBSu-clU-JrjmaTPUJNru3DzKO28Ao3XERITFQlNqlXw_7ofsdtM5ekSDE/s1600/living+room+donna+frasca.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Now based on this open floor plan, the Living room is going to be surrounded by the kitchen, foyer and dining room. Knowing that, the color you choose for this room has to </span><a href="http://colorspecialist-charlotte.blogspot.com/2011/01/choosing-color-for-open-floor-plans.html"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">coordinate with those surrounding rooms</span></b></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">This warm hue (be careful not to get too gold. A warm, creamy color like I have as color (<b>C</b>) will look great with a gray and it's also an updated look. If you choose the wrong gold, it can be a throw back to </span><a href="http://colorspecialist-charlotte.blogspot.com/2011/03/updating-colors-of-70s-for-your-home.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>the 70's</b></span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">AN OPEN FLOOR PLAN</span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijwy1ngb6nOvbSn8LQ7xt0Onr2maCwaFHj3COkKkYlpUph0rwH3sTCNAorcUAvlDinoiNxlBNuqK9ZFV65usEvzRMqCZA341cgzKsCcQ4P19pylrjyNlNQxI4YMO-f-jzuVzWz0OwKJxc/s1600/open+floor+plan+donna+frasca.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="290" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEijwy1ngb6nOvbSn8LQ7xt0Onr2maCwaFHj3COkKkYlpUph0rwH3sTCNAorcUAvlDinoiNxlBNuqK9ZFV65usEvzRMqCZA341cgzKsCcQ4P19pylrjyNlNQxI4YMO-f-jzuVzWz0OwKJxc/s400/open+floor+plan+donna+frasca.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #134f5c;"><i>Great example of an open floor plan.</i></span></span></td></tr></tbody></table><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Here is another shot of the Living room. Notice how you can see other rooms from standing in this one spot. Take that into consideration when choosing color. You also have to know where to start and stop the color. You can see here how I labeled the walls for  placement. This </span><b><a href="http://colorspecialist-charlotte.blogspot.com/2010/12/colors-to-keep-you-warm.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">warm, creamy yellow</span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> will look great beside the neutral foyer and of course we all know that gray and yellow look great together but they have to be the RIGHT gray and yellow. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Let's move to the </span><b><a href="http://colorspecialist-charlotte.blogspot.com/2011/02/granite-and-color-for-your-kitchen.html"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">kitchen</span></a></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">. I think I see a nice warm green for that room.</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">THE KITCHEN</span></span></b></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqKtfB5Ek8x2lEucmyMOgd3YrFl_qI1zULMQHe8VZB4KQpcsGcGR01nP_E6ygBozPlu3LcMVeVLKzt3tWwrN47jNmxXMkOBRW2NMLBwb89PAUbzvosc4M4RljDPrNlL11Sn0pNpW9ZFXg/s1600/kitchen.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="281" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqKtfB5Ek8x2lEucmyMOgd3YrFl_qI1zULMQHe8VZB4KQpcsGcGR01nP_E6ygBozPlu3LcMVeVLKzt3tWwrN47jNmxXMkOBRW2NMLBwb89PAUbzvosc4M4RljDPrNlL11Sn0pNpW9ZFXg/s400/kitchen.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0zEr6TOoIV6HwaePCnLonII1VLCUJXvWE-9AAfEXprRstuu_Kz9dSGddM2hllVRvXqx48MiDqsmYggAJoMREl7XrPeRFEPo8AlYOlWFVm1A2Cjgq8bkKkrrxIAa3NFV2-dyup7eIrBw/s1600/kitchen+donna+frasca.