Outdoor Living Spaces from Wish List to Reality

Comfort levels about socializing indoors vary during our current state of pandemic life. New York has proven that wearing a mask and safety protocols work. Not everyone is on board which has affected our traveling locally, nationally and internationally.

Define your space based on purpose. With some creativity for simple projects or remodeling, here are some ideas to create a staycation.

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Trends in window treatments

When it comes to window treatments, personal taste, style of home and privacy are considerations for selection. As a professional stager, I’m usually suggesting my clients remove heavy window treatments and layers of coverage before listing their home for sale. Why? Those layers hide the architectural features of the home.  Read more

Keeping a cool house on hot days

Question: What are some active and passive ways to keep your house cool in the summer?

As temperatures rise during the summer months, keeping cool becomes a priority. Air conditioning is ideal, but not all homes have it. When my former house was being building in the late 80’s, we added central air with multiple zones and the builder thought we were crazy. Crazy or not, it is a necessity in my life and well worth the investment. In my new house, which is 3 levels with one zone, I’m getting adjusted and finding ways to cool my house. Here a few of my tips followed by shared tips from readers.

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Tips, Tricks and Life Hacks

Don’t know how to do something? You can get the answer by using Google, social media, ask friends or ask your mama. Here are some tips you may find helpful. Read more

Nesting time

With cooler temperatures, I find myself wanting to stay home. Nesting season is upon us and to create a comfortable environment at home, it helps to free up the space of things that are no longer working for you.

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The Patina of the Country Living Fair

Definition of Patina: A surface appearance of something grown beautiful especially with age or use. Or a green film formed naturally on copper and bronze by long exposure or artificially (as by acids) and often valued aesthetically for its color.

The 3-day Country Living Fair in Rhinebeck has become my annual trek. The fair is filled with antiques, vintage, flea market, rustic and handmade items. The pages of Country Living Magazine come to life beautifully.

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Consign For A Cause

Before I write about a consignment shop I need to confess, I don’t do consignment shops. They seem to turn me off for various reasons. That is no longer the case with a gem of a store, actually two stores located in Cornwall Plaza in Cornwall, New York.

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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.

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