FSBO Jane

In the past, I’ve shared ideas with you on how to decorate your house for the anxiously awaited Fourth of July weekend, complete with full-size American flags, little plastic American flags, tablecloths with American flags and even cookies with American flag frosting. This year, as to not repeat myself (though I still adore patriotic décor), I fortunately found this website that takes a completely different approach on decorating for the Fourth!

The website names eight different items that represent America, and it recommends that you decorate with these! So the question is what defines America in your eyes? Examples from the website include apple pie, vintage baseball items, military buttons and medals, stars, George Washington, postage stamps, the Declaration of Independence and American Folklore, such as Paul Bunyan and Yankee Doodle. Therefore, you could create throw pillows or placemats that look like postage stamps, put together shadow boxes with military gear, create a centerpiece of baseballs or a collage of baseball items, or frame a dollar bill with George Washington’s serious face looking out at you.

When I thought about what defines America for me, I considered putting together a collage of photographs that captured my most memorable moments. Selling my house FSBO would be in the collage, let me tell you! It was an accomplishment that I achieved because I have the freedom to achieve whatever I want! When I asked friends of mine what they consider “American,” I received answers like hamburgers, football, running through sprinklers, ice cream cones, briefcase, carnivals and fireworks. Everyone has their own ideas!

What are some of the items that you think define America, besides the forever cherished American flag? To read the whole article, visit Celebrating-fourthjuly.com.

Recently, I visited a local farmers’ market, planning to come home with bags of fresh produce to stock my fridge with. Instead, I carried away an unexpected find. Numerous local artists had set up booths with original artwork. And when I say original, I mean it! We’re talking paintings on framed slabs of glass, patterned cloth material stretched around pieces of wood, woodcarvings of decorative chairs and yard signs, wind chimes, bird houses, molded candles, and objects that have no name but that looked aesthetically interesting. Was I alone in not knowing that you could find original artwork at a farmer’s market? I went home with a painting of bunnies on glass that I plan on displaying outside on my front porch. Bunnies just love my yard.

It got me thinking, where else can people find original artwork without knowing it? Craft fairs are always a good place to start. At craft fairs, you can collect artist’s cards, websites or phone numbers so that you can contact them at a later date or find out where they’ll be going next. From this, I found out that artists travel to farmer’s markets, seasonal festivals, local events, community garage sales and more! Sometimes, they’ll even set up a time and day to just display their work on the side of a busy street.

There’s also websites where you can find original artwork. OriginalArtOnline.com is a website that allows artists to promote their work in a professional manner while allowing buyers to search for original art from artists and emerging artists. ArtistRising.com categorizes original art by subject, style and medium, such as photography, painting or digital. Best part? The prices are completely reasonable!

You can find individual artists by using social networking sites. For example, search Twitter for a certain subject or for artists in general. Numerous artists advertise their work that way and lead you to their website where you can check out more work and contact them for a purchase. Some artists will even offer to create a piece of art specific to your desires, such as a painting of your beloved puppy.

Don’t get me wrong, I can stand in Bed, Bath & Beyond or Target for hours staring at the beautiful artwork that they sell. It’s everywhere! But there’s just something rewarding about buying it right from its source. I was proud of my new find.

Know of somewhere else that is ideal for finding original artwork? Let us know!

Do you want to upgrade an area of your house but are not sure which area to choose? Want to know what potential buyers are most looking for in a new house? According to this Buy Owner Blog post, the Lansing State Journal stated that home buyers find improvements in the kitchen and bathroom to be most important.

With this information, you can upgrade areas of your house that you know most home buyers are looking for! The blog throws out some ideas of aspects to improve, such as upgrading appliances, adding a kitchenette, upgrading a bathroom with a double, his/her vanity and separating the toilet from the rest of the bathroom. The blog even links to past articles that offer advice on upgrading cabinets, countertops, sinks, lighting and décor in these rooms. It’s basically a how-to article for every aspect of your bathroom and kitchen!

Once you make these upgrades, if you’re advertising with Buy Owner, you can upgrade your ad to include these new aspects of your home. Home buyers will see that your home was recently remodeled or upgraded in the rooms that matter most to them, they’ll check it out and the rest is history. Blogs that supply all necessary information are the most helpful tools in the world, at least from a fellow blogger’s perspective!

Fashion experts have named turquoise the shade of the new decade. So whether you’re shopping for clothes, furniture or bed sheets, chances are you’re going to notice shades of turquoise. As a lover of the bright blue hue that reminds me of the ocean or a cloudless summer day, I’m a huge fan of incorporating the newest trend into my décor!

