Dressing-up Your Front Foyer For The Sale

Your front foyer provides you with the second opportunity to make a positive first impression (the first one being curb appeal). This all important impression needs to be positive and should exceed or at least meet with buyers expectations.

Buyers Expectations:

A buyer's expectation will be dependent upon several factors including:

• The price of the home
• Your homes location
• Listing information and what the Realtor has told them about the home.
• Photos they have seen off the home (they better not be better than the real McCoy).
• Curb appeal (Your properties curb appeal, front entranceway and front foyer jointly via to create that all important and powerful first impression. If you want to have your buyers at hello all 3 will need to harmoniously blend together as one continuous and consistent impression.

Tips For Dressing -up Your Front Foyer:

• A fresh coat of paint is always a good idea. In this heavy traffic area walls and especially baseboards tend to get scuffed up quickly. There is nothing like a fresh coat of paint to melt away the years of wear.
• If you do not have a front foyer then create one through the strategic placing of furniture and accessories.
• In a mid to higher priced home consider adding architectural elements like crown mouldings and quality trim. Nothing finishes off a room so eloquently.
• Add a narrow hall console, chest of drawers or commode with a mirror or piece of art hung above it. Note: try not to place your mirror facing the front door, it is bad feng shui. Rather place the mirror on a side wall being mindfullto place it in such a position that it reflects something attractive.
• Other furniture that works well in this area includes a small chair, stool or bench, a coat tree (only if there is no closet), an accent table.
• Keep furnishings and accessories in this area in scale with foyer size.
• Accessories that work well in these spaces include things like a vase of flowers (non-fragrant varieties), art work, a  floor plant, candle sticks, a table lamp, art objects (no controversial or potentially offending pieces though), statuary (no nudes), ornamental bowls filled with glass, wicker or wooden balls, vases, interesting or unusual artifacts. Whatever you choose, use accessories sparingly as too many quickly become clutter.
• Update lighting fixtures in your foyer if yours are dated or in ill repair. If you are keeping the same fixtures give them a good cleaning and install the maximum wattage bulbs your fixtures allow.

Have them at hello by dressing-up your front foyer!

Photo credit:  BMB Painting Solutions

Indoor Herb Gardening For Canadians

If nothing else we Canadians are hardy and masters at improvising. So while our garden’s lay frozen under the snow we can still savour the flavour of our fresh garden herbs by growing them indoors over the winter months.

There are many herbs that will grow well indoors. Listed below are several good choices: Basil, Parsley Dill, Oregano, Mint, Rosemary, Sage, Thyme, Chives, Chamomile, Fennel, Lavender, Angelica, Geranium

What you will need:
• A sunny location
• Healthy herbs or seeds
• Good quality compost
• Suitable containers

A Sunny Location:
The key to successful herb gardening is in finding a sunny, well lit spot in which to grow your herb garden. South facing window sills are usually ideal, but any location that receives plenty of light throughout the day will do. Try to avoid north facing windows because it is unlikely the plants will receive enough light to grow properly. If your home is like mine with roof over-hangs and neighbouring homes that block allot of natural light then you may need to invest in a grow light. This can be a relatively easy and affordable solution.

Healthy Herbs or Seeds:
Whether you have brought your herbs in from your outdoor garden or are purchasing seed packs or already started herbs it is important to choose only healthy plants. Do not use expired seed packs. Your indoor herbs are already at a disadvantage trying to grow in the dark dry conditions that most homes provide. Staring off with weak plants will rarely yield healthy productive herbs.

Good Quality Compost:
Purchase a good all purpose compost in which to grow your herbs or top each of your plants with at least 1” of this wonderful stuff. Choosing quality compost is important as your herbs will be relying on it for nutrition for some time. I always buy an extra bag of compost in the fall for such uses but if you find yourself struggling to find a place that sells compost in the winter I have on occasion run across it at Canadian Tire, Home Depot and Wal-Mart. If your local garden nursery stays open through the winter months you may find some there as well.

Suitable Containers:
Almost any kind of container is suitable for growing herbs, provided there is amply drainage. If you have your mind set on a special container that does not have drainage holes you can either add them or use the container as a decorative sleeve. To do this add a layer of crushed pebbles to the bottom of your decorative container then insert your potted plant into this decorative sleeve.

Caring For Your Indoor Herb Garden
Once you have your containers all potted up with your collection of savoury herbs you will need to water your plants regularly.  Be very careful not to over-water, this is the main cause of death for most indoor plants. No more than once a week should be sufficient, sometimes even less than that. Before you water check the compost, if it still feels moist hold off on the water and check again the next day.

If you have used a good quality compost, and your winter is relatively short you will probably only need to fertilize your plants once. For longer winter seasons it may be a good idea to use the slow release pellets you can buy in garden centers.

All that is left now is to get cooking and to savour the flavour and fresh aroma of your freshly grown herbs.

