Sell You Home Fast - Staging Your Home For Buyers

Staging your home for buyers is important if you want to sell your home faster. You have to look at it like it's already no longer your own.

Imagine, if you were to walk into your home as a potential buyer there are a few things you wouldn't want to see.                                                                    

Image by:evelyngiggles
Clutter on the floor, in the closet, on the tables. Get organized, get rid of it. We get used to, and even immune, to seeing clutter in our own homes and tend to ignore it. Potential buyers will rest their eye on the clutter and not be able to see beyond it.

Disrepair. If any of your home improvements are left unfinished, finish them!
Complete the painting on the wall in the mudroom. Fix the leaky faucet in the kitchen.
Tighten the door knob to the bathroom.
Get the crayon off the wall in the kids room.
Buyers see this as irresponsible and will perceive it as a home with hidden issues.

Image by:evelyngiggles
Personal items of the homeowner. The new buyer needs visual space to imagine their own family pictures on the wall or their own clothes in a closet. You do however, need to make it feel warm and comfortable.

Strike a balance here by adding accessories that welcome visitors without making a personal statement.

Pack out of season clothes away and let the buyers imagine their wardrobe fitting into the closets and storage areas.

                                                                    Image by:nolaclutterbusters

                                                                     Images by:brad.coy

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Spring Delivery-Beautiful Spring Flowers

Image by:oлександр

Spring delivery may mean a baby to some but to others the infant is in their gardens, in the form of a bulb. 






Tulips, daffodils, and hyacinths all are precursors to spring. 


Tulips are perennials that grow from bulbs. Multi colored, available in multi species, and have heights ranging from 4 inches to 28 inches. 


Daffodils are perennials, also known as Narcissus, that bloom in the spring in typical Easter/Spring colors but also can be seen in shades of orange, pink, red and green. 


Hyacinths can range from 6-12 inches tall. This compact bulb comes in all the spring flowers we associate with the season. 
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Prolong the life of your plantings by purchasing plants with tightly closed buds.
The buds will open in a few days and color your container for two or more weeks.


After a long winter of being cooped up inside, spring is the time to open the windows and air the house out. 


Beautiful Spring Flowers are the perfect accompaniment to any decor to represent a fresh look and feel. It feels like your bringing a little sunshine inside. Once the blooms die off you can add them to your bulb gardens. 


The nice thing about bulbs is they multiply after the first year or so. You can then divide and share with your family and friends  as well as spread them around your own yards and gardens,

 

                                                                                                                        Image by:marc borft

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Images used in posts on this site are privately owned or approved for use by McCall's Floormart otherwise image credit is shared. Shared images are used as inspirational or informative purposes relative to the post.

You Light Up My Life - Lighting your home.

Image by:qole pejorian
Typically you think of lighting as an important functional part of a home. You use light to see to cook, to brush your teeth, to read a book. Lighting has evolved into so much more than that.

The words, "You Light Up My Life", has played an important role in many wedding ceremonies. It has meaning in home decorating as well.

Natural Lighting
Image by:mrs. logic
Light can be used to tackle everyday tasks.
Lighting can also set a mood and  provide architecture and interest, by casting shadows and creating movement.
Light can define a style.                                            

                                                  

                                                                       

                                                 Overhead Lighting

                                                                                           Image by:mishio
                                                   Wall (Accent) Lighting

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                                                   Candle (Mood) Lighting

                                                    Image by:alexandramanda
                                                    Table (Task) Lighting

                                                    Image by:tony the misfit



Images used in posts on this site are privately owned or approved for use by McCall's Floormart otherwise image credit is shared. Shared images are used as inspirational or informative purposes relative to the post.

Windows Style - Picture Windows As Architecture

Image by:pink sherbet
Windows style is much more than just part of building a house with 4 walls, a door, and a few windows.

Really look at windows in a different light, and picture windows as architecture with a purpose.

Look at the examples below and see how some bring in light, while others allow air to come in. Notice how the frame around the window can add interest.

Windows that don't even open can add tons of color from light shining on the glass.


~Just as important notice how windows are used. Looking out or perhaps peeping in ~

What do you see when you look out  of or into a window. What is the view beyond the window style. So the next time you contemplate windows style and architecture ask yourself, "what is the purpose I want to use for this window in my home or office and even my exterior.

                                                              Image by:diametrik

                                                                                                                                                Image by:mckaysavage

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Images used in posts on this site are privately owned or approved for use by McCall's Floormart otherwise image credit is shared. Shared images are used as inspirational or informative purposes relative to the post.

Decorative Pillows and Throws-Showcasing Koko Company

Today I want to Showcase a very modern and hip company that manufacturers decorative pillows and throws and bedding.

Koko Company is based out of Long Island, NY.  Now we sell these on our site so yes this is a plug but we just felt their products deserved a little shout out! 

The decorative pillows and throws market has absolutely gone mad.

 In addition to Koko Company, Etsy sells them, Posh Pelts sell them, and of course McCall's Floormart sells pillows and throws.

They are sold with the stuffing or as pillow covers. Prices can range in the 20's up to as much as 2-$300.

The fabric, needlework, and overall quality set the price on decorative pillows and throws.


Koko Company pillows and throws are a mix of vibrant fun colors. This can add the pop of pizazz and contrast you are looking for to wake a space up. They are made with Silk and some items are reversible. The prices for the products you see here run anywhere from $88 -$130.

Click on any of the pillows to see more information.

Next time you're looking for a quick pick me when decorating a living room or bedroom, take a look at Koko Company.

Koko Company bedding separates create a beautiful range of color and design.



Images used in posts on this site are privately owned or approved for use by McCall's Floormart otherwise image credit is shared. Shared images are used as inspirational or informative purposes relative to the post.

