Nicola Lindsay CRSS's Blog

Searching for ReDesign & Staging COurse available in Maryland??

Nicola Lindsay CRSS (Nicola Lindsay ReDesign and Home Staging) — Sat, 25 Aug 2012 05:13:18 -0700

I have a very good friend asking where she can take the same course I have but in Maryland. Any suggestions for her, please?

Time to Organize your Kitchen

Nicola Lindsay CRSS (Nicola Lindsay ReDesign and Home Staging) — Sun, 12 Feb 2012 11:12:20 -0800

Time to Organize~ This is the time to organize, when the weather is cold and nasty out turn your energy inside to your home. Before you begin take time to prepare for the event. You will want new containers, new baskets, and new labels for your items. You need to be able to find things quickly and without opening each container. Measure your shelves and the items you will be storing. There are so many unique containers available today, some efficient and beautiful all at once. No need to have a blah pantry or kitchen at all. If you can add new shelving to add more storage, consider all that before the big day. The metal shelves are popular and easy to install, they are nicer to clean and you can see through them too. You may want to add colour to the wall behind while you have the area empty too. You might even want a colour theme, all which is possible today and for reasonable pricing too. Don’t dismiss shopping at Dollar Stores for containers. If you have corners large enough you may be able to add turn tables to the corners so you can find things easy. Wire baskets are another storage idea you may like. The floor, if you have the space should be the large items you use, for example a potato bin, or a place to line up large bottles of water or soda. Collect like items together, cans with cans and boxes with boxes. Smaller items, such as mixes or sauces can be placed in smaller baskets. Choose all your storage containers with straight sides. They take up less space. This is all about space saving and creating a place so you can get a meal more efficiently. Large appliances you do not use daily can be put on top shelves, leaving the shelves with in an arms length open for everyday use. When shopping for containers, Tupperware has an unlimited supply, Dollar Stores, and Rubber Maid have unique shaped containers you might love. Large glass bottles you can see through and are air tight are also perfect for flour, sugar and other dry items you use. Label everything you can. Now you have collected your assortment of containers, and filled and labeled each of them, you are ready to place things on your shelves. Don’t forget there is space on the inside of some doors as well. Or you may paint the inside of those doors with chalkboard paint and use for a grocery list. You will love working from your pantry or cupboards now. Enjoy!

Do You Have an Accent?

Nicola Lindsay CRSS (Nicola Lindsay ReDesign and Home Staging) — Tue, 15 Nov 2011 10:55:03 -0800

Do you have an accent? French, English, German, Italian? Can you have more than one accent? The accents I deal with on a daily basis are not about your speech. The answer is yes, you can have more than one accent. Creating your own personal décor is all about neutrals and accents. When you choose a beautiful neural paint colour and work the shades of that colour through your home, it creates flow and allows you to add décor from one room into another and provide cohesion many home owners are searching for today. I receive calls often from home owners that are lost in they own sea of colour confusion. A few simple steps will eliminate all that. Sometimes it takes a call to a professional and a short home visit to make sense of the colour dilemma. For example if you choose a series of three tones of beige, (I know you are thinking, ugh, but fear not the selection is wide and varied.), that you love and begin to apply different depths of this colour to certain areas of your home, you will see the difference it can make. Rather than your eye going from pink to blue to green for example; that have nothing in common at all other than they all are paint. Making well thought out choices can make all the difference in the world. After creating a plan and sticking to it will let you enjoy the process rather than become discouraged and then make poor choices. Once the colour has been agreed upon you can begin your accents. Accents include art work, pillows, picture frame and mat colour, area rugs, towels, lighting and oh so many other things. Be aware you will have to choose a paint colour with those things in mind that are never going to change. This might be already purchased furniture, a sentimental piece of art you inherited from someone special, drapes that are staying. It is the larger picture you must consider to begin the creation. What type of flooring is in the home is it staying? What do you see from your main windows? What type of metal is used in your kitchen and for lighting? I understand why choosing a paint colour can be overwhelming. I have done this to myself in my own home. But when you follow a plan and think about each item that plays into the whole scenario, then it does become easier. Still find it hard to accomplish? Call a professional to help. Make life easier for yourself.

