Book Review and the Truth About What I Know.

<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/IMG_8199.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_8199.jpg" width="282" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Although not about staging, this is one helpful book</span>.</i> </td></tr></tbody></table>I have a confession. I'm not the little Miss Know-It-All that I pretend to be. <br /><br />When I'm staging a home, I have to experiment. I have to try different furniture arrangements, different lamps, different plants, before I  get it right.<br /><br />I have to go online and research new cleaning products, tutorials on repairing furniture, and best sources for drapery hardware.  <br /><br />I have to soak up every store display, model home, and televised makeover that crosses my path.<br /><br />I haunt the bookstore. I go to the library every two weeks and bring home an armful of books about interior decoration, home repair, crafting, and landscaping. These constitute the bulk of my bedtime reading.<br /><br />Last month I brought home a book so interesting that I decided rather than read it with the sense of urgency that comes with reading library books near their due date, I would actually purchase it. So I ordered a second hand one from <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Stylish-Solutions-Elizabeth-Gaynor/dp/0517704528/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1307911154&sr=8-1">Amazon.</a> <br /><br />What? You didn't think I'd buy NEW, did you? <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_8208.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_8208.jpg" width="328" /></a></div><br />Now I have my own copy of <i>Stylish Solutions</i>, by Elizabeth Gaynor and Kari Haavisto, published by Random House in 1998.  The date is important because although it is 13 years old, the photos look as fresh as any in the monthly shelter mags. The decor is classic without being stuffy or fussy. Most of the photos are shot in designers' own homes, and in the homes of architects, stylists, art directors and the like -- talented people, people with style. People who would start bidding wars if they listed their homes for sale.  <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_8192.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="576" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_8192.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />But what really captivated me was the elegant writing. Here's a sample of what the authors have to say about fireplace mantels.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;"><i>"A Fireplace gives presence to a room and prominence to a wall. If you have one, you can't ignore it, but that doesn't mean all adjacent furniture must be oriented in its direction. If you don't have one, you can bring in a mantel, old or new, just to give a room a bit of architecture. A chimneypiece can be highly ornamental and require very little embellishment, or be very plain. It provides a natural, although expected place to hang a large mirror or painting. A mantel is really a shelf of sorts, as welcoming to found objects of almost any height, artfully arranged, as to valuable antiques."</i></span><br /><br />Now, really, that's almost everything you need to know about mantels, in a nutshell.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_8187.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_8187.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Besides an introductory paragraph that kicks off each section -- coffee tables, sideboards, sofas, bookcases, mantels and beds -- the bulk of the book is photos with "deep captions," informative, descriptive captions.</i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_8200.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_8200.jpg" width="448" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /><i>Here's another sample I photographed from my newest book. I don't have a scanner, so I apologize for not doing justice to the photos. But, notice the richness of textures and the variety of materials here -- glass, wood, metal, vegetation, fabrics, all with generous proportions.</i>  </div>  <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_8198.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_8198.jpg" width="350" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"> <i>What home buyer wouldn't fall in love with a spare bed tucked cozily into a corner, filled with fluffy pillows and topped off with a bookshelf for a headboard? </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_8196.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="496" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_8196.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;"><i>Here's another bedroom worth imitating for staging purposes. The lines are clean, and the color scheme is contemporary. There are plenty of places for the eye to rest, and the artwork isn't distracting.  </i></div>  <br />All this week I am posting suggestions about books helpful to staging. They're on Facebook, as part of my ongoing Tip Of The Day program there. Join the Facebook Group by clicking the Facebook button in my sidebar. Next week I'll be giving tips about bedroom staging. In the past weeks I've talked about thrifting, curb appeal, painting, trends to avoid, mantels, photographing your home, and other topics that interest people who are selling a home.<br /><br />Is that you? Then whatever you read, and wherever you go, keeping an eye out for ideas is going to help you stage. If you expose yourself to examples of timelessly stylish decor, your eye becomes accustomed to what works and what doesn't, so when you're tweaking your own staged rooms, you'll know when you've got it right. <br /><br />There's more help available in my own <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>It's written just for homeowners, realtors, home stagers, builders, decorators, and others preparing homes for sale. You can download it now, and start seriously staging right away, the right way.

Book Review and the Truth About What I Know.

Although not about staging, this is one helpful book . I have a confession. I'm not the little Miss Know-It-All that I pretend to be. W...

