Are You Sitting On A Goldmine - On Your Couch? Take Advantage of This Red Hot #RealEstate Market ~ Should You Sell Your House? #Money #HousingMarket

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Shopping - All the things you can buy when you make a fortune selling your home - lol! And, right now - Yay!! Great Deals!

Oooh, you say, who could afford this li'l gem?

I'm sure this was a comfy-cozy home for lovely people, for sooo long, and now it's been sold for - wait for it - $2.5 MILLION Dollars.

Yep.

So here's the deal with Real Estate, right now, especially if you live in an up and coming neighborhood - Victoria, BC, Canada, Vancouver, BC, Canada... Toronto, Los Angeles, any Big City, many places with a good view... you name it, property is selling like hotcakes, right now (Yum, hotcakes! haha!), so, you might consider selling your property. : )

The message I want to get out there, today, is for people who have been living in the same house, forever, and had a Big Plan 'to die in this house' (I've heard that line soo many times, and I used to say, Omg, are you all right? But, come to find out, that's just a little saying, as in, I never plan to move from this house - which I cannot relate to, since, who knows where their lives will take them, and isn't that very limiting thinking?)

Anyway, if you happen to find yourself in a nice house, you're comfy, but your taxes have been going up, possibly exponentially, but your taxes are going up because your Property Value has skyrocketed, keep an open mind when it comes to making a change, putting your property on the market, cash in on this very Hot Real Estate Market.

Don't worry about finding somewhere else to live - you will be rolling in cash, you'll find something amazing, without a doubt!

I feel like this is a sticking point - well, where else will I live? What you could do, if you felt like it, is go and look at other properties - are you open to moving outside of town? You KNOW I'm a big advocate of building your own home - lol! That's what I would almost always advise - hahaha! Find a nice piece of land, build a gorgeous house, live there for a few more years, then either stay, or decide to sell that house, too, and do it all over again - but that's me, you have to go your own path, right?

But I think a lot depends on where you're at with your lie - are you ready to retire? what if you had a big bundle o' cashola, THEN would you be ready to retire? lol!

Are you ready to move into a Condo, where you can live freely, no grass to cut, everything is done for you - Condo Living is Easy Living - just make sure you have a good condo Board (they can be such a hassle, so, maybe see if you could go to a meeting - although, that seems excessive, now that I've actually written that - haha! But you can usually get a feel for the place, right away - if you see a whole lot of disgruntled people, not a good sign, but if everyone seems nice and normal, go for it - and if you looove the condo, who cares, get yourself on the Condo Board, make it nice and normal, yourself, right? lol!)

And if you're dealing with, let's just say, relatives, neighbors, or people who do not know any better (super-annoying people - naysayers, you might call them ...or whatever fancy words you can come up with, but most people have some sort of group around them who are intent on holding them back, keeping them down, for some unknown reason...) ...Anyway, you might get a lot of resistance to the mere IDEA of you selling your property and moving - why are people like that? I loove Change - change is Good - Change Can Be VERY Good - and this is YOUR life to live, not your neighbors...

There are major bidding wars going on, right now, in our own city, here in Victoria, BC - is so pretty, people from the Mainland and from overseas (Mainly buyers from China), and Victoria is considerably less expensive than Vancouver, but buyers are snapping up properties that come on the market, in days - sometimes in hours - so it is a good idea to have an idea of where you might like to go next, with your big wad of cash - haha!

Could Your House be the Pot Of Gold at the End of the Rainbow? I hope so! : )

Seriously, it's like winning the lottery - think of your house, that way - you are literally, sitting on a Golden Ticket - And your new-found money will go a really long way - maybe you'd like to rent something affordable, and then just travel - go anywhere your heart wants you to go - you could do all that - we don't have to live by any old-fashioned standards, any more - life is different, now, you can do so many things - What Do You Wanna Do?? Anything, at all, Baby! The Future is yours to play with, why not roll the dice, see what happens? (Not in a crazy way, but in a well thought out kinda way - lol!)

Well, if you're in BC, Canada, especially Victoria, and you're even considering selling your house, let me know, I'm always happy to help out my lovely (and suuper-smart!) (and did I already say, attractive?? haha!) Readers!