That isn’t to say that you should cover every wall with turquoise wallpaper, every cabinet and countertop with turquoise paint and every floor with turquoise carpeting. Think of it more as an accent color that beautifully corresponds with neutral colors that you already display. Tans, grays, browns, whites and blacks all agree with turquoise. If you match it with light shades of beige or cream, turquoise creates a calm, tranquil atmosphere. Matched with dark grays or browns, turquoise will really pop and create a bold statement. There are also numerous hues of turquoise itself, such as a grayed version that looks sophisticated and historical, or a bright lagoon hue that is full of energy and vibrancy.

Turquoise also holds many different meanings around the world. In some cultures, turquoise is believed to be a protective lucky charm, while other cultures see it as a color of deep compassion, healing, faith or inspiration. You can choose what turquoise means to you and work from there. In the bedroom, it can bring balance, harmony and calmness. In the kitchen, it can bring energy and entertainment.

For wall colors, decorating experts recommend combining turquoise with warm, rich colors, such as olive, amber or coral, or with bright colors, such as light greens, bright yellows or cobalt blues. You can paint one wall a solid hue of turquoise, blend turquoise with other colors in a designer wall pattern, paint moldings turquoise, or even paint the ceiling turquoise, like the sky.

Aside from painting, accessorizing with turquoise offers endless possibilities! In the dining room, you could set the table with turquoise dishware, table settings, napkins or a flower vase. In the kitchen, find turquoise appliances, which are readily available right now, such as coffee pots and toasters. In any room, add patterned curtains, throw rugs, pillows, blankets or artwork that incorporate the color turquoise. Accessories can be added or replaced at any time, so get creative!

If you’ve already experimented with turquoise, the color for 2010, let us know what you’ve done with it!

If you still think all kitchen and bathroom faucets turn on with a knob, think again. The faucet industry doesn’t even design faucets with knobs anymore. Now, faucets look futuristic, sleek and curvy.

For example, there is the single-hole lavatory faucet that displays two square handles and a smooth, enclosed disc cartridge that curves down from the handles and toward the sink bowl. Then there’s a lavatory faucet that displays a popup handle and a flat plate where the water flows from. Some of these faucets produce a rounded, more direct flow of water, whereas others produce a wide, flat waterfall of water. Aside from the actual faucet, some of the sinks that come with the faucets contain a bowl that rests above the countertop instead of inside of it.

According to the senior product manager of Kohler, the shift came from the shift of how people view water. Instead of homeowners viewing a sink as a place to wash dishes or teeth, they now see a sink as a source of water, which can be soothing and tranquil. The modern style of faucets displays sleek, smooth surfaces and curvy, sculpted shapes. The water flows with more elegance and calmness, offering a sense of peace and tranquility.

Don’t believe that a faucet could create all that? Take a look at these “modern and luxury faucets” from FaucetLine.com, Kohler and Signature Hardware, and decide for yourself.

Beyond its kitchen, bedrooms, bathrooms, living area, dining area and laundry, what specific spaces does your home feature?

• Maybe it has a lower level space that you call a multipurpose room, ideal for a rec room or a family room media room or for accommodating an office nook or workout area.
• Maybe it has an office/den off the foyer, where you’ve been keeping all your boxes while you prepare to move.
• Maybe it has a bonus guest room that you tell buyers could be used as a craft nook or a sitting area.

Here is what you need to do: SHOW IT TO SELL IT.

What do I mean by this? Simply put, you want to set up the spaces in your home to feature their potential. If a room could make a sitting room, set it up as one. If there’s a great nook for a computer area, use it as such.

Here’s a great example: Over at HGTV, you’ll see this bonus room has been turned into a showcase-worthy arts-and-crafts room, as lovely as one you’d see in a magazine.

Think a buyer will notice? You betcha.

So what rooms in your house can you show to sell?

Maybe

There’s nothing especially impressive about this quick tip, but it works. In terms of decluttering, remember this: Trash.

• Simply put, if you don’t use an item, trash it.
• If you don’t need an item, give it away.
• If there is no place for an item, find one or get rid of it.

Decluttering can seem overwhelming when you’re looking at a room filled with knick-knacks, so pick a place to start, and take it one item and a time.

When I’m surfing the Internet, I tend to look up what popular items people are buying at that time. It’s not because I want to have what everyone else has. I support individuality. It’s mostly to make sure that an amazing item doesn’t blow over without me knowing about it! I’ve found some of my favorite decorating accessories by checking out what’s popular at a certain time.