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What Every Garage Sale Shopper Needs to Know

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_8181.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><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/IMG_8181.jpg" 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/IMG_8181.jpg" width="356" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>I didn't even try to lower the price. </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Anyone who thrives on buying second hand, and I'm part of that club, has her own bag of tricks. Here are my favorite ways to score bargains at garage sales. <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Chit Chat.</b></span> I always try to immediately befriend the seller. Smile. Small talk about the weather and about how many people have come by. Compliment the merchandise. Never mutter criticisms to your companions. Very often how friendly the seller thinks you are is in direct proportion to how flexible prices will be.<br />    <br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Approach.</b></span> Scope out everything immediately upon arrival. Zero in on the good stuff and don't get distracted. Don't knock anyone over getting to a prize piece on the opposite side of a driveway, but don't dally over the blankets when what you really want is books.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Grab.</b></span> Who among us hasn't hesitated, and then watched someone else walk off with a coveted treasure? Most garage sale items are one of a kind. This ain't retail, folks.<br /><br />Asking the seller to set something aside doesn't work. It's still easy for someone else to not know it's "reserved." Often there is more than one seller, and I've seen arguments spring up about which buyer had dibbs on an item.  <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/P1050335_zps5aeb9d64.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/P1050335_zps5aeb9d64.jpg" width="270" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Demographics.</b></span> Buy from little old ladies, and I can say this because I am a little old lady.  I'm not endorsing exploitation of the elderly. I'm saying that older people are often happy to downsize, and they usually have the kind of things that were made (in America!) before manufacturers realized how flimsy they could make things that people would still buy.<br /><br />Don't confine your garage sale shopping to the better neighborhoods, on the theory that people with money have more taste or better stuff. Wrong. Not only is the merchandise sometimes crapola, but it's usually overpriced.<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/IMG_8088-1.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="456" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_8088-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">Originally beat-up and painted an institutional green, I stripped the paint from this $15 </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">dresser, and patched the places where wood veneers had de-laminated. </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">Then I faux finished what needed it, imitating a birdseye maple </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">on the drawer fronts, and marble on the top. It's a keeper!</span></i></td></tr></tbody> </table>Don't ignore middle class neighborhoods, and even parts of town where there are older homes and people who need money. My favorite table lamp, above, is an example. I paid $2 after I found it in the corner of a dirt floor garage that smelled like pee.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Vehicle.</b></span> Don't drive an expensive car. Buddy up with someone who drives an old pickup. We owned a Jaguar a few years ago (before we realized how expensive repairs were). I told Mr. Lucky, "I can't drive that car to a yard sale. I lose all my negotiating power. Leave me the van."<br /><br />Sellers will judge your ability to pay by what you drive. Look like one of the people, not a wealthy cheapskate. <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/IMG_8136.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="411" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_8136.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">When I wanted to buy just one of these frosted pink glasses (silly me!), the owner insisted I </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">take the pair. So glad I did, because they are perfect not only for centerpieces and </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">mantel decor, but for ice cream sundaes as well, which as we all know, one should </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">never enjoy alone! My gardenias and roses scented the entire room.</span></i></td></tr></tbody></table>Arriving in a car that's not fancy or new also means you can transport things worry-free. You don't want that wrought iron trellis poking a hole in your leather seats. You want a truck bed that will accommodate a dining table if that's what you're hunting.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Outfit.</b></span> There is a way to dress for yard sale shopping. You want shoes that don't absorb the dew that is still on the grass early in the day. Forget cutesy shoes that don't give you the comfort required to last the morning.<br /><br />Look poor. Get your old sneaks out. Dress for functionality. The latest styles will only hamper your bargaining power.<br /><br />Wear pants or a jacket with pockets for money. Don't carry a purse because you need both hands free to rummage.    <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://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_8117.jpg" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="356" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_8117.