Follow Me on Twitter @AilsaForshaw

Oh, and I'm not a realtor, but I do know some really great realtors, I just want you to live your very best life, love every minute of it!

I hope you are having THE Best Day!! Ailsa : ) 

10 Tips to Sell Your House Faster - And How To Sell Your Own Home : ) 

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This is a Faux Fireplace - you can find them all over the place, in odd places - I have two Faux (pretend, even though, they're real to me - lol!) mantels in my living room - one in the main part of the living room, and one by the door, where I put a lot of my shoes - seemed like a good place to 'frame them', and keep my shoes out of the way... I have a LOT of shoes - lol!

Anyway, you can make a big difference in the look of any room, by adding a mantel - you don't have to have a heater in it, but that's a nice touch, if you do, or buy a fireplace that you just plug in - they're a great idea, and will quickly and easily change the look of your room. : )

See how I put a mirror in the back, and then candles in the front center? So pretty - then at Christmas, I draped the white lights over the top of the candles... and now I think I'll just leave it like that - provides more light in the living room, and is super pretty, right? lol! 

I think the key to decorating you space, is to make your home soo gorgeous, so comfortable and welcoming, that your home is your oasis - you deserve it, baby! 

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  Here it is! Man, I really had to search for this picture - But that's a Faux Window - easy to create -I usually use a Mirror, and then Treat it, just like it's a window - will open up any space, is really pretty, very nice! : )

  Dog comes Extra - bah'haha! My sweet little Tia! : )

Omg, took me soo long to find this pic - lol! I had it labelled - Our Living Room, Mantel Done - who knew? Hill-arious! 

  Oh, I soo love this! what a great way to do some fantastic and inexpensive decorating around your house - take your favorite pictures, any pictures, so, beautiful scenes, favorite people - anything you like, and have it made up into canvas art - how cool is that? Makes a great gift, too, of course, but I'm just thinkin' about you right now, baby, and what you will love in your home, right? haha!  

Wouldn't this be lovely on a Canvas, so pretty and colorful! 

 Noo, me joke, but that WOULD make me laugh, a giant canvas print of a delicious piece of Peach Pie! Me will run and get you da recipe, so now you can make one, too - lol! 

But, you know, you have your own favorite pictures, and there are endless pictures on the Internet - Interwebs, fancy Internet Highway...hahaha! Just check for copyright, but you can use any picture I have on my site or blog, no worries : )

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 (Now why did I choose this picture? lol! To show my tree? ha! Who knows.. but that's me! lol!) 

Wait, what happens if you do a little Spring Cleaning, a quick little overhaul of your own place, move some furniture around, put some stuff away, tidy things up a bit... will that give you the boost you're after, and you haven't even gotten any new stuff, just rearranged your old stuff, right? Worth a try!

So that's me with mah' fave Christmas Tree... I call it our 'fake' tree, since it's an artificial tree, which works for me, since I can't bring myself to ever cut down a whole tree, just for a couple of weeks - even though I know in my head that it's an industry, like lots of other industries, but, you know, I love my Fake Christmas Tree - is right in the closet, waiting for next year..and the year after that, and the year after that.. you get the idea! It's a nice and economical choice, for me, and maybe for you, too : ) 

See, it's soo super-pretty, it's really hard for me to take the Tree down, and since it IS a Fake Tree, I don't have to, for safety's sake, soooo....

I turn it magically into a Flower Tree, and then keep it up as long as I can withstand the criticism..some of that (most of that) is in my head, from comments I know I will get from certain people... 

But see how lovely? I loove my Flower Tree - and I just flip over the Tree Skirt, it's green (like grass! lol!) on the other side - on the flipside, if you will... and I hope you will! Haha!

But, finally I did succumb to the pressure to take my Tree down, and then we started cleaning, and cleaning, and moving furniture around, and, VOILA, a whole new look! We're thrilled! Well, mostly me - haha!

Here, I bought a Glass Top Dining Room Table when we first got here, because I love the openness the glass top table can give, but then I had routinely covered the glass top with a series of really pretty Tableclothes, for Christmas, so I had completely forgotten how pretty the table is, all cleaned off - now it's covered in Birthday stuff, since my Birthday is in March, and, well, I love all the wrapping paper still on the table - it's so pretty! 