Linen Tea Towels - A nostalgic look at a continued kitchen accessory.

Image by:featheredtar

Tea Towels is an English term for kitchen towel, which is the term most used by Americans.

According to Wikipedia,
"In 18th century England, a tea towel was a special linen drying cloth used by the mistress of the house to dry her precious and expensive china tea things."


Linen tea towels, being mass produced since the Industrial Revolution, have been used as a kitchen accessory to be further embellishished and personalized through embroidery and other hand stitching. 
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Hand embellished linen tea towels make wonderful hostess gifts. Add a bottle of wine with that and you have an invite! 


I have added a few that bring back memories for me. I remember we had embroidered tea towels in our kitchen growing up but also every pillow case cover had a small embroidered design on the hem. 
Image by:burstyriffic
I'd love to hear from you. What designs do you remember or still use to this day?                                                                                
                                                        












Images used in posts on this site are privately owned or approved for use by McCall's Floormart otherwise image credit is shared. Shared images are used as inspirational or informative purposes relative
to the post.

How To Decorate With Area Rugs

Image by:wanderingone  

Don't know how to decorate with area rugs? Wondering should you use them? Area rugs serve a purpose and when you know what the purpose is you will know if it's right for your situation. 


What function does an area rug play in a home or any space within a space?


How To Decorate With Area Rugs By Comfort. 
Area rugs provide warmth and a coziness to areas that may be otherwise cold as with hardwood floors or on ceramic. In front of a sink or stove they give cushion as you stand for long periods of time, keeping you more comfortable.


Image by:vastateparksstaff
How To Decorate With Area Rugs By Design 
Area rugs can set the tone in the room. Contemporary, rustic, and traditional rugs are used as focal points in a room to draw your eye to a specific area and define the space. You are making a statement claiming the area around the rug is a dining area, or office space, or living room. In addition, you are stating which style you want to project, from modern to eclectic.
                                                                            

How To Decorate With Area Rugs By Direction
You probably never realized how much your hall and entry runners direct the flow of traffic to and from one place to another. A rug seen at the end of a long entry into another room will actually pull you into that visually.


How To Decorate With Area Rugs By Style  
                                                                             Image by:pink polka
Area rugs claim the space. They say this space is transitional, or childlike, or feminine, or serious. They make us feel a certain way. A blue rug may be calming where a red rug might make you feel awake and vibrant. They tell us about the people that inhabit the space. Graphic designs might make you think of the people as artsy and creative, whereas rugs with toy trains and teddy bears might tell you this is a small child's area. 

Shop McCall's Floormart for Home Accents and Area Rugs                                                                     








Images used in posts on this site are privately owned or approved  for use by McCall's Floormart otherwise image credit is shared. Shared images are used as inspirational or informative purposes relative to the post.http://www.mccallsfloormart.com

Color Trends 2011

PANTONE 18-2120; Wins 2011 COLOR OF THE YEAR! Congratulations Honeysuckle.
Reddish Pink sets the tone for color trends 2011.


Pantone announced that Honeysuckle is  the new Turquoise. Pantone 15-5519-Turquoise, last year's reigning color of 2010, has passed the crown to this year's new leading lady, Honeysuckle.                                                                                                                                                                                                                          

Now I must admit, when I saw this color was in the pink family I was a little surprised because I have always thought of honesuckle as yellow. After a little research it turns out my expertise is limited to what I have come to know in my region. 

Turquoise represented 2010 well with a color that evoked ESCAPE and a way to get away from it all. But move over escape because this stunning Honeysuckle pink is confident and brave. A vivacious tone of reddish pink ready to get noticed and the confidence to pull it off.

Honeysuckle won 2011 color of the year because it is not biased. This beautiful shade of pink looks good on both men and women and works well, day into night.

Feminine but bold.
Color trends 2011 reflects the shift we have seen in the political arena as well with women running for president and taking charge of the higher offices.                                                            

You will probably see this color throughout design and fashion this year in various shades of the color as designers incorporate it into their goods.

Look for salmon, reddish pinks, and orangy pinks to pop up in clothing and home accessories. Have you noticed Dr. Phil's attire this season? Honeysuckle leans to the feminine side but with a dynamic attitude so it will make a statement but in a calm manner.                 


Click the comment link below and let us know what you intend to incorporate into your home and fashion this year with color trends' 2011, Pink Honeysuckle.                                                                                                                                                               
                                                                                                                                                                                        

                                                                                                                                                

                                         Image by:steven depolo

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                                         Image by:pink sherbet

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McCall's Floormart offers this Kathy Ireland Children's Rug, Opposites Pink, from the Young Attitude area rug collection. {Click Rug Image To Shop.}

Yellow Honeysuckle Image by:aparejador

Images used in posts on this site are privately owned or approved for use by McCall's Floormart otherwise image credit is shared. Shared images are used as inspirational or informative purposes relative to the post.

Home Office Design

Image by:melvin schlubman

Home office design in todays world can be anywhere your cell phone or computer is.

I remember somewhere in the 80's setting up my first home office in the bedroom.

Remember the desk in your bedroom? Under a staircase? You may still have it there.

Over time everything evolves in one way or another. Some homes have elaborate home office designs, others have carved a niche in their hall closets.

With the ever increasing interest in online blogging, work from home, or an extension at home from your business office, home office design has had to be more about function and mobility than design.

Where is your home office? How long have you had a home office?

                                                                     Image by: fernanda mancini

                                                                    Image by:chrismeller

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                                                                    Image by:alan cleaver




Images used in posts on this site are privately owned or approved for use by McCall's Floormart otherwise image credit is shared. Shared images are used as inspirational or informative purposes relative to the post.