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">What I fell in love with is the size of this demitasse (that's a penny </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">on the right), and the lovely handle, and, of course, </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">the pink transferware pattern. I don't use it for anything, but I still like to</span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;"> keep it </span></i><i><span style="font-size: small;">in sight, along with my other pink transferware. If I ever start </span></i><br /><i><span style="font-size: small;">drinking espresso, </span></i><i><span style="font-size: small;">I'll be all set. It cost all of one dollar. </span></i></td></tr></tbody></table><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Schedule.</b></span> Get there early or get there late. Everyone knows this. Have a plan. If you are getting your addresses from Craigslist, map them so you can make a travel loop.<br /><br />Don't be so early that you risk annoying the seller. Some professional pickers may differ with me on this point, arguing that arriving while it's still dark, and the harried sellers are just setting up tables, is okay because you are a serious buyer. Do what you're comfortable with, but I don't think sellers like the idea of selling to people who are making a profit. Don't act like a pro. Even if you are.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Mindset.</b></span> Train your eye to isolate objects. In the row of junk vases there may be a genuine Roseville. Don't be influenced by surroundings. Instead, envision the lamp or chair the way you will use it. Maybe you'll be <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/02/how-to-faux-finish-plastic-flower-pot.html">faux finishing that ugly flower pot</a>, or changing the hardware on an old dresser.<br /><br />Last month my friend Julie found a signed crystal bowl at a yard sale that she bought for $5. She sold it on ebay for $3,000. True story. She's also found diamond rings and sterling place settings for pennies on the dollar. She's educated herself about what's valuable.  <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Money. </b></span>Have cash, and have it in small change and small bills. Sellers are wanting to see profits. Some even have set a monetary goal for the day. Make it easy for them, and yourself, by having exact amounts. Checks sometimes are acceptable (life in a small town, ahhhhhh), but usually cash is king.<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/IMG_8111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="359" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_8111.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>I recently bought this original painting at a yard sale. It's one of the first things I see every morning, and I never tire of studying its play of light. It cost me three dollars. It's signed on the front. On the back it's titled Approach To The Mountain, and dated 1984. The artist even pasted his printed address sticker on the back. Thank you, Mr. Sumner in Keene, New Hampshire. I'm waiting for Mr. Lucky to make a frame.  </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table>Here is one trick I have seen work wonders. Know what you will pay for a piece. Have the cash in your hand. Make your offer, and extend your fistful of dollars. You can even put it on the table in front of the seller, or start counting it out. If the seller refuses your offer, put the money back in your pocket. Usually, she'll agree, or start negotiating, because she saw the money, started spending it in her head, then watched the money disappear. Try it. I once bought an expensive bike for my son this way, paying only a few bucks.  <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>The Locale.</b></span> I know that many bargain hunters shop flea markets, thrift stores and and consignment shops while on vacation, but have you looked for yard sales when you're away from home? Vacation shopping in souvenir shops, gift stores and outlet malls bores me, but show me a yard sale sign and I'm gonna follow that arrow. Besides prices being a plus, my chances of finding something with local color, something not common back home, are going to be pretty darn good. I still have the bamboo furniture I bought cheap while visiting the Florida Panhandle ten years ago.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_8231.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="419" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_8231.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span style="font-size: small;">These chair cushions have been re-covered numerous times, and I think it's time for me to sew a fresh set. I'm always attracted to the laid back, tropical feel of bamboo, wicker, and rattan furniture. I don't remember what I gave that woman in Panama City Beach for her chairs and tables, but I know they've easily paid for themselves many times over in comfort and versatility.</span></i></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />I know that each of you will have your own tips to scoring great deals at yard sales. If you liked my bargain-hunting ideas, download my <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">eBook</a>, <i>DIY</i> <i>Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and For Top Dollar, </i>where you'll find plenty of pointers for <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/04/so-you-think-youre-not-thrift-storetype.html">thrifty buying</a> and decorating, whether you are presently selling a home or not.<br /><a href="http://thenester.com/"><img alt="Nesting Place" border="0" class="button" height="125" src="http://www.thenester.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/nestingplacebutton7.png" title="thenester.com" width="125" /></a><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 /><center><a href="http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Funky Junk's Saturday Nite Special" border="0" src="http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b243/signmakergirl/satnitenew150w-1.jpg" /></a></center><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 Every Garage Sale Shopper Needs to Know