So you can see that if I think something is pretty, especially if it is REALLY pretty, I'll keep it for ages - lol! That's okay, that's how I like to enjoy my life... and, really, isn't that what all of this boils down to, so you can come home and love your home, every day - and every night - and that's why your bedroom is so important to decorate nicely, and to your own taste, too : ) 

Here's the space where the Christmas Tree/Flower Tree was.. wow, look at all that space, now - lol! But I also tidied up the faux fireplace, minimized what was on the fireplace, and around it, and put on a new runner - so pretty! And just for a quick decorating tip, see how the mirror reflects the Wall Art? I love that! Even the mirror in the bottom of the faux mantel reflects the Giant Tulips at that particular angle - it reflects the Candles Piece, from other directions... and I got this faux fireplace mantel for $20, and the other one for $6 - can you believe that? Yep, a Going Out of Business sale, they didn't have the fireplace insert, but I had wanted it for my shoes, anyway, so that worked out perfectly for everyone - yahoo! 

My point is, you never have to spend very much to doctor up your pace, fix it all up so it looks really nice, and you love it! Don't be afraid to try something new, or get rid of something old (is it you' spouse? hahahahaha! No, me joke!) ...even old ideas - let's leave those in the past, where they belong, and just be happy in our own lives, in our own spaces, right? Yep! Be happy, baby! : )

Aaawww, my sweet little dog, Tia - one day, I realized everything in the house matched the dog - made me laugh! 

 It does make me laugh that so many of us decorate with the same colors as our beautiful dogs - or whoever it is that you love soo much, you end up matching your life up to them - lol! 

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Drapes, Curtains, Window Coverings, Window Treatments Adding lovely, sheer drapes, adds a light and open look to any room, and they're super-inexpensive - you'll be so pleasantly surprised! 

And I love a beautiful fabric that is soft and flowing - very pretty, in every room.

We always put black-out curtains in a child's bedroom, so it's easier for them to go to sleep when it's really light out - will make your lives just that much easier - lol! Is nice for your bedroom, too!

: )
 So sweet for a little girls room...

Oh, here are the blackout curtains ...
See how many great styles and colors? Perfect for any room, especially a bedroom : )

My Balcony, with lovely Sheer White Drapes -- so light and airy!

  White Sheers are so easy to add to any room, and give a nice, soft, romantic feel to any room : )

I love the White Sheer Drapes with a Top Scarf -- they come in really long pieces, and you can put them together for really long banks of windows.
 So pretty, right? I loove a Top Scarf Treatment! 

Curtain Rods come in so many great styles, now - so pretty, so architecturally interesting - you can get any look you're after, and will change the look of your whole room : )
  I do love a Holdback - so easy for kids to manage, too, for them to open their curtains, and neatly tuck them back, or in any room, where you would like your curtains or drapes held back : )

Aaah, there's Tia! She's soo cute!  And the White Sheer Drapes are paired with Green Silk -- very elegant look and feel.

A lovely Shower Curtain will do wonders for your bathroom, and they have an incredible selection, now : )
 These are so cool, right? I loove them all! 

And I love a really interesting shower hook - seems like a tiny thing, but it really adds to the look, and they're not even expensive, any more - yippee!

The Tension Curtain Rods are great if you don't have a curtain rod already installed, in your bathroom, and you might like the curtain rods that arch out from the bath - they look fantastic, too!
 Aah-ha! Made me laugh! For the Football Fans taking a shower! lol! : )

The French Doors leading to the Sunroom through the Master Bedroom -- gorgeous!

A nice Bed-frame and a lovely Comforter can really change your Bedroom... sometimes a new  husband in the bedroom can make it look a whole lot better, too! hahahaha! (Otay, dat joke jus' for me!! And he doesn't HAVE to be a husband... yet!! lol!)

Oh, Tia, she loves to be in the picture! These Drapes are a Sage Green Suede -- feel amazing!  I go around the shop feeling all the material!! lol!