Buyer Turn-offs

Nicola Lindsay CRSS (Nicola Lindsay ReDesign and Home Staging) — Mon, 02 May 2011 09:47:45 -0700

Buyer Turn-offs

Today's buyer is sophisticated, discriminating and wants only the best their money can buy. If your home is not selling, maybe it is turning off potential buyers without you even realizing it. Here are some of the biggest buyer turnoffs that will keep the "For Sale" sign in your yard:

1. Clutter - Having too much “stuff” around causes the buyer to focus on everything except for the house. Get rid of things you haven't used in six months or more and store items offsite that you can live without until you get into your new home.

2. Unpainted and Poorly Painted Walls - Unpainted walls leave a home feeling cold and uncomfortable. Walls with poor paint jobs scream lack of maintenance. Warm up the walls with soft, neutral colors - and pay attention to your painting - it's all in the prep work.

3. Unattractive or Dated Colors, Wallpaper and Borders - Purple passion may be a great color for your 4-year old daughter, but will the majority of homebuyers like it? No Way!

4. Worn-out Carpeting - Dingy, stained carpet is a huge deal killer. If you can't afford to replace it at least have it professionally cleaned.

5. Outdated Appliances and Fixtures - Today's buyers want modern amenities, no matter how old the house is. Investing a little money in updating these items will reap huge returns.

6. Bad Smells - Whether it be from smoking, pets, or cooking if a buyer can smell it you can't sell it. Invite a friend over who can honestly tell you if there are odors in your home. When you live there day in and day out your nose becomes immune to the smells.

7. A Dirty Home - No one wants to move into someone else's dirt. Clean your home so well that it passes the "white glove" test. If you don't have the time or desire, please hire a professional cleaning crew to do the job for you. They are efficient and definitely worth the money.

If you really want to get top dollar for your home, consider hiring a professional home stager. Home staging is a tried and true method of highlighting the best features of your property while appealing to a large number of buyers. By focusing on strategic furniture placement, de-cluttering, organizing, de-personalizing, color selection, and accessorizing a home stager can turn your home into a showplace that will yield a higher offer in a quicker amount of time.

If you prefer to do your own work and have the time then I would suggest having a consultation done. This gives you a written guide to follow to prepare your home for sale. It includes a follow-up and quick touch ups for your MLS listing pictures and open house.

Planning ahead makes all the difference in timing of a sale and offers coming. Do your home work and be ready. It’s not magical but rather pure common sense. It would be much nicer to do the preparation rather than reduce the price by hundreds or thousands of dollars. There is no comparison money-wise between staging and reducing your price.

Relax & Enjoy.

Nicola Lindsay CRSS (Nicola Lindsay ReDesign and Home Staging) — Wed, 16 Feb 2011 09:14:29 -0800

Relax & Enjoy.

Does thinking about decorating your home make your head ache? It shouldn’t. Decorating your own home should be an enjoyable experience not something you dread.

I believe in using what you have if possible, creating something from the pieces you own, and adding only those items absolutely needed. Of course it’s fun to toss everything and buy all new but can your wallet stand it? Mine tends to groan when I go shopping and it can be embarrassing when standing at the check-out.

Very often I am hired to ReDesign a room or two and I often shop right from the client’s home. ReDesigning means working with what you already own. I begin by emptying the room and beginning with a fresh palette. ReDesigning means editing your possessions and returning some but not all of those to the room being worked on. Sometimes I find a piece of art or furniture hidden in another room that was begging to be seen in the room we are working on. One time it was an oil painting down in the basement and forgotten about. Another time we found valuable two beautiful water colours in the garage. So can you see how this works?

You may already possess all the components to make your new ReDesigned room spectacular.

Your home should feel like the place you most want to come to after a day at work. It is the place nearest and dearest to your heart and a place you love to share with others. It does not have to be fashion perfect and look like a magazine. Those rooms in pictures we all read about are there for a guide to give you inspiration for your own home. If you take a window covering from one magazine and a wall design from another and pull them together, that is how you are able to incorporate them into your home.

Never plan a room that does not marry well with the rest of your home, this includes your furniture and accessories. You have to do your homework, consider the character of the home and love the colour scheme and make sure it flows from room to room. Very often we get our ideas from one piece we already own. For example, I just painted my kitchen lime green and gray. The green came from a pitcher I was given a few years ago and I love the finished look.