I didn't even try to lower the price. Anyone who thrives on buying second hand, and I'm part of that club, has her own bag of tricks...

Read more »

99-CentTray Makeover

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_7985.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/IMG_7985.jpg" width="465" /></a></div>When I spy something as functional as a serving tray -- with handles, yet! -- at Goodwill for less than a buck, I'm going to take it home with me.<br /><br />Such was the case when I spotted a plain jane, yellow plastic tray last week.<br /><br />I knew that tray was dreaming of a more adventurous life. She was marooned at the second hand store, waiting to be thrown a lifeline. I was happy to rescue her.<br /><br />When you stage a home on the market, serving trays like this one can add simple structure and style to a side table, vanity, bedside table, mantel, hassock, foyer bench, or coffee table. I wrote about dressing up a tray <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/03/finishing-touches-department-where-to.html">here</a>.  <br /><br />I'm always telling you, "Don't use small objects when you stage," but you can almost tweak my rule when you put the small stuff on a tray.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">It didn't bother me that my tray looked jaundiced and gaudy. She just needed some fresh air. And paint.  </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/Before.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="376" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/Before.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">My first step when I got her home was to give her a bath. Once dry, I sanded her lightly, and sprayed on a coat of white primer, and then a coat of creamy white semi gloss. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/sprayed-straightwpaint.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="480" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/sprayed-straightwpaint.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I wanted to gussy up the handles and add some personality, so I found some white nylon rope to wrap around them. I thought that would give her the "nauti-look" I was after. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1glueendofrope-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1glueendofrope-1.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I hot glued the end of a length of rope to the underside of a handle, because I wanted to hide the end. </div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/2windrope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/2windrope.jpg" width="356" /></a></div><br /><br /><div style="text-align: center;">   Then I started wrapping the handle with rope.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/3glue2ndropeend.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/3glue2ndropeend.jpg" width="222" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I ended the wrap on the underside of the handle, and glued the other end down.</div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/4cutrope.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/4cutrope.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Then, I cut the end off, nice and clean. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_7928.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="223" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_7928.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I tried tracing around the bottom of the tray, but in the end, I decided to be more accurate, </div><div style="text-align: center;">and measure the actual area I wanted to  cover. </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_7916.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_7916.jpg" width="377" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I rough-cut the maritime chart I wanted to use. It's important to use paper with as much substance as scrapbook paper, not a regular, lightweight road map or wrapping paper. Or you can paint a stencil design on a tray, like <a href="http://www.pinkandpolkadot.net/2011/02/gray-tray-transformation.html">this one</a> that Kristi at Pink and Polkadot did.</div><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_7924.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_7924.jpg" width="382" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I cut the chart out with a rotary cutter, but scissors or a mat knife would also work. The edges should be straight and clean. You should dry-fit the paper onto the tray before going further. I ironed the map to smooth the wrinkles and creases. What gal wants those to show? </div><div style="text-align: center;"><br /></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_7921.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_7921.jpg" width="346" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">I applied rubber cement on the tray and them quickly set the map in place. If I had used spray adhesive, I would have had to mask off the edges.</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_8036.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_8036.jpg" width="432" /></a></div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">Finally, I sprayed the whole tray with a clear sealer. My serving tray is all decked out for her new life. </div><div style="text-align: center;">I'm pleased with the look, and I know I'll find </div><div style="text-align: center;">plenty of uses for this tray on our boat, or for staging a house. </div><br /><div style="text-align: center;">If you love DIY projects and you are staging a home for sale, download my <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">eBook</a>, <i> </i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i>DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and For Top Dollar</i>, </div><div style="text-align: center;">for top notch, do-able ideas to help you get your home ship shape.   </div><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 /><a href="http://www.shabbynest.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="The Shabby Nest" src="http://i1087.photobucket.com/albums/j480/theshabbynest/Shabby%20Nest%20Blog%205-2011/ShabbyNest-GrabButton.png" /></a><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>

99-CentTray Makeover

When I spy something as functional as a serving tray -- with handles, yet! -- at Goodwill for less than a buck, I'm going to take it hom...