I love Drapes, Curtains, Draperies, Sheers, Window Coverings.. whatever you want to call them!  We went through a phase where we loooved the look of Blinds, but I'm past that, now, and I like the softer look of Drapes. They're soft, they're warm, they come in a million colors and textures, and they're really, really affordable.  You can redo your favorite room, or give your whole place a whole new look by changing out the window coverings.  The one kind of Blinds I'll always love are the Wooden Blinds, often in White -- very oceany, reminds me of sea breezes, Myrtle Beach, Plantation Shutters... very pretty, and they don't go out of date.  They're really nice in the different wooden shades, too... usually a darker shade, Cherry Wood, is very elegant. The Wooden Blinds are a heavier look, but if you're room can carry it off, they can be gorgeous. Roman Blinds are very good if you want to be able to have black-out conditions in a room -- very good if you live in a really sunny place, for sure!  You can get very nice 'black-out' curtains, too -- I always put those in the kids' rooms, so they'd sleep a little longer! lol!

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Frame the Scene with Curtains! Ooh, I just had a great idea, and I actually did this with a very large mirror, before, looked amazing, will see if I can find a pic for you, but here's my little idea - what if you were to put up a curtain rod, some nice curtains - slightly heavier to define the space, and light sheers in the center - oh, baby, that's gonna look soo good, like it's a real window - you'll love it - and will be fun to watch all your friends try to touch it, every time they come over - haha! Fun with Friends! lol! : )

 Gorgeous, right? So lovely! What a view! For Under $10, you say? Sold! To the person with the great taste! lol! : )

 Each ad will tell you the dimensions - but wouldn't that be fun to put in a windowless bathroom? You will be shocked at how much it opens up the space - hello, illusions! Illusions of grandeur? Sure, why not! haha!

 Isn't that pretty? And super easy, and then when you leave, find a new home, you can just peel it off, take it with you - or, you could frame it - that would be hella-nice, too, right? Hmmm, just thought of that! lol! 

Wall Art, Wall Decals You know what is amazing, that you can add so quickly and easily, to any room - even a Dorm Room or apartment, where you would have to remove anything you put up before you leave? Wall Decals - they're so cool, they have so many styles, now, is amazing - something for everyone for sures! : )



You want to get what's right for you, what will make you feel good every day you look at it.  I like to touch everything -- I canny help it!  It's critical to me that the material in the drapes feels soft to the touch, and hangs nicely.

Sometimes it's really fun to just stick something cool to the wall - lol! 

Especially if you live in an earthquake zone, it's better not to put anything heavy over your bed... yikes! 

These Wall Decals, Wall Art, they're all so easy to use - inspirational, pretty, or hilarious - I laughed so hard at the 'Laundry Today or Naked Tomorrow' - bah'hahahahaha! Dat make'a me laughs! lol! 

 Funny, right? haha!

Dat me! lol! But see that gorgeous mirror behind me? Man, I loved that mirror - and I bought it online, was soo easy! 

That was such a beautiful room - very peaceful, nice colors - very relaxing - excellent, in a bedroom, right? haha! 

You will love Kirkland's Beautiful stuff for your home - of, so gorgeous! You' gonna looove it! : )

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Easy Renovations for Your Home... and not too expensive, either!

Renovating should be a fun and exciting process (really!).  The key is to plan the project out in advance, hire the right people, allot the appropriate amount of time, and make provisions for delays.  Try not to make the completion date coincide with your birthday or anniversary.  Begin waaaay before that date, if you’re planning a special party, and even then, have an alternate location in mind. 

Don’t impose a time frame on yourself or your contractor that will create stress.  At the same time, get a clear understanding of how long the project will probably take, and when it will begin.  If it’s a three month job and the work won’t begin until November, your house will not be ready for a New Year’s Party, unless you’re celebrating Chinese New Year…  This is a surprisingly common problem – how much time the home owner thinks a project will take and that actual work time required. 

There are no Contractor Fairies (and I refer here to the magical ones! Ha,ha,ha!) who can slip in the middle of the night and have the project done by the morning, although that would be good!  (I’m guessing that there’d be some really loud dance music, anyway, which would just keep you awake…!)  Have your Contractor include a probable time frame with the quote. 