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjP0zEr6TOoIV6HwaePCnLonII1VLCUJXvWE-9AAfEXprRstuu_Kz9dSGddM2hllVRvXqx48MiDqsmYggAJoMREl7XrPeRFEPo8AlYOlWFVm1A2Cjgq8bkKkrrxIAa3NFV2-dyup7eIrBw/s1600/kitchen+donna+frasca.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">There are many factors to consider when choosing a color for your kitchen. Keep in mind the undertones of your flooring and cabinets. Do you want them to have the same undertone or to have more contrast? Let's say we are staying with the warm undertones therefore going with this this green hue. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Caution:</b> Be careful here! Your kitchen color has to coordinate with your living room color since these rooms flow into each other. Like the way the green and warm yellow look together? Ok, let's recap.</span></div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Do you like this palette?</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Do the colors flow from room to room?</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Is there enough color?</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Is there too much hue for you?</span></li><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Will these colors match your flooring tile, carpeting or wood stain?</span></li></ul><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">YOUR NEW COLOR PALETTE</span></span></b></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><br /></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: center;"></div><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin: 0px;"><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="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIBO8dA308OX345-lj0DngmXSSCeBDI4cQIKB7mRlqIYK2g3G1-KYgsQAvjPy76eP-mTOLLDP5dWUT9pSQK0ge6BKeIfUMe1_DRsRFteigOqh6xRbpPQAwNFkPygxC7-rjYFETkz7AQAk/s1600/color-palette-donna-frasca.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgIBO8dA308OX345-lj0DngmXSSCeBDI4cQIKB7mRlqIYK2g3G1-KYgsQAvjPy76eP-mTOLLDP5dWUT9pSQK0ge6BKeIfUMe1_DRsRFteigOqh6xRbpPQAwNFkPygxC7-rjYFETkz7AQAk/s1600/color-palette-donna-frasca.jpg" /></a></div><div style="margin: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: "Trebuchet MS",sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><br /></span></span></div></div></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">I added an additional color (<b>E</b>) if you have an office on the same floor as these other rooms. See how they look great together? Other than the foyer color, feel free to mix and match these colors into the room of your choice. The thing to remember about the RIGHT color palette is that they will ALL coordinate with each other so you CAN mix and match. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.decoratingbydonna.com/"></a></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin: 0px; text-align: justify;"><br /></div>Thank you, Donna for being our guest poster today, and supplying a simple formula for color selection. Donna specializes in JUST color, particularly homes with open floor plans such as the house in this post. Readers can follow Donna on her <a href="http://colorspecialist-charlotte.blogspot.com/">blog</a>, or check out her website at <a href="http://www.decoratingbydonna.com/">http://www.decoratingbydonna.com/</a>. You can also reach her by phone at 704-243-6764.