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Chocolate and Learning from Experience

Last week I celebrated my 69th birthday. I realize that to most of you, 69 sounds, like, so <i>old.</i> It only sounds that way. I practice mind over matter. I don't mind getting old, so it doesn't matter. <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></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="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_7798-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_7798-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>My birthday cake got a sprig of chocolate mint from my garden. </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />Cooking is something I enjoy doing every day. So every year for my birthday I bake my own cake. Sure, it would be easier and maybe even more festive, to simply <i>buy</i> a cake. Or more gracious to let someone buy one for me. But, what if I don't like it? I'd have to wait another year to do it my way.<br /><br />It's all about me.<br /><br />I wanted a chocolate cake this year. I love chocolate. I envisioned a fluffy cake and dense chocolate ice cream, so I decided to combine them into an ice cream cake. This recipe is a quick way to whip up a homemade cake that's special enough to seem celebratory. It's just a layer of sponge cake wrapped around a layer of ice cream. I used the jelly roll cake recipe in my go-to cookbook, <i>Joy of Cooking</i>. <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Chocolate Ice Cream Roll </b></span><br /><b>Ingredients:  </b><br />4 eggs<br />3/4 cup sugar<br />1 teaspoon vanilla<br />3/4 cup cake flour<br />3/4 teaspoon baking powder<br />1/2 teaspoon salt<br /><br /><b>How to:</b><br />Oil a jelly roll pan (a 10.5 x 15.5-inch baking sheet with a 1-inch lip all around). Line the bottom with an overhanging strip of parchment or aluminum foil to make it easy to remove the cake after baking. Oil the parchment or foil. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.    <br /><br />Separate the eggs. Beat the yolks, then gradually add the sugar to the yolks, and beat until creamy. Add vanilla. Sift the flour with baking soda and salt. Gradually add flour mixture to sugar mixture. Whip the egg whites until stiff, and fold them into the cake batter. Pour batter onto prepared jelly roll pan, spread it to the edges, and bake for about 12 minutes.<br /><br />As soon as the cake comes out of the oven, invert it onto a clean, cloth towel that has been dusted with confectioners sugar. Peel the parchment or foil away and trim away any brittle edges.While it is still warm, roll the cake in the towel, and allow it to cool for about 2 hours.<br /><br /><b>For the filling:</b><br />When you start to bake the cake, remove 1 pint of chocolate ice cream from the freezer and place it the coldest part of your refrigerator, usually way in the back. As the cake cools, the ice cream will be softening to a spreadable consistency.<br /><br />Unroll the completely cooled cake, place it on a layer of wax paper, and spread the inside of the cake with most of the ice cream, Roll it up and cover the top with the remaining ice cream. Working quickly to prevent melting, wrap the wax paper around your cake, and place it in the freezer for at least 2 hours. Slice crosswise to serve, garnished with chocolate syrup if desired.  <br /><br />The ice cream I used was Haagen-Dazs chocolate. I was disappointed because it wasn't chocolatey enough. Now I realize that I probably should have bought some wild and crazy, nutty, chunky, fudgey flavor.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Lesson Learned</b></span><br />Live and learn. Next year I'll get something more over the top, like Ben and Jerry's Chunky Monkey or Chocolate Heath Bar.  <br /><br />That's the thing about getting older. You learn by making mistakes.<br /><br />I've been rehabbing, repairing, and redecorating houses for many years. What I blog about and write ebooks about I've learned from experience. As we say in North Carolina, I didn't fall off the turnip truck yesterday.<br /><br />You can learn from my mistakes. Not just the chocolate lesson, but the staging lessons. I've written a lot about how to stage your own home for the real estate market. Learn more about my <a href="http://draft.blogger.com/goog_1936263913"></a><a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebook_02.html">home staging eBook here</a> including how to get your copy.<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><center><a href="http://funkyjunkinteriors.blogspot.com/" target="_blank"><img alt="Funky Junk's Sat Nite Special" border="0" src="http://i20.photobucket.com/albums/b243/signmakergirl/smallsnsstars.jpg" /></a></center>

Chocolate and Learning from Experience

Last week I celebrated my 69th birthday. I realize that to most of you, 69 sounds, like, so old. It only sounds that way. I practice mind o...

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How to Take the Work Out of Staging. Almost.