Have a clear idea of what you want before your contractor comes over.  You don’t have to sketch out the changes, but you should be able to tell him or her what changes you would like to see.  Many good contractors will have done so many renos that they will immediately know what needs to be done, the approximate cost and time-frame.  When a contractor tells you that ‘the little bathroom’ will cost about $3,000., don’t think that your job will secretly only cost about $20., maybe a little less…then be shocked and dismayed when your bill comes in at…$3,000.  You’d be surprised how many people have notions like that.  Try not to fall into this trap, or to think that any changes you make once the job has started won’t affect the price or the amount of time of a project.  Always get written quotes for any work you are having done, that way you’ll both be clear about the expectations for the job.

If you’re really stuck trying to figure out how to improve an area in your home, consider hiring a Designer.  Keep in mind that they can work within your budget, but if your budget is really tight, it’s probably better to spend the consultation fee on new drapes or a toilet… If decision making is a problem area for you, and you’re able to relinquish control, then a designer might be the clear solution.  Shop around the same way you would for a contractor until you find someone you’re really comfortable with, someone who will listen to what you want.  Remember, it’s your house, so do what’s right for you.  If you say, “Absolutely no red” and the designer says you need all red if you’re going to be ‘cutting edge’, then choose another designer – one who is more interested in catering to your needs.  


 Sometimes, you just need a hand with something.... when you do have someone come over to give you a hand, get everything ready in advance, know where your tools are, if you have some (and I would imagine you do - lol! DIYers looove tools! lol!)

But you want to be ready, know what you want to have done, or at least some ideas - When I had a carpenter come over to put my Desk/Armoire back together, after the mover broke it (in half - aaarrgghhh!!), I had already figured out how it had to be put back together - there were soo many pieces, like a very intricate puzzle, and it is soo big, I didn't want to take any chances, since we are in an earthquake zone, here, too... so, you want to take extra care that everything is solid, well put-together, and stable - sounds like good qualities in a mate, too, right? hahahha! I make'a mah'self laugh, now - lol! 

 Well, that's not the pic I was looking for of my lovely Desk/Armoire, but it DOES show you how big it is (and how lovely! lol! I accidentally fell in love with it - like I do with most things and people - lol - and bought it, thought it would be perfect for this little indented corner, right? I loove it! Especially now that it's up, and not in pieces in the corner - hahaha!)

I think I was just going for a nice pic of the Gladiolas, in this pic - lol!

Oh, and see how I have the 3 Tall Plant thingees at the top of my Armoire?  That adds height to the room, so if you have something you could put at the top of your cabinets, or what have you, that could work nicely for you, too... you can always try all sorts of stuff, see what works for you - you'll know when you can't stop gazing at it, thinking how lovely it is, how brilliant you are (iz??). lol!

I'm busy looking for some great deals for you, so you can make all the changes you want to make, and keep it all very affordable, right? Yahoo, Nice, with a Good Price! : ) You' welcome! haha!
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 Well, it says, no expiration, so, I would go ahead and try this.. can't hurt, right? Find some lovely new things to brighten up your home, AND save some money? Yes, please! lol! : )

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 Is there a quick fix?

 Often, there is a quick fix.  If you aren’t dealing with structural changes or a complete makeover, then consider a coat of paint, new flooring, new baseboards, and/or new window treatments.  There are lots of things that you can do yourself, now.  

You might want to up-date your bathroom or kitchen with new flooring.  There’s a new glueless laminate ‘wood’ flooring that you can tackle on your own, if you are so inclined. 

Tiling is an excellent option, too, and you can learn how to do that on my site (click on the Tiling page), or attend a seminar at your local hardware store.  

A really nice throw rug can change the look of a room and add new life to an old carpet.  Installation of new carpet should be professionally done, unless it’s a small area and you are skilled at that.

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Sometimes a simple change like up-dating your hardware (the knobs in your kitchen – no, not your spouse’s friends! Hahaha! ) can make a huge difference in the overall look of a room.  You may be able to paint your cabinetry if you don’t want to replace it.  If you are replacing the cabinets, Check out your Local Hardware Stores selection.  You can check for price, availability, installation fees (don’t try this alone!), and for some ideas in general that you like.  They will provide you with a computer print-out of what your completed kitchen will look like, if you arrange to meet with a Kitchen Designer and draw one out together. 

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If you have an old brick fireplace that you don’t care for anymore, or want to give it a fresh look, consider painting it.  This is not a crime…painted brick can look great!  Generally, creamy shades work well, but you can choose what you like.  Brick really soaks up the paint, so use a good primer, first. 

