We have always heard about bringing the outside in, but in

today's world, the goal is to bring the inside out. This is the per-

fect time of year to refresh your patio, terrace or outdoor living

spaces, as everything is on sale! We may be in the throes of

summer, but the retail world is already thinking of the next

season, which is good for our wallet. Everything you might have

used inside, is now made in outdoor versions.

Exterior Decorating has come a long way but the bottom line is

create a space that accommodates your needs while honoring the

style of your home. A shopping trip can “out�t” your exterior

spaces with everything from outdoor chandeliers, drapery panels

made from exterior fabrics to blow in the breeze, portable �re-

places and more. In today's world, anything you can do inside,

you can do outside. There are even televisions specially made for

outdoor viewing...now I think that may be a bit much.

Consider also, simplistic ideas like mason jars with tealights hung

from trees and placed everywhere. Simple centerpieces made

from a collection of small mouth jars and �owers cut from the

garden. Also, keep in mind, that a decorating professional can

help you transform the exterior spaces as easily as the interior. If

you want the bene�t of a professional, please give me a call, and

we would be delighted to help you have the spaces of your

dreams, both interior and exterior.

Add perceived

value to your

home by replacing

�at hollow core

doors with raised

panel doors.

ow many times have you started

a project to end in frustration

because you needed a simple

tool and couldn’t put your

hands on it? Here are some tools

that every home should have to

make your job easier and the

process less stressful. The key for

easy use is to keep your tools in

the same place so they are easy

to �nd. Your in-home tool kit

should include these basic do-

it-yourself items plus a couple of

bonus items.

Tape Measure

No, not a wimpy girl one, but a 25” tape for multi-

purpose use. Window treatments, !ooring, and

furniture, will all be more accurate with a sturdy 25’

measuring tape. A second smaller tape of 6 to 12 feet

can be put in a pocket or purse for shopping trips or

hanging art.

Screwdrivers

Flat head and Phillips head are the two that every job

will need. Better yet, get a chargeable one that you

simply change the tips to make it multipurpose. Get

one with horsepower and a smaller one for simple

projects.

Pliers

This is another tool that you need more than one

style. Needle-nose, heavy grooved, and wire cutting

are the styles most used.

Level

First consider a small one to use for hanging art. Then

you can’t miss out on the Black and Decker Gecko, the

coolest level in the world. This has moveable glides

that line up with multiple hangers on the back of

many pictures to make the hanging process easier.

Hammer

Start with a basic medium weight, then add a few

specialty hammers based on your needs.

Electric Staple Gun

There are so many places a staple/brad gun will come in handy. Light

upholstery and creating artwork are just a couple of projects that come to

mind.

Hercules Hooks

Get a prepackaged set of basic sizes at a home center or create a custom

assortment that will come in handy when you hang pictures or make

minor repairs. But a favorite easy to use hanger is the Hercules Hooks, no

tools needed.

Pencils

You'll probably need to mark a drill hole or record a measurement. Have

pencils handy and write on post it notes or bits of blue painter's tape if

you don't want to write on the wall.

Blue Painter's Tape

Even professional painters use this tape to mask o" areas they don't want

to paint. It's available in several widths and looks like plain masking tape.

But this special tape is blue and can be removed from most surfaces

without damage. You can use it for other household jobs besides paint-

ing. Mark stud locations with a small square when hanging a picture or

installing molding. Tape o" the edges of a door frame when painting a

wall, or tape down runners of heavy kraft paper to protect !oors

from dirt and scratches when moving.

A home decorating project can be both joyful and

frustrating. The key is careful planning and creating

an accurate vision. Whether you are working with a

professional or going it alone, have a plan to avoid

confusion, stay on task and budget.

Have a Clear Understanding of your Goals.In other words, you want to update the kitchen

but what is the scope of the project? Don’t get

caught up in the excitement and suddenly

make decisions that impact budget or turn a

small job into a huge project without thinking

it through. A few questions to ask are:

1. Will this project increase the value of my

property? Visit www.Homegain.com for a look

at common return on investments.

2. Will this improve the way my family uses our

home?

3. Is this a quick �x or a dream makeover?

4. Can my budget handle this? Add 10-20% as a

contingency.

5. Is this project well planned?

Understand your decorating style. Sometimes

the process of redecorating can be confusing

as there are so many beautiful styles out

there. Don’t get sidetracked by all the choices.

Do you like curved lines or straight lines? Are

you drawn to strong color or neutral spaces?

Take the time to create a style �le with photos

to help keep you on track.

Plan your work and work your plan. Don’t

leave anything to chance; create a �oor plan

for each space using one of the many free

programs on the web.

Check out www.bhg.com/arrangearoom or

www.icovia.com

Buy the best quality you can a�ord. Skimp on

the quality of your bedding but never on your

mattress. Skimp on your dishes but not on

your countertop. Skimp on the pans but not

on the stove. You may not be able to buy the

most expensive but do your research and

make a wise decision in your price range.

Enjoy the process and most of all, enjoy the end result.

Selling a house is like going

on a blind date. One needs

to maximize the positive and

minimize the negative, to

improve the first impression.

he analysis of a property begins before you even open the door. Curb Appeal is a

key component to the selling process. Online photos and a physical walk through will

begin with the first impression of the exterior of the house.

Remove any clutter from your yard and put a little effort into landscaping. Some

homeowners will go as far as to paint the house just to grab a buyer’s attention imme-

diately. This is costly, so take into account the cost and the gain and make sure it is

worth the investment. Repairing walkway cracks and throwing some fertilizer onto dead

grass patches is an inexpensive way to up the curb appeal.

Designate Functions: Make sure that the formal dining room is staged as a formal

dining room – not a catch all for clutter or an office. If you have a room that has always

been just a “junk room”, repurpose it into something that will add value. Adding a chaise

lounge with ambient lighting and a small bookcase to a nook will add a cozy reading

area to your home’s amenities.

Another tip is to float furniture away from walls. Reposition your seating into distinct

groups in such a way that the traffic flow is clear to the prospective buyer. Chairs and

sofas that are pushed up against walls make rooms feel stiff, under styled, and bulky.

Create Ambiance: This part of staging is the most subtle, but infinitely important. You

want a prospective buyer to feel at home, and to spark their imagination. The property

should smell fresh and clean, be light and airy, and also be a comfortable temperature.

You can always fall back on the old “baking cookies before a showing” trick to make the

kitchen smell homey. Otherwise, pick candles and air fresheners that are not overpow-

ering (skip the mango madness and pick something like clean linen or cotton.) If you

are a smoker or you have pets, this step is especially important. Repainting walls and

cleaning carpets and furniture (don’t forget blankets and curtains) are ways to avoid

that stale smoke or kitty pee smell.

As far as lighting is concerned, replace all old and burnt out light

bulbs and remove any heavy drapes or curtains. The more light

the better! Be sure to leave the heater on a comfortable

temperature in the winter months

and the A/C on in the summer.

Debbie Correale, IRIS, IDSCertified Redesigner, Home Stager

and IRIS Approved Trainer

West Chester, PA

610.955.8202

Redesign Right...

"The Right Redesign & Training Choice"

Interior Redesign - One Day Decorating…

The Right Decorating Choice

Home Staging - "Setting up your home for

sale"...The Right Staging Choice

Your Color Possibilities are Endless...

Interior Redesign & Home Staging

Training...The Right Training Choice

www.RedesignRight.com