So while doing my weekly browse, I found that on AOL.com, one of the most popular items that people were buying one day was this item: a Sag Harbor brick gazebo canopy. It’s a nice item. But the beauty of checking out popular items is that you can gain decorating ideas without promising yourself to a specific brand. There are a plethora of portable gazebos available out there in a wide variety of prices, styles, sizes and colors. Now that you know that gazebos might be popping up in your neighbors yards, get a head start on finding the best deals!

Portable gazebos are great for lovers of nature who don’t have the means for incorporating a permanent deck, patio or lanai in their backyard. You can place these sturdy gazebos over a patio for added shade, or you can add them anywhere in your yard for a simple, private backyard oasis. Not too shabby of an idea! Also, as one more perk I must add for home sellers, you could either bring a portable gazebo with you during a move or you could add it in with your home’s sale to increase buyer interest!

If you have children, this blog is for you. No matter what age your children are now, eventually, they will grow into teens and will want to eliminate anything that reminds them of childhood. Why do most children go through this transitional phase of suddenly hating all their cuddly stuffed animals and Disney princess décor after years of idolizing them? Maybe they’re afraid of their friends making fun of them if they don’t destroy childhood idols fast enough, or maybe they want to prove to themselves (and their parents!) that they aren’t kids anymore and they deserve a grownup bedroom. Whatever the reason, you might as well prepare yourself for this day that brings a hardcore remodeling job to your duties as a parent.

What should a teenage bedroom look like? The Better Homes and Gardens website explores different color schemes and decorating ideas to help you down the right path. Here are some major areas of the room to consider:

Colors

You and your teenager should decide what colors he or she enjoys now and will continue to enjoy for years to come. A female teen might opt for a bright room full of orange hues that coincide beautifully with maroon and plum shades, or she might opt for a softer, more neutral room with lavender or pastel pink walls, chiffon curtains and a white bedspread to counteract the colors. A male teen might want to stick with white walls and deep blue or black furniture (black is not a bad thing!), or he might want to paint his walls the color of his favorite sports team, along with some framed player photos or hanging jerseys.

Accessories

The room should still be fun, just not childish. Some accessories that could add to the fun factor might include a canopy over a girl’s bed, a sports logo stenciled onto a boy’s wall, a modern shelving unit to help organize and show off framed photos of homecoming and prom dances, a cozy corner with chairs and bean bags for friends, movie posters, vases of flowers, a desk with computer space, a full-length mirror, a miniature TV and more. You don’t want to include so much in the room that the teen never feels the need to leave (is a mini fridge really necessary?) but you want to include enough so that the teen feels comfortable in his or her private space.

Furniture

You don’t have to toss all the old furniture. Chances are you can spruce up what’s already in the room with some fresh paint and accessories! Paint a wooden dresser white and paint the drawers or knobs an accent color found on the walls or bedspread. Have fun with it. This is a job you and your can do together! Also, to add colorful oomph, add pillows and throw rugs to the room’s ensemble instead of replacing furniture. Allow for one drastic change, like replacing the twin bed with a double bed, switching carpeting for hardwood, or adding a computer desk or TV.

The most important thing to remember is that each teenager is an individual. Just because your son or daughter no longer finds cartoon wallpaper appealing, it doesn’t mean that he or she doesn’t appreciate all the time you spent creating that themed bedroom. Changes are necessary as children age, so make the most of this time with your teen as you together come up with a renovation plan!

Already been through the process of altering your child’s room to a teen-appropriate room? Share your stories or advice below!

When it comes to buying a house, have you ever felt torn on whether you should buy old or new? There’s the one side, with the thought of purchasing a brand-new home that no one else has lived in. No hidden stains, no rusted pipes, no lingering odors. Then there’s the other side, with the thought of purchasing an old home where others have made memories, created a homey atmosphere and left a piece of history behind for you to become part of. It’s a tough decision, so to help you make it, I am offering this article from TheDailyGreen.com.

This article suggests that you should purchase old homes in order to save precious wilderness that would otherwise be torn apart for building homes on. With so many homes available for purchase right now, why ruin extra land to buy new homes? It even suggests that you purchase old buildings that would otherwise be torn down. They could be renovated into museums, bed and breakfasts, offices, home businesses and other interesting entrepreneur ideas.

Take a look at the article and then decide what you think about purchasing old homes and buildings. Would it be worth the renovation? Do you agree or disagree with the idea? Let me know!