Happy spring clean out: De-clutter, help community

Finally, spring! Besides spring-cleaning, this is a good time to get rid of anything that is no longer serving you. Many organizations have fundraising yard sales. Or start gathering up goodies for your own. Sort your stuff into piles: trash/donate/sell.

On the flip side, watch for local yard and garages sales to purchase “new-to-your-home” items. You never know what you might find, and the price can be remarkably lower than buying new. Look for Facebook online yard, too. Just as you are looking to change the look in your home, someone else is, as well.

Read more

Tips for a successful office makeover

Kathleen Day, chief organization officer at LifeSmith University, loves working with business owners.

“They give their heart, soul and the majority of their time to their companies. Sometimes the environment and the schedule get the short end of the stick. My intention with an office makeover is to create an immediate difference in those two areas, in a way that the clients can embrace, and most importantly, maintain,” says Day.

Read more

Instead of tossing unwanted items, try upcycling

My mission this year is to really focus on getting rid of things I no longer need, with the possibility of downsizing in the future. It is never too early to start. This week I went into the storage area of my basement and almost had an anxiety attack. My intention was to start the purging process, but I got very overwhelmed. Read more

Introducing … 2016 colors of the year

For the first time, world-renowned authority on color, Pantone, introduces two shades — Rose Quartz and Serenity — as the Pantone 2016 Color of the Year. Rose Quartz is a gentle tone that conveys compassion and a sense of composure. Serenity is weightless and airy, like the expanse of the blue sky above us, bringing feelings of relaxation even in turbulent times.

Read more

Out with the old, in with the new

It is time for the last column of 2015, and I struggle with what to write about. It has been an extremely busy year, and I am trying to end it on a quiet note (explanation will follow).  Read more

Project CARD ONE: Cards for our troops!

photo courtesy 366 Random Acts
photo courtesy 366 Random Acts

For the last few years I had the privilege to spread the word about a special project that sends greeting cards to our troops.

Michelle Little organizer of Project CARD ONE, says “There are plenty of cards to share and we can always use more to distribute. All of my card angels are fantastic and have been receiving the cards throughout the past year!” Read more

Tips for staging a model home

Most of my staging projects are occupied stagings, which means I am working with the seller’s existing furniture and accessories. There may be a few items from my inventory that enter the stage to refresh the space.

Vacant staging is on the rise in this area. This requires bringing in furniture and accessories to stage an empty house on the market. In most situations, only key rooms are staged, which could be the living/family room, dining room, kitchen and master bedroom. Whether occupied or vacant, staging along with professional listing photos are the best ways to market a house for sale. Read more

Coping with the almost-empty nest

September has always felt like the start of a new year. This one is bittersweet, as my youngest was dropped off at college last weekend. We drove over five hours to Vermont, and it seemed OK until it was time to leave. Let’s just say that solo drive back was intense. As I got closer to home, the tears started flowing. Walking into my home I realized my nest is temporarily empty.

Now what? It has me thinking what the future will look like. Will I stay in the house? For now, yes, but for how long? Read more