<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/WithbikeJune2011.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/WithbikeJune2011.jpg" width="384" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>Ever since I was seven, I've owned a bike.</i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br />As soon as I finished my bowl of raisin bran and half my coffee today, I hopped on my bike for my daily ride through the neighborhood. As I pedaled, I asked myself what I could write that would be helpful to my readers.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I remembered</b></span> what a woman who staged and sold her property told me last week. She said that staging took being relentless and ruthless.<br /><br />Effective staging requires that, and more. It can be overwhelming, especially when you are locked into a time frame for selling and moving. It helps to remember that by staging you are actually earning money.<br /><br />Staging's not just about plumping pillows and buying new lampshades, although those things help. It takes work. But the good news is there is a way to make it less work.<br /><br />Actually, there are two ways. One is get creative. The other is become efficient. Here's how.  <br /><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Learn to be Creative  </b></span><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><ul><li>Give yourself time alone. Even if it's just a few minutes of each day when you know no one will disturb you. Meditate, pray, journal, knit, scrapbook, or just hang out the Do Not Disturb sign.</li><li>Get moving every day. My bike ride gives me both fresh air and fresh thoughts. I hope you have an activity like yoga, running, swimming, walking, qigong, or something else that builds stamina and flexibility. Creativity is about freeing up energy. </li><li>Read, observe, and focus on staging. Educate yourself. You're on this site, so you are learning about how staging makes money for you. You can get daily staging tips on my <a href="http://www.facebook.com/home.php?sk=group_100832113324140&ap=1">Facebook Group</a>, and you can download my <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebook_02.html">eBook</a>. You can keep your eyes open and see what other sellers do right and wrong. </li><li>Associate with creative, supportive people, and avoid negative people. Naysayers and gloomy folks drain creative juices. Choose friends the way you'd choose a dog. Look for loyalty and cheerfulness. These close friends will be the ones who encourage you every step of the way, and might also be the ones who lend a hand to the work of staging. I know I can always count on Mr. Lucky to listen to me, give me advice, and bring on the muscle and power tools when necessary. </li><li>Train yourself to distinguish between what is urgent (needs to be done now) and crucial (important, but not timely). Train yourself to stay on focus. (Easier said than done for us fly-abouts, but not impossible.)     </li></ul><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/Yukitup.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="267" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/Yukitup.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr><tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: small;"><i>My daughter is the one who always encourages me. </i></span></td></tr></tbody></table><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Improve Your Efficiency </b></span><br /><div style="text-align: left;"></div><ul><li>Organize your work into separate projects, then cluster similar tasks together. For example, save all your spray painting projects for one day with perfect weather, then spray away!  </li><li>Give yourself realistic deadlines, monthly, weekly, daily, and even  hourly. For example, declutter one closet a week. Or paint <i>both</i> coats on those bedroom walls in one day. You'll find you become more aware of the scope of each project, and you'll begin to budget your time. You'll also push yourself to cross the finish line instead of leaving unfinished jobs here and there.   </li><li>Simplify. Ask yourself if it's really necessary to hem that drape that puddles on the floor. Do you need to clean the bedroom that never gets used?  </li><li>Determine your time wasters, and get a handle on them. Everyone needs some time to relax, but certain diversions like computer games and television can drain away hours if you let them. I'm not telling you anything new there. Just saying.</li><li>Make every move count. Always ask yourself, "How can I do this in less time?" This approach is especially helpful when you have repetitive tasks, like washing windows or vacuuming your floor.</li></ul>I am going to finish that coffee now, and then do the things I need to do. I may not have to be relentless and ruthless today, but I know I can be efficient and creative. So can you!

How to Take the Work Out of Staging. Almost.

Ever since I was seven, I've owned a bike. As soon as I finished my bowl of raisin bran and half my coffee today, I hopped on my bike fo...

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Ebony and Ivory: The Ultimate Color Scheme

