Seasonal Free Tips

New Year - New Look Faux Finishing: Create a new look with a bit of the Old World-add texture to your walls or try some Italian styling. For instance, intarsio is Italian for inlaid wood or plaster. Use a stencil for easier application. Add color for a more stunning effect. Organize/Sort: Increase kitchen cabinet storage by adding 1/4 inch pegboard panels to the inside of cabinet doors to hang your most commonly used pots and pans, then maximize cabinet storage with recessed shelves. Remodel/Rearrange Rooms: Want a new look, but don't have the resources? Try rearranging the furniture and accessories in your rooms to achieve a new, inexpensive look! For example, moving your bed to an opposite wall and rearranging the rest of your bedroom furniture accordingly will give your room a new look and feel at no cost. Hang Pictures: Plan the placement of your art. Place art six to nine inches above a sofa or at eye level. Artwork placed too high appears to be floating; artwork placed too low interferes with headroom. Add Plants: Use old urns, water pitchers, and teapots as vases. Collectables make great containers for flower arrangements. Clean Cabinet Hardware: Cabinet Hardware (including hinges) gets dirty. When cleaning cabinet doors, remove cabinet knobs and hinges and clean the hardware: soak the hardware in a soapy solution for 30 minutes, scrub lightly with a soft brush and rinse, let dry and apply proper polish. Add Accent Lighting: Focus an uplight behind a folding screen to add a glowing accent. Uplighting plants adds dimension and shadow to a room.