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Put a marble or granite tile (slate works well, too) around the fireplace.  Use the correct tile adhesive (ask at the store) and choose a nice grout. You can cover the Fireplace with a fine mesh first, if you like, or stick the tiles directly on top of the existing fireplace using some really good adhesive. You can find really good bonding agents at any local hardware store. Smear the adhesive over the old bricks, or what have you (it's probably bricks!), then carefully set the tiles. I prefer a tiny grout line on a fireplace -- maybe a 1/16th", but if you like a 1/8th" grout line, that would be okay, too. A grout line in the 1/4" range would be too big, I think, and will draw away from the affect you are trying to achieve with your new fireplace. Personal choice, though, as always! Just make sure it looks good to you, and will also look good to any potential buyer!

These are FAUX Mantels - how cool is that, right/ I loove them! 

You don't need a real fireplace - it's fantastic to HAVE a real fireplace, but a faux mantel, a fake mantelplace - is almost as good, maybe better - I like the candles in the one in the living room, and I keep some of my shoes in the mantelplace by the door - makes me laugh, looks like the mantel is framing the shoes... and a lot of my shoes are so pretty, mostly, I just look at them - haha! I hardly have anywhere really nice where I can wear them, in my 'new life' - boo! I liked my 'old life' better! lol! One day, and, hopefully really soon, I'll have lots of fun places to go, where I can wear all my very pretty shoes! (Shoesiz! lol!)

See my tape measure? I'm never very far away from my tape measure! lol! Measure twice, cut once... same rule goes for hanging wall art, or checking to make sure something will fit where you want it... good to measure the area before you order something online, or head out to the store, too - will save you a lot of time : )

  

You can actually buy a Fireplace Surround pre-made, or you can build your own Mantel with Crown Molding and some nice lumber.  You may want to bring in some help for this. While you're looking at the Fireplace Mantels, check out the cool Fireplace Over-mantels -- they're gorgeous! You can have mirror custom cut to fit in the center and make your house look fabulous, darling!

Changing the lighting can create a whole new look in your home.  If it’s not too complicated, you can do this on your own.  If it’s too tricky or dangerous, bring in an electrician.  Changing the light switches and switch plates can make a huge difference, too.  You can go from the past to the present in a flick of the switch! Ha,ha,ha!

You can get some amazing deals on Lighting (and everything else - lol!) online, as you know... this is a great way to find something relaly unique, just right for you! : )

Doors have a huge impact on how a house looks.  Painting old wooden doors (the ones from the 60's and 70's) can add new life to them.  Change the hardware while you’re at it, and you’ll have a nice new door!  Switching to French Doors (the ones with the glass inserts) can add extra light to a room.  You can get the glass with many different looks, if privacy is a concern.  If your budget will allow, consider changing all the doors to the new white colonial style – that looks nice in just about every home.  They’re clean and neat, and will brighten up a hallway. 

  

Replacing your front door can give the house a real boost and probably add a bit of safety, too, since many of the new doors are made of steel.  Sometimes adding a lovely screen door can create more interest at the front entry. 

When you change the doors, you will probably want to replace the baseboards, too.  If you are trying to make the job as easy as possible, consider using Rosettes for the corners, then all the cuts will be straight ones.  Use Dap to fill in any little gaps, or wood filler if you’ve gone with a wooden finish.

Also, Changing out the Garage Doors in an Older Home to Update the Exterior look of your house is a great idea. Garage Doors are a very reasonable price, these days -- some things become more reasonable as time goes on -- go figure! But changing out the Garage Doors can create an incredible new look for your house. And maybe add some nice neat Trim around the Doors, too!