Be yourself, ask for help from a professional, and most of all have fun creating.

Closing my Eyes.

Nicola Lindsay CRSS (Nicola Lindsay ReDesign and Home Staging) — Mon, 14 Feb 2011 10:59:59 -0800

Closing my Eyes!

I am just closing my eyes and dreaming of spring. Enough with the snow thank you! We are already past mid-February and surely on the down hill slide to warmer weather and green grass. Can’t you just see the buds on the trees and the green grass sprouting up?

Now is the time to begin planning your attack on redesigning your home and gardens.

Have you considered a coat of paint inside and maybe fresh paint for your front door? Nothing screams welcome as a bright new colour on your front door and a few pots of plants.

So many changes you can make inside too. Creating a new look for your bedroom with a fresh spring/summer colour combination. You do not have to spend a fortune either. Try adding a white bed skirt and a pale green blanket tucked under your mattress, add new white pillow cases and a couple green and white toss cushions. You can make toss cushions by covering the ones you have with material left from other projects or using a towel in the colours you like, a few ribbons tied on the corners make it secure enough for your bed. Check out bolster pillows, they are becoming quite popular on the fashion scene.

Another quick and easy look for spring is take up your area carpets and have your bare floor showing or adding a sisal carpet for a summery feel. These are great for wear and tear with families. To clean most of them, you just take outside and use the garden hose to clean them and let them dry. Love the organic look of these.

If you use heavy draperies in winter, it is time to replace these with billowing sheers for spring/summer. Less is always more this time of year and you can cool a house down just by how you decorate. Exchange dark accessories for lighter one and use more natural fabrics, baskets, linen, flowers, grass, anything you like from outdoors consider brining those into your home.

Decide to use more flowers in your home. Adding fresh arrangements can make your whole world feel brighter and lighter. You do not have to buy expensive arrangements at all. A short drive in the country may give you a new look every week and for free. They may be weeds to some but a vision of beauty to you.

It is not about how much you spend, it is all about filling your life with the things you love.

DIY Projects for Easy Home Décor.

Nicola Lindsay CRSS (Nicola Lindsay ReDesign and Home Staging) — Mon, 24 Jan 2011 09:06:05 -0800

DIY Projects for Easy Home Décor.

Do you love a deal? Save a bit of money? Be creative? I have found and used some of these neat ideas and they look great and you have not spent all your savings.

Begin saving empty toilet paper rolls. If you cut them across the roll and then press down they look like the outline of a leaf. A large collection of these “leaves” can them be glued to a backing then spray painted to create an awesome wall hanging. The backing might be an old mirror, an old picture frame filled with a black paper then the leaves could be sprayed and then added. Let your imagination run wild.
Make sparking candle holders from empty tin cans. Pizza sauce, or tomato cans are a good size. Remove one end and leave the other end intact for a base. Spray paint the inside with a shining gold, silver or even lime green and outside of the cans the colour you want in your room. Now place the cans on a round piece of wood, with the wood inside the can. Take a nail or awl and begin pounding holes in the walls of the can. If you want a certain pattern mark the spots with a Sharpie before making the holes. The larger the holes the more light. When you are finished add some sand to the bottom and insert your candle. Voila!
Cut some branches from small trees or large twigs that are not too bushy and insert in deep vases or milk cans, anything you might have that will support their weight and not tumble over. You then may leave them natural or spray paint white or a colour of your choice. Instant art to fill a corner.
If you have a buffet or sofa table and want to give it a new look, use old books as pedestals to show off pieces of art. Make a few of different levels. You can add other items around these to give a layered look and the whole look will be a great conversation piece.
Do you need closet doors? Add a drapery rod and inexpensive drapes to hide your clutter and personal items.

Being creative is no more than expanding your imagination. Search for ideas and then make some of them your with your own design touch.

Moth Balls

Nicola Lindsay CRSS (Nicola Lindsay ReDesign and Home Staging) — Fri, 05 Nov 2010 18:00:22 -0700

I am working on a home that someone used moth balls to deter cats from the basement area. Any suggestions on how to get rid of that strong smell, and quickly?

Are you Classic or Trendy?