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_5841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-bampwtablescape_zps5a01b189.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="532" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/1-bampwtablescape_zps5a01b189.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Home staging calls for some pretty props. One simple formula for turning a collection of mismatched junk into pretty props is to pick a color scheme and go with it.<br /><br /><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_5832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_5832.jpg" width="433" /></a><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Here's my example.</b></span> I chose black and white as my colors. When in doubt, this is your default color combination. Call it  ivory, cream, oyster, bone, alabaster, ebony, midnight, charcoal, inkwell, or any other descriptive tags paint companies want to dream up.<br /><br />I didn't start my tablescape with anything pretty. Scroll down and take a peek at what I had to work with -- just a bunch of odds and ends I gathered. I didn't want to scare you by starting my post with ugly.<br /><br />Scroll a little further down the page for some delightful musical accompaniment. Can you guess the song?   <br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>First I taped off </b></span>the parts of the lamp I didn't want to get spray painted white -- the bulb socket and the cord. I always use white lampshades, so that was all set. I sprayed the lamp, and while it was drying, I brushed the pumpkin.<br /><br />I actually staged this tabletop last autumn, and only recently discarded the pumpkin  -- 6 months later -- for showing signs of mold. I can't think of other vegetables that would hold up as well, but plastic fruits and vegetables are always in season!<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I  brushed </b></span>the woven box with the same white latex semi gloss paint I used on the pumpkin.<br /><br />I used black and white wallpaper samples from the book I discussed <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/2011/05/make-your-own-decorative-vases-for-free.html">here</a>. It's a snap to cover books. Just measure, cut, and fold.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_5832.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><br /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I spray painted </b></span>the blue metal box and the brown planter, using black. Every stager needs a stash of black and white spray paints. <br /><br />Then I went hunting for a black and white print to hang behind my new vignette. Classic black and white shots are everywhere -- notecards, postcards, magazines, old photographs, gift shops, catalogs, even newspapers. Your frame can be simple, like what I chose, or ornate. Your magical color scheme makes it all work together. <br /><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_5841.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/IMG_5841.jpg" width="408" /></a><br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>In no time,</b></span> what was a fairly ugly assortment of odds and ends came together to form a sophisticated and pleasing vignette. Make sure your collection has a variety of shapes, sizes and textures. <br /><br />There are plenty of other budget-friendly ways to add style to your home when it's time to sell. When house hunters look at homes, they usually look at lots of them. Make your home be the one they remember and want. My home staging <a href="http://diyhomestagingtips.blogspot.com/p/ebooks.html" target="_blank">eBook</a> can help you uncover the best in your property, and show it off for buyers.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>Download your copy</b></span> now, and let the staging begin. It's easy when someone who's been there already can show you the ropes. My book will help you sell your home faster and for more money. Turn your home into cash. I show you how.<br /><br /><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/TZtiJN6yiik" width="425"></iframe><br /><br />

Ebony and Ivory: The Ultimate Color Scheme

Home staging calls for some pretty props. One simple formula for turning a collection of mismatched junk into pretty props is to pick a colo...

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Seven Secrets to Making Silk Plants and Flowers Look Convincing