Here's exactly what I advocate -- getting Three Good Quotes for the Same Job -- this is a great way to find out how much a Home Improvement Job is really going to cost you -- this should be a Free Service, so why not give it a try?  The only time you would go with your first quote is when you are SURE it's a reasonable price, and the person will do an excellent job... but I would still call around, just to put your own mind at ease :)

Did you know that you can paint your appliances?  It works, too.  You can hire a painting service to do this if you’re worried about the outcome.  If you are getting new kitchen cabinetry, you can order matching covers for the appliances.  Ask at the cabinet place for details to see if that is feasible in your kitchen. Sometimes your best bet is just to bite the bullet and buy new appliances.  My favourite new appliance (who knew you could have a ‘favourite appliance?!) is the Upright Freezer.  I’m putting one in the new house, it’s sooo cool!  It looks like a refrigerator -- some the same height and almost the same size, and some a little shorter. You can arrange to have the door open from the left, if you have the fridge and upright freezer side by side, so access is even easier.  Anyway, it saves ‘losing’ all those items at the bottom of a regular freezer that you can’t remember and find a couple of years later… Also, there are some really neat new small appliances that will add more efficiency to your kitchen.  There’s a roasting oven that that just plugs in and sits on your countertop – great for big dinner events when you could really use another oven. 

If you have a small space with a closet (front entry, bedroom), consider changing the regular doors to mirrored doors.  That really opens up a room and provides more light, quickly.

Window Treatments can make the world of difference in a room.  There’s a huge selection of gorgeous curtains, most of them reasonably priced.  Shop around – there are some great deals, out there.  On-line shopping is perfect for this.  At the very least, it’ll give you an idea of what’s available on the market.  Adding a beautiful Valance will have a huge impact on the room.  You can make them out of Crown Moulding if you like the wooden look, or you can build them out of plywood, cover with cotton batting, then material to suit your room, and staple them at the back.  Be sure to get help hanging them on the wall as they will be quite heavy.  Be sure to attach it where there’s a stud, too.  (Are you making your own stud jokes?! Ha,ha!)  The relatively new wrought iron curtain rods with all the cool attachments are really attractive, too.  They are much easier to install and generally less expensive than a valance.  You can buy ready-made material valances, too – they’re usually offered with the set of curtains that you choose.  Tie-backs can make a real difference, too, so have a wee look at them, as well.

Furniture plays a key role in the look of your house.  There are some gorgeous slip covers available, if you don’t want to replace your extra comfortable stuff!  You could try your hand at reupholstering your furniture.  It’s not as hard as it looks, but it does take time and skill, but if you’re a willing participant and plan it carefully, it should work out all right.  Get a staple gun to make the job a little easier. 

Maybe you’re in the market for a new head board?  You can make your own out of a nice door, with an even pattern, some nice Crown Moulding, and some legs. You can purchase these at any lumber store.   Turn it on its’ side to create the look you’re after. 

If you’d like a softer headboard, try covering a sheet of plywood with a fair bit of padding, then cover with material and staple.  If it’s big enough, you may be able to just sit it behind the head of the bed, or you can attach it to the frame. 

I'm in the Market for some new Slipcovers, these days. I'm very fond of our old Furniture, because it's sooo comfy, but after years of Tia jumping up on it and scratching it with her little paws, it could use a new look. Slipcovers are a great way to quickly improve the look of your home.

Let go of your old notions about painting wooden furniture – it can really bring it into the present (especially if it’s that really dark wood so very popular in the 70’s…).  If you are painting a hutch, remember to paint the interior to keep it looking light.  Adding additional lighting is easy with the new ‘stick on lights’ available at regular retail outlets.  Smear Vaseline on the windows of the unit before you paint it to make clean up faster and easier. 

You can replace the hardware, too, or paint that, as well.  If you really want to be adventurous, you could tile the top of your dressers and end tables with a nice marble or ceramic tile.

Check ‘How to Tile’ to learn how to do this.

New Bedding can really change the feel of a bedroom.  If you don’t already have Bed skirts, try adding these.  An easy and inexpensive way to create you own bed skirt is to take a flat sheet that is a size larger than your bed.  Place it carefully on the bed to reach the floor around the bed, then make pleats at the corners.  You can pin it, or just arrange the top mattress over the sheet to hold it in place.  Try adding a Duvet Cover over an old comforter for a different look.  You can get matching Pillow Cases, too, that’ll really complete the look. 