Nicola Lindsay CRSS (Nicola Lindsay ReDesign and Home Staging) — Sat, 18 Sep 2010 11:27:27 -0700

Are you Classic or Trendy?

When you consider your fashion and décor favorites, are you leaning towards classic or trendy designs?

Here are some classics to think about. Do you love a wing back chair? They seem to be right in about any home décor, even modern if the fabric is right. Do you love built-in bookcases? I saw a closet made into a reading room; three walls of bookcases and a center upholstered seat with many comfy pillows and just the right reading lamp attached to the wall. I would love that.

Faded oriental rugs; to some these are just not welcome in their home but to many they represent years of loving use and memories galore. Very often these are passed down through a few generations.

Painting your front door a glossy colour, says welcome home. Your thoughts?

A cozy spot in the garden for two bright colourful chairs; It looks like you want friends to sit and visit awhile.

What about exposed unfinished brick, a trend look or one that has lasted through time?

Do you own a wooden desk and do you feel it is up to date or out of date?

The command center of the home might be a kitchen table where the family members meet to share a meal and news of the day. It also is where many plans are made, bills are paid and many cups of tea or coffee have solved many a problem. Mine has been passed down a couple of generations and I would not part with it, no matter the trend. I can’t imagine a pretty espresso finished table standing all the punishment this old table has seen.

Now let’s consider a few trends that are popular today and see if we think they will turn into a classic with time.

Acrylic chairs and tables that are called ghost because you can see through them? Will they be passed down to the next generation?

All the particle board furniture that reminds me of throw away furniture, it is difficult to imagine it lasting a decade much less a generation.

Shag carpet is returning, now is that considered a classic or another version of a trend?

Art work that is available at every chain store, will these replace the old classic paintings or designs from years ago? Will cost prevail and thus make us buy the lesser priced pieces?

Please feel free to comment on these thought provoking questions. I would love to hear from my readers. Enjoy your weekend!

Be Bold! It ain't easy being green!

Nicola Lindsay CRSS (Nicola Lindsay ReDesign and Home Staging) — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:58:13 -0700

Be Bold

How brave are you? I mean with colour, not zip lining or sky diving. You would think some people are going to jump from a plane without a parachute when painting a wall. It is only a can of paint. Try something different for a change.

I tried a bedroom with the walls and ceiling the same colour of sage green and after a season painted again. It was the colour and lighting that was wrong not the concept of the walls and ceiling the same colour.

Next time I painted the ceiling a light cream and the walls a charcoal gray, I love it so much so I am doing it all over again in the new house. I also now have a guest room with a Wedgewood blue ceiling and white walls. It is so soft and calming, lovely.

Now to the rest of the house, lime green, robin egg blue, tomato red and chocolate brown, what to choose? I am having a Crayola moment and want to try them all. White is not one shade either so be careful choosing the finishes to go with your new wild colours.

Have you noticed how popular green has become lately? Not just using green products but the colour green and all the beautiful variations of it. Think about lime green with white, how crisp and clean that looks to the eye. You bring the outdoors in by using green. Apple green with beige adds life to a neural room. Green with black is very stark and yet cutting edge modern. Grass green with natural wood gives a very natural outdoor feel to a room. A cool green with a marine blue, stunning; pea green and burnished orange creates an energetic feel to a room. Green and yellow and a touch of either blue or red allow the colours calm a room. Who knew it was so easy to be green?

Green is the colour we long for over a long winter. We are thrilled to see the first blades of grass and the green buds burst forth from the trees. If this one colour alone brings such joy then why not use it inside our home too. Green can stand alone in a room or be a happy pop of colour throughout. For not being a neutral colour green goes with just about any colour you like to use. Be brave; pick green for your next project.

By the Sea, by the Sea, by the Beautiful Sea

Nicola Lindsay CRSS (Nicola Lindsay ReDesign and Home Staging) — Tue, 08 Jun 2010 16:04:40 -0700

http://www.smilebox.com/playBlog/4d5463794d4441344d7a633d0d0a&blogview=true

Have You Given it Your Most?