A Color Consultant Tells How to Pick a Paint Color

We have a guest post today. I asked Donna Frasca, a color specialist from Charlotte, North Carolina, to tackle a topic that interests most p...

Read more »

A Staged Foyer Helps Sell Your House

<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://www.decorpad.com/photos/2009/11/25/1955d3548fdd.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://www.decorpad.com/photos/2009/11/25/1955d3548fdd.jpg" width="297" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Clean lines make this foyer's mood easy to duplicate. <br />The red, black and white colors add drama, <br />and the ornate mirror adds detail. Photo: DecorPad</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><div style="text-align: center;"><div style="text-align: left;">It's no wonder the foyer is the most overlooked room of a house. </div><div style="text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="text-align: left;">It's just the room we pass as we come and go. But when your home is for sale, every room is important.   Especially the foyer.</div></div><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">The foyer welcomes guests</span></b> to your home and gives visitors a glimpse of what's to come. It lets buyers have their first chance to judge the home's interior.<br /><br />This is no place for "good enough." This is a place for "wow." Do something impressive.<br /><br />Hang a large piece of colorful art. Lay a gorgeous rug there. How about a beautiful new light fixture?<br /><br />Since the room is usually small (if it exists at all) you can afford to add some luxury touches.        <br /><br />If you have no foyer, you can create a sense of entrance by placing an interesting chair or small table near the front door.<br /><br />If space is too tight for a table, a shelf functions just as well to hold a pretty lamp, a silk floral arrangement, a simple sculpture, or a dish of peppermints.<br /><br />Remember that the foyer can be the last room a house hunter sees (and tastes) as he goes on with his tour of homes.  <br /><br /><b><span style="font-size: large;">Lighting is important</span></b>.  If there are sidelights next to the door, be sure they let in all the natural light they can. Use sheer instead of heavy curtains, or none at all if privacy's not an issue.<br /><br />The foyer is one place you could leave a light on all day even in your absence and not have it look like you were trying to make you home look brighter for a showing. It just makes sense, as in, "We'll leave on light on for you."  .<br /><br />Furniture's a must in the large foyer, and what fun you can have there. A rustic bench... a mirrored cabinet... a large black table holding books and flowers... whatever suits your house. If you use a rug, make it generous, no matter what the size of the room.<br /><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody><tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.housebeautiful.com/cm/housebeautiful/images/4-adlger-0509-xlg-30906791.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://www.housebeautiful.com/cm/housebeautiful/images/4-adlger-0509-xlg-30906791.jpg" width="496" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">Is there anything you can copy from this big and bright entry </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">designed by Jonathan Adler? </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">Photo: Ngoc Minh Ngo for House Beautiful.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><table align="center" 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://img4.coastalliving.com/i/2002/11/bahamas-entry-table-l.jpg?400:400" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://img4.coastalliving.com/i/2002/11/bahamas-entry-table-l.jpg?400:400" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Rich woods and bold colors bring this foyer to life.  </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">It tells us the rest of the house will be exciting!  </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">Coastal Living photo by Deborah Whitlaw.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;">A mirror</span> is perfect for the foyer, the bigger the better.  Ideally it will reflect from side to side, so no one is startled when he opens the door.<br /><br />Of course you will make sure that everything is spotless -- the overhead light, the floor, any furniture, and of course, the door itself.<br /><br />Don't forget scent.  A clever place to hide your scent mechanism in a small room is to lay an incense stick on the ledge over the door trim. You know, that little ledge you never dust.<br /><br />The word foyer is derived from the French word for fire because in the late 1800's the foyer was the room to which <span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" onclick="this.style.backgroundColor='#b5d5ff';return hotWord(this);" onmouseout="this.style.backgroundColor='transparent'" onmouseover="this.style.cursor='default'" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">theater</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" onclick="this.style.backgroundColor='#b5d5ff';return hotWord(this);" onmouseout="this.style.backgroundColor='transparent'" onmouseover="this.style.cursor='default'" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">audiences</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" onclick="this.style.backgroundColor='#b5d5ff';return hotWord(this);" onmouseout="this.style.backgroundColor='transparent'" onmouseover="this.style.cursor='default'" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">went</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" onclick="this.style.backgroundColor='#b5d5ff';return hotWord(this);" onmouseout="this.style.backgroundColor='transparent'" onmouseover="this.style.cursor='default'" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">for</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" onclick="this.style.backgroundColor='#b5d5ff';return hotWord(this);" onmouseout="this.style.backgroundColor='transparent'" onmouseover="this.style.cursor='default'" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">warmth</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" onclick="this.style.backgroundColor='#b5d5ff';return hotWord(this);" onmouseout="this.style.backgroundColor='transparent'" onmouseover="this.style.cursor='default'" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">between</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" onclick="this.style.backgroundColor='#b5d5ff';return hotWord(this);" onmouseout="this.style.backgroundColor='transparent'" onmouseover="this.style.cursor='default'" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">the</span> <span id="hotword" name="hotword" onclick="this.style.backgroundColor='#b5d5ff';return hotWord(this);" onmouseout="this.style.backgroundColor='transparent'" onmouseover="this.style.cursor='default'" style="background-color: transparent; cursor: default;">acts</span></span>.<br /><br />Is your foyer staged to be warm and welcoming?<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;">Ebook help.</span> Download my <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">eBook</a>, <i>DIY Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and for Top Dollar</i> for more ways to impress buyers and convince them that your home should be their home.<br />  

A Staged Foyer Helps Sell Your House

Clean lines make this foyer's mood easy to duplicate. The red, black and white colors add drama, and the ornate mirror adds detail. Phot...

Read more »