Front Entrance Doors For Curb Appeal

Photo from house lovely blog spot http://houselovely.blogspot.com/2010/10/painted-entry-doors.html

Your front entrance door is one of the most important elements that goes into the development of a great curb appeal. Choosing a door that is well suited to the architecture of the home is very important. Other factors to take into consideration when selecting a new front entrance door are:

• The value of the home
• Neighbouring homes
• Your geographical location
• Your homes colour palette
• The size of the home.

The Architectural Style Of The Home:
Choosing a door that is in keeping with the architectural style and integrity of the home is so important. You want that door to look as though it belongs there. Choosing a door that is radically different from the character of the home will usually negatively affect your properties curb appeal rather than enhance it (no matter how nice or expensive the door is).

The Value Of The Home:
Whether you are enhancing an existing door or installing a new one make sure that the quality and the value are in keeping with the overall quality and value of the home. A cheap door on an expensive home will look all the more cheap and an expensive door on a lower priced home will make the rest of the home look cheaper.

Neighbouring Homes:
Take a good look at the other homes in your immediate neighbourhood. What is the standard your neighbourhood has set for entrance doors? Although it is not necessary to be the same as everyone else your home should a least be comparable in both quality and style.

Your Geographical Location:
The type of door you select will to some degree depend upon the climate of the city or region you live in. Homes in Northern Canada will need to focus on thermal quality while homes in Southern California are freer to select all glass doors.

You're Homes Colour Palette:
Your front entrance door should stand out from the rest of the house (but in an elegant way) and be visible from the street. Contrary to popular practice your garage door should not be the focal point of your home. Down play its visual impact through the use of colour. Similarly use colour (or distinction) to draw attention to your front entrance door. Red can be a great colour for accomplishing this but there are many other great chooses. Make sure the colour you select harmonizes well with the overall colour scheme of the home and the other colour accents you have used (such as shutters and garage door). If you are uncertain as to what colour to choose hire a professional colour consultant. It is well worth the investment.

The Size Of The Home:
Choose a front entrance door that is in scale with the house as a whole. Large homes require large entranceways with double doors and/or glass panes flanking each side. Smaller homes on the other hand will look more proportioned with single door entrances. If you plan on keeping your existing door and are looking for ways to increase its visual size and appeal try adding some door mouldings. They are a fast and effective way to add both visual size and appeal.

Spend as much as your budget will allow. This is an important investment that will affect both the value of your home and its curb appeal for many years to come. Once your new door is installed (or existing door over hauled) try adding a few finishing touches to further enhance your properties curb appeal. Adorn your door with a pair of urns filled with topiary or seasonal plants and perhaps a door wreath. Shine up your light fixtures or up-date them and make sure your house number is visually attractive and visible from the street. Before long you will begin noticing heads turning as they drive or walk by your home. A sign of a job well done!

photo by Edward Surovell Realtors: 

 http://surovellblog.blogspot.com/2010/04/top-5-ways-to-add-curb-appeal.html

photo from Kuhl Doors http://www.kuhldoors.com/artistic-glass-front-door.html

Photo from Concord Green blog spot:

http://concordgreen.blogspot.com/2010/02/front-entry-door-what-color-do-you-like.html

Photo by White Swan Properties

photo from Cactus Creek http://cactuscreekdaily.com/love-it/hand-carved-custom-front-entry-doors

What Trees Make The Best Christmas Trees?

If you have opted to go for a real Christmas tree this year you may be left wondering what is the best type of Christmas tree to buy! Following is a list of a few tree choices and their characteristics.

Balsam fir: Is my favourite and is considered to be one of the most traditional Christmas trees. Balsam Fir is a short needled tree, very aromatic with a nice tall slender shape. They tend to be quite full and easy to clean up from.





Picure from Taylor Trees

Douglas fir: Is also a nicely shaped and proportioned tree with slightly longer needles than the balsam.

Matthes Tree Farm

Fraser fir: Very similar in shape to the balsam but with 1/2-inch to 2/3-inch needles that are a beautiful dark green on the top and silvery underneath.







Picture from Quality Fraser Fir Farms
 

Noble fir: A lovely layered tree that's extremely aromatic, with short, 1-inch needles. The species is native to the West Coast, but is gaining popularity throughout the U.S. It is similar in shape to a Douglas fir but is a deeper, richer green

 Picture from A&E Farms

 

 

Scotch pine: Though native to Europe, the Scotch pine is the number one-selling tree in the U.S. Its branches curve upward, making them perfect for hanging heavy ornaments. Their needles are soft and long (aprox. 3"). The tree is full with a deep green colour. They can get a little sappy and tend to be messy to clean up.

 
 SnowKist Tree Farm

What makes the best Christmas tree? You be the judge!

Decorating For The Holidays

Decorating for the holidays! Why not try something new? This year I decided to break with tradition and go with an orange/green and gold palette instead of the traditional red and green. To create continuity and to make the designs look intentional I carried the theme all the way from the urns at front of the house all the way through the home and into the backyard.

When decorating for the holidays it can be fun to try something new. It makes you feel creative and alive. Anyone else up for the challenge?

NOW ALL WE NEED IS A LITTLE SNOW!