Nicola Lindsay CRSS (Nicola Lindsay ReDesign and Home Staging) — Sat, 15 May 2010 14:46:07 -0700

So you are selling your home. You cleaned and decluttered and painted everything white. Now you just wait for the sale. Have you actually tried your best? Did you look at other homes for sale and see how they are presented? Did you ever walk through Model Homes? Be honest and compare yours to the Model Home.

Everything you neglect doing that would make your home more sellable, will take money from your pocket. Who can afford to give away money? Not me!

You are going to have an Open House; did you sincerely give it your best or did you open all the windows and pray the wind would take care of the dust? Did you think to clean inside your oven and refrigerator? Is your garbage still in the garbage cans throughout your home? Did you make sure all the cobwebs are down? Would you want a home that looks neglected?

Your Realtor can not perform miracles if you do not put forth your best effort. You must declutter and clean like the Queen was coming to visit. Also you must think about the curb appeal and how your home looks to buyers when they drive by. Sometimes the seller just does not see the whole picture as they have lived happily in this home for years. Now all of a sudden your home is being seen from hundreds of people, either on line or personal visits. Wonder what the honest comments are? For some reason we do not want honesty about our beloved home, but in fact we need to know exactly why people are not buying it. Do not be offended by the comments, rather fix the issues right away.

Go back to the Model Home, usually they are perfectly presented. Hardwood and ceramic is the most sought after flooring choice. Beautiful neutral colours and updated furniture abound. Lighting is updated and natural light shines through the home. The addition of fresh flowers and shining windows make a buyer want to sit down and stay. Is this how your home is being presented for sale? I hope so.

Staging presented on the popular television shows gives you a bit of an idea about staging but unless you are trained to have a buyers eye, you are not able to see exactly all the problems that can be holding your home from saying SOLD.

Need a Facelift?

Nicola Lindsay CRSS (Nicola Lindsay ReDesign and Home Staging) — Wed, 03 Mar 2010 12:01:28 -0800

Need a Facelift?

Does your room feel drab and need a brighter new look? How to create this new look without breaking the bank is the next trick. I have gathered a few suggestions to make this easy and cost effective for you.

Begin by taking a few photos around the room you want to change and sit down and look these over carefully. Often when you “see” your room in a photo you really notice all the things you would change.

Of course painting is the first thing considered in brightening a room. The fresh new colours available today are endless. Be sure the colour flows with the other rooms connected and that it compliments your art and furniture.

While painting you will be removing everything from the walls and clearing the room, now is the time to declutter and discard items you do not want to put back in your room.

If you are not painting I would still take down all the art and hang it differently. Change is always good, especially if you don’t have to spend too much money.

Look over your lamp shades; are they clean and up to date? For less than $50.00 you can buy new ones and make your lamps look like they are from a home design magazine.

Steam clean your carpets if you have those or add an area rug to a tile or hardwood floor.

Tired of your sofa and chair, perhaps a slip cover would brighten that piece up or consider having them reupholstered if they are ones you absolutely love. The older furniture is made of solid wood and so much stronger, so keeping them is to your benefit.

Adding new toss cushions is an easy way to change the look of a room and today you can buy cushion covers for less than $10.00 then you keep the inserts; saving money again.

Clean all the inside windows for now and outside as soon as you can. Nothing improves a room like sparkling clean windows. White vinegar mixed 1part to 3 parts water and polished with crumpled newspaper gives perfect streak free glass.

Rearrange the furniture; maybe move a few pieces to another room. Shop in your own home for treasures you forgot you owned.

Reorganize your book shelves; less books and more décor of bright colour.

This is such an easy project, change the colours a couple times of year with just adding and taking away the pieces you love.

A New Beginning!

Nicola Lindsay CRSS (Nicola Lindsay ReDesign and Home Staging) — Sun, 03 Jan 2010 15:12:15 -0800

Here we are with a new year to make history. What are your plans for this coming year and what are you new ideas to promote your business? Care to share?

Mini-trade show with 3 other businesses.

Nicola Lindsay CRSS (Nicola Lindsay ReDesign and Home Staging) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 18:13:23 -0800

My ReDesign business and 3 other local businesses decided to put on a mini-trade shwo before Christmas on Entertaining. Here are a few pictures from the well attended event.

Christmas Table Center's

Nicola Lindsay CRSS (Nicola Lindsay ReDesign and Home Staging) — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 17:59:25 -0800

I was asked by a local gift shop to redesign a few items from what they had in the store and make them into center pieces. Here are the results.