 

Speaking of Tiling, if your Kitchen Countertop has seen better days, you might want to consider tiling it.  This is actually a surprisingly inexpensive venture, especially if you can do it yourself.  Many arborite countertops have a little ‘lip’ at the outer edge, which you will probably have to plane down to create a smooth and square surface in preparation for the tile.  You can also remove the old countertop and replace it with ¾ plywood (have it specially cut to fit), then tile on that. There are so many beautiful tiles to choose from, that the possibilities are endless.  Look at all the different sizes of tile, too.  People often think of the tiny tiles, or the 4” tiles, for a Countertop, but you can go much larger.  The tile we chose for our next kitchen (you can watch this process by clicking on the Tiling box) is a 13” X 13” Green Marble Granite Tile – gorgeous.  Real marble tile is fantastic, too.  There is a special grout to use for countertops, so be sure to tell your retailer what your project is.  Also, using a thin grout line will make a real difference.  

If your bathroom is in need of an up-date, a coat of paint might do the trick.  Many people have successfully painted their tile.  Ask your retailer what type of paint and finish you’ll need for this.  The bathtub can be painted, too – there’s a service that specializes in this, so check your local papers.  Tub Surrounds are not a bad idea if there’s no water damage on the walls.  Tiling is always a good option.  If you’re doing it yourself, and you have to tear down the existing walls, remember to use waterproof drywall before you complete the wall finish.  Replacing the countertop, sink, toilet, tub or fixtures will really improve the look of the bathroom.  Call a professional before you ‘get in too deep’, though, and by that I mean before you end up in a foot of water – outside of the bathroom! 

Shelving can make a tremendous difference in the feel of you home if space is an issue.  Check your closets to see if there’s a space at the very top where a shelf could be added. That’s usually wasted space, and you could store your ‘opposite season’ clothes up there.  Can you build shelves into your Pantry to make more room for canned goods? Stackable baskets and boxes are useful for storing all the extra little things that cause clutter around the house.  There are lots of shelving ‘kits’ on the market, now.  They are often less expensive than buying all the materials to build your own shelves, so check these out first. 

A really simple way to change the look and feel of your home is to rearrange the furniture.  Sounds painfully simple, but it can breathe new life into a room.  Also, the addition of some nice big tropical plants, some hanging plants, and/or some potted flowering plants will add life and colour to a room.  Hanging some nice prints or other artwork will do wonders for your décor, too. 

Major Renovations

Generally, major renovations would encompass Remodeling a portion of your home or the whole thing.  The important stuff to remember is not to get in too deep.  A very common problem is taking on more than you can chew, usually right after watching your favourite renovation show on television!  It always takes waaaay longer to do a renovation than what is accomplished with the magic of TV!  Ha,ha,ha!   For one, they have all kinds of professional help (free – yours probably won’t be…), and note how the camera carefully avoids any close-up shots of the finished work.  If you race through a job, you’ll have lots and lots of time afterward to look at all the mistakes.  Take your time, plan it out carefully, and do one area at a time.  Sounds obvious, but it’s surprisingly easy to start ripping out all the stuff you don’t like, then realize later that it takes forever to actually fix any given area.  Much better to decide what needs to be done, write out a list, then prioritize.  If you have the Walls and the Floors on the same list, do the walls first – it’ll be less stressful when the paint splatters! 

If it’s a huge remodeling job, consider how you will cope with all the mess.  Do you have an alternate location where you can live during the renovations?  How about a little area of the house that you can keep as a sanctuary?  Give this some serious thought before you get started.  It can be surprising how difficult life can be during a reno project.  If you happen to have a House Trailer, this is probably a good time to ‘camp out’, if only for a little break from the chaos. 

Read through the Building Information for a really big project, since much of the information is applicable.  Don’t forget the Permits!

Go have yourself all sorts o' fun, making all sorts of great changes!  'til next time!  Ailsa : )


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Usually the best thing to do is just to call someone, let them know what you need done, or would like to have done - or even for someone to come over to give you some good ideas on what you can do to make your home into anything you want it to be - and Service Magic can definitely help you with that! : ) #Painting #Landscaping #Lighting #Bathroom #Kitchen #Renovations New #GarageDoors - #Trim #Cabinets #Hardware #Mirrors Replace your regular Sliding Closet Doors for #MirroredSlidingDoors - what a great trick this is, and you can have them custom-made to fit, to - that's what I did, and I looved them!  Mirrored Doors come in the normal sizes, too - no worries! lol!

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