Tag Archives: Home Improvements

Small Refreshes to Enhance a Home

As we draw closer to the holiday season, you may be turning your attention toward hosting gatherings or decorating for the holidays. Here are some small refresh ideas to change up your space and enhance your home for the season!

A Fresh Coat of Paint

Never underestimate a fresh coat of paint. Even if it’s the same color as what you had previously, it will renew a space instantly. If you’re looking for an updated paint color, think about the mood or feeling you want your space to exude and then go that direction with color. If you’re needing the space to feel lighter and brighter, then a white or light greige is the way to go. If you’re looking for a cozy, moody space, then it’s okay to go dark and rich in color.

One of our favorite light paint colors right now is Sherwin Williams Drift of Mist. It has warm undertones, yet still falls in the light grey category.

Home Bunch

One of our favorite dark paint colors right now is Sherwin Williams Iron Ore. It’s a soft black that won’t feel stark. It has a depth to it with undertones of blue grey.

Sherwin Williams Blog

Updated Light Fixtures

This is our favorite update after painting. If sellers have the time and budget within their target listing price, we recommend changing a few key light fixtures. Similarly, if you’re moving into a new home, updating some light fixtures to fit your personality and style can go a long way into making the house feel like yours. Again, this does not have to be expensive. Start looking at a Home Depot or Amazon. If you want more unique options and are willing to spend more, check out Serena & Lily or Pottery Barn. Some local stores that can assist you in choosing lighting are Southern Lights and Muska Lighting.

Pottery Barn

New Hardware

Cabinet hardware can really set a time stamp on your home style-wise, just like lighting can. Changing hardware is super easy to do and doesn’t have to be expensive. Big box hardware stores like Home Depot and Lowe’s carry numerous styles and finishes these days. Then you can get really fancy with hardware from places like Rejuvenation or Restoration Hardware. If you’re looking for the quickest yet easiest change, look for something the same size/shape as your previous hardware so you don’t have to fill any holes or make new ones.

Norfolk Kitchen and Bath

Move Your Furniture & Decor Around

Last but not least, try rearranging your furniture within a room or moving pieces to a different area of your house. You’ll be surprised at how fresh your spaces feel – almost like you got new furniture. One of our favorite tricks is to move living room pieces to a lower level family room and then you can focus on a few new items for the main level living room which is typically more used and important than the lower level area. Throw pillows are a perfect example of this. Move primary bedroom pillows to a kid or guest room and only refresh with new in the primary bedroom for a new feel everywhere.

Rooms With Style Staging

Happy Refreshing!

Crazy for Tile!

I love, love, love picking out tile. So many choices and not enough rooms. HA! Have you seen the tile available these days? The textures, the patterns the colors!

Whether you are renovating to live or updating to sell, tile can add a touch of whimsy, make a bold statement or create a sense of luxury.

The tile on the right is one of my latest selections for the back wall of a double sized walk-in shower. You just want to touch it to see what it is. The patina finish, along with the modern yet classic subway tile that will go around it, is the perfect combination.

The printed black and white tile in this photo is going on a kitchen backsplash. It will give the feel of having been around a while in an otherwise very sleek white kitchen. It’s the unexpected.

Check out some of these patterns and textures:

Photo Credit: The Tile Shop

Timber_Trails_Varsity_Blues_MudRoom-1025×1536

Photo Credit: The Tile Shop

Photo Credit: The Tile Shop

Subway tile, like you see in the tub area above, is timeless and classic. It is a good balance with almost any patterned tile to keep it from getting too busy.

No matter your project or purpose, take the time to check out all the great tiles out there and have fun!

An Outdoor Spring Cleaning Checklist!

I know everyone has their Spring cleaning checklist for the inside of the house but what about the outside? This is so important as many of us are coming off a harsh winter and things are looking a little beat up. Here are the things I do:

#1 and My Most Important – WASH THE WINDOWS! windows

There is nothing better than getting the grim off the windows in the Spring. I would include the inside of the windows at the same time as well as the screens and window sills. I don’t clean my windows myself as most are too high so a professional window washer is so worth the money for me. I called mine yesterday and have him already scheduled!

#2 and Almost as Important as the Windows – SPARKLE UP THE OUTDOOR LIGHT FIXTURES!

You really don’t even notice how dirty the outdoor lights are until you clean them. Wow what a difference. It literally brings a brightness to the exterior of your home that is hard to beat. At the same time check that all light bulbs are in working order and that ALL light bulbs match. Don’t use warm light (yellow tint) and day light (blue tint) at the same time on the same side of the house. It just looks bad, sorry. It’s a little thing but it matters. I prefer warm or soft light versus the day light.

# 3 for A Big First Impression – SCRUB THE FRONT DOOR AND ENTRY CEILING!

To be honest the front door needs attention all year long as far as brushing off the cobwebs and such but in the Spring scrub inside and around the door sill, fix a punctured screen door and perhaps a new coat of paint or stain on that front door is needed. Look up, is there a covering over your front door that likewise needs to be scrubbed or painted?

#4 is So Important – CLEAN OUT THE GUTTERS!

This can be a tough job and again one that you may want to hire a professional. Although dirty and filled gutters are not always noticed, getting them cleaned may save you some bigger issues down the road like water leaks inside your home, foundation issues, rotted wood and even ice dams in the winter months.

Of course there may be many other items on your list for your outdoor Spring cleaning such as your outdoor furniture and it may even be time to pressure wash your siding. But in general, take a walk around the outside of your house this Spring and have a critical eye. If it is dirty, clean it, If it is broken, fix it. HAPPY SPRING!