Contracts

Nicola Lindsay CRSS (Nicola Lindsay ReDesign and Home Staging) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:12:00 -0800

I am "redesigning" my contracts and am wondering if any would like to share their best contract for staging? I am looking for something simply worded and not full of legalese, it confuses the client to no end. Thank you so much.

Conference!

Nicola Lindsay CRSS (Nicola Lindsay ReDesign and Home Staging) — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 12:41:34 -0700

Wishing Everyone a great learning and friend making weekend! Wish you all the best and Congrats to the New Board!!

Opps!

Nicola Lindsay CRSS (Nicola Lindsay ReDesign and Home Staging) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 19:26:50 -0700

What happens when the buyer is offended by the staging suggestions made?

Brochures

Nicola Lindsay CRSS (Nicola Lindsay ReDesign and Home Staging) — Sat, 12 Sep 2009 09:44:53 -0700

I have partnered with a Realtor and we are planning to put out a brochure for Buyers. Any suggestions?

Making the bed.

Nicola Lindsay CRSS (Nicola Lindsay ReDesign and Home Staging) — Wed, 22 Jul 2009 19:04:30 -0700

What is the best way to create a bed in an unoccupied house? I would love to know your suggestions. Thanks

Hot off the Press(Porch)!

Nicola Lindsay CRSS (Nicola Lindsay ReDesign and Home Staging) — Sun, 21 Jun 2009 12:19:37 -0700

I just finished a ReDesign for a great lady. I was able to be free in what I wanted to do and isn't that just the best way to work? She had so many treasures hidden away and some never had been taken from boxes. What potential she and her home had. Here are a few pictures of the project, I hope you enjoy them as much as I do.

This was the before picture^^

After^^^

Before dining room^^

After^^

Before livning room wall^

Wall after^^

While Shopping~~

Nicola Lindsay CRSS (Nicola Lindsay ReDesign and Home Staging) — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 09:43:15 -0700

As I progress with this new career I am often asked to shop for a client and I really enjoy finding new places to shop and finding deals. I search on-line first for ideas and then see if I can get the item locally and then within New Brunswick, then Canada.

I have found some very unique stores and retailers who have been more than helpful. Rarely do I find someone who will not go the extra mile for me. Often I have to take pictures of an item and return with this for my client to see before purchasing. Many stores are nervous about someone stealing their ideas and I don’t blame them. I respect the need of being unique to make your mark in the retail world today.

In St. Stephen, I go regularly to Orchard’s Paint, Guardian Drug, Mayfield Greenhouse, Oh My Gifts, Sea of Tranquility, Kent’s, Canadian Tire, Liquidation World, Phillip’s Furniture, and Old Ridge Antiques. Hopefully the Friday Market on the water front will have interesting pieces we can use too. It is surprising what you can find if you take the time to investigate each store. I carry my camera along and “shop”.

St. Andrews is now just getting ready for the tourists to come meandering though their stores. When the season is right I find many items to be used in homes in which I am working. I do know there will be a few new places to get my attention this summer. Also don’t forget to check out the Thursday Market, once in while I find many things I can use in clients homes.

We have the opportunity to shop locally and if you are patient you can find things right within Charlotte County. There is a new store opening in St Andrews soon called Toose’s on Water Street. Watch for their opening day and go see what they have to offer. Unique is the word in this place. Pam & David have been careful in selecting their stock and have just what you need for WOW factor. They are located right beside The Gables at 147 Water Street. Be sure to drop in for a peek.

I also found a few things I found interesting at The China Chest. This store is filled with china and home décor. They carry a special line of vases that are beautiful and quite different. If you are looking for one piece to finish off a mantle or a table, this might be just the place to look.

Saint John and Fredericton are my next stops for the perfect piece.

Some places I enjoy are;

Wicker Emporium, http://www.wickeremporium.ca/,

Winners, http://www.homesense.ca/en/index.asp

Urban Almanac, http://www.urbanalmanac.com/,

A Room to Remember, Fredericton is wonderful.

English Butler on Prospect Street Fredericton is worth checking.