<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/usevarity.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/usevarity.jpg" width="411" /></a></div><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><b>If your home could talk,</b></span> would it say to a prospective buyer, "I've lived a pampered life. My owners give me the best of everything. All that you see here is fresh and new and of the highest quality?"<br /><br />One simple way to get that message across is with greenery. And I'm not talking labor-intense house plants. I'm talking silks. Don't be turning up your nose. Here are ways to make silk plants look better than their pedigree might indicate.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">My first tip</span> is to <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>choose a </b></span><b><span style="font-size: large;">variety </span></b><span style="font-size: small;">of containers</span>, </span>and a variety of plants. Look for baskets, vases, wooden boxes, clay flower pots, vintage vases, new vases, ceramic cachepots, hurricane chimneys, glass fish bowls, metal bins, or whatever else you think adds to the character of your home without distracting the people who come to tour it.<br /><br />To vary the greenery itself, mix cut "flowers" with "live" plants. You might have a decanter of roses in the bedroom, two topiaries in the foyer, and a fake cactus in the bathroom. Silk plant styles come and go, but unless you are staging something for an very hip market, like a New York City penthouse, a Hollywood mansion, or a St. Martin beach house, you're safe with most styles available in home stores today.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">My second tip</span> is to <span style="font-size: large;"><b>cover the surface</b></span> in a potted plant with something that looks convincing. My favorite is sheet moss, but I also like spaghnum moss. Both really work to ground the plant and add a realistic touch. I also favor smooth river rocks to cover the surface under a fake plant. Look for other natural materials like sand, shells, pebbles, and lichen.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/usequalityvesselwwater.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/usequalityvesselwwater.jpg" width="356" /></a></div>Next, <span style="font-size: large;"><b>use good vessels</b></span> for all your fake flowers. In fact, a rule of thumb might be that the less you paid for your silks (hello, dollar store), the more expensive your container should be. In my photo, this beautiful crackled glass bowl holds an inexpensive bunch of silk blossoms.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-size: small;">To add to the realism</span><b> </b></span>of these blossoms, I've added gel that imitates water. Available at any craft store, faux water makes the flowers look like someone was just there arranging them -- an important consideration when your property is staged but unoccupied.     <br /><br />Readers of 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>, know the high value I give to silk plants. Why? Because they add an irresistible vitality to a room. If you doubt this, do your own experiments with adding and subtracting plants and flowers.<br /><br />I always emphasize that your greenery needn't be the finest quality, especially when seen from a distance, such as on top of a bookcase or on the ledge above a bathtub. Typically, house hunters spend 30 minutes or less walking through a home on the market. Relax. Your budgeting secrets are safe.<br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><span style="font-size: small;">Another way</span> to keep the faux greenery from looking phoney has to do with what you put next to these arrangements. <span style="font-size: large;"><b>Surround them with class</b><b> </b></span>-- other objects what  have a stylish look of their own, and the whole grouping looks classy.   <br /><br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/setingroupwithrealstuff.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="358" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/setingroupwithrealstuff.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />This pretend orchid sits in a real terracotta pot, on an antique music box of burled wood, in front of a large, beveled edge mirror, next to colorful, matched candlesticks. Decor props as well as people are judged by the company they keep.<br /><br />One mistake that homeowners are sometimes guilty of is thinking that faux plants require no care. In fact, the cleaner your plants look, the more they will contribute to the room's overall appearance.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><br />So my fifth tip is to <span style="font-size: large;"><b>clean your plants.</b></span> <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/keepclean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/keepclean.jpg" width="238" /></a></div>  <br />Most silks can be rinsed in the tub or gently hosed off out-of-doors to bring them back to "life" occasionally.<br /><br />The containers that hold your fabulous fakes need to be smudge-free and dust-free as well.<br /><br />Hey, at least they don't beg to be watered every few days.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">If you do have</span> a green thumb and a collection of house plants, make sure they are healthy and clean as well. The reason I don't recommend staging with real house plants is that often they are in less than perfect condition, or in their dormant state.<br /><br />Yet, if you have a shelf of beautifully blooming African violets in your kitchen, or a collection of gorgeous indoor succulents on your sun porch, they can become an important part of your home's staging.<br /><br />Often indoor house plants are large potted plants, but sometimes they are small and insignificant. Find a new home for these little guys. Big is better with almost all staging props.<br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/supersize2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="640" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/supersize2.jpg" width="356" /></a></div>  <br /><span style="font-size: small;">In fact,</span> when in doubt about the size of a fake plant for staging, <span style="font-size: large;"><b>supersize it.</b></span><br /><br />A large plant can fill an empty corner, bring life to a dreary hallway, or add color to a plain bathroom. As long as you aren't crowding the room, obstructing a good view, covering up a focal point, or creating a tripping hazard, I say, the bigger the better.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">One current sty</span><span style="font-size: small;">le</span> that's easy to imitate is a stem or two of oversized tropical foliage in a large glass container, with or without some fake water, or with some rocks or shells to weight the vase. It's a very carefree, young look.<br /><br /><span style="font-size: small;">My final tip</span> is to <span style="font-size: large;"><b>add some age</b></span>. Let your container be something with patina. Many decorators suggest that every room needs a touch of something old.<br /><br />Adding a vintage or distressed clay pot, metal urn, concrete planter, classic ice bucket, worn wooden box, antique wastebasket or old- fashioned wicker chest that's been around awhile, adds interest. It keeps the room from looking like you pulled it all together with one trip to J.C. Penneys.<br /><br />Slight distressing on this old clay flower pot makes the one dollar fake ivy more acceptable than if it were in a cheap plastic container. I've covered the floral foam in the pot with stones gathered from the beach.<br />  <br /><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/distressedcoversurface.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="356" src="http://i951.photobucket.com/albums/ad351/2painters/distressedcoversurface.jpg" width="640" /></a></div><br />Don't be shy about dressing up your staged home with some inexpensive artificial plants and flowers. Done right, they add the perfect element of freshness and even drama that's essential to a home for sale.<br /><br />Get more of my helpful advice on staging your own home by downloading 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> It's a $5 pdf bargain, that comes with my money-back guarantee.<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 /><br /><center><a href="http://arosynote.blogspot.com/"><img border="0" src="http://i832.photobucket.com/albums/zz248/arosynote/Buttons/PhotoButton2.jpg" /></a></center>

Seven Secrets to Making Silk Plants and Flowers Look Convincing

If your home could talk, would it say to a prospective buyer, "I've lived a pampered life. My owners give me the best of everythin...

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