Pier 1, http://www.pier1.ca/

City Market in Saint John is open all week long and often I find pieces of local art there.

www.sjcitymarket.ca/

Fredericton’s Boyce’s Farmers Market is a tradition, http://www.boycefarmersmarket.com/

Michael’s , http://www.michaels.ca/

Remember you do not have to pay a fortune for something for decorating if you like to have a new look now and then. Try to spend the bulk of your money on the classic pieces that last a life time and for the trendy choose ones of lesser value so you can update more often.

Most of all enjoy your search of the treasures for your home.

Oasis Room

Nicola Lindsay CRSS (Nicola Lindsay ReDesign and Home Staging) — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 09:07:12 -0800

I have finished ReDesigning a room for a local hospital . They needed a room for staff , patients and family to come relax and be able to destress while working or waiting. A commitee was formed and many pieces of furniture and two new pieces of art were donated . I was given a budget to work with and we as a team created a cozy comfortable room. Amazing what you can do with someone elase' hand me downs. This proves you can ReDesign just about any room with a small budget.Many hours of scraping glue off the floor, wallpaper removed,a beautiful wall mural added, walls painted, the room is finished to be used by all who need some peace and quiet.

You will see the before and after below.

Let's Talk Paint

Nicola Lindsay CRSS (Nicola Lindsay ReDesign and Home Staging) — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 08:47:19 -0800

When we spend many hours inside over the winter months, we crave change, some plans trips and parties others dream up new looks for their living space. Of course since I am not a travel consultant, I would be painting or moving furniture around.

Painting a room and moving the furniture is about the most economical thing you can do to create a new design. Don’t be afraid to use colours you love; colours of the sunset, the blues of the Caribbean water, the reds from an Asian influence. Surround yourself in the colours that make you feel good. Life should be enjoyed not always thinking or a day in the future that you dream of, try it now.

For instance, red is a vibrant colour with many hues to make it unique in every use. Red is an emotional colour, it creates feelings of passion, anger, and energy. You find it often in fine dining rooms, it is said to make one eat more and linger over a meal. In a formal dining room I might choose to use some of the blue based reds. On the other hand, it can be over used in a home and can make one feel anxious. In a kitchen area I would like the brown based reds giving it a more natural look. If you were a person who had a hard time falling asleep, I would not suggest you paint your bedroom red.

People are afraid to use red and miss the pops of energy it can give an otherwise understated room. If you are the person who chooses beige to be safe, then be brave and add a red wall or bring the red into your room with throws, pillows, flowers or even a pretty vase. Just be sure the reds you work with like each other. Each colour on the colour wheel has a story to tell and a reason you should put it in different rooms. If in doubt, ask a professional for help choosing your paint colour.

Another trend today in painting is the use of colour blocking. Again, if you lack funds to buy art work for your walls or you want to make a focus point in a room, this is something you might consider.

This technique can make the wall appear to be wallpapered or just to add interest.

Colour blocking is as easy as selecting zones (squares, rectangles, circles, any shape or stripe) and painting those areas a different color than the main wall colour. The “blocks” of colour can be separate or even overlap for more texture. They can have texture added such as Venetian Plaster for a heavier design look. For instance, you can paint a square and hang a square piece of art in the area. It will draw more attention to that art than it hanging alone. Just use your imagination and go for it.

Soft lines as circles and curves make a light fun feel while the straighter lines of squares and rectangles give a more serious feeling to a room. If working in a kitchen consider the lines of your cupboards. Some have very straight lines while others have a curved appearance. Try mimicking the lines to a more flowing look.

Large walls the run on forever often can be colour blocked to add interest and shorten the look of the wall. Narrow halls are a perfect place to begin. Those hallways look endless and are not conducive to adding anything to them except paint. One tip is, if the lines you add to such a hall, are horizontal it will add length, if you are a series of vertical lines it will shorten the wall considerable. Play with a design by using painters tape to the wall so you can get an idea of how it may look finished.

This is a list of a few places you can colour block:

Create a headboard.

Update furniture, paint the front and sides a different color.

Frame art work or mirrors.

In an open concept home use colour blocking to create defined spaces.

Scrap booking.

Fashion.

You see colour blocking is not just for your home. It is used every where around us.

Try colour blocking with hues and tones you love, enjoy.