August 29th, 2012
SURPRISE! Having a property professionally prepared for sale (a.k.a. “Staging”) guarantees nothing.
Teamwork is what does it every time. Consider Home Staging to be that proverbial third leg of the stool: Sure, it clears away the obstacles between For Sale, and SOLD. But Home Staging supports a seller who is genuinely ready and willing to sell, and the agent who has diligently priced and marketed the property.
This Mamaroneck house was a contemporary colonial in a lovely area, it had a lot going for it. The family had lived there for a number of years, but the Master Bath was firmly wedged in the 1980s, and was bringing the perceived value of the property down. We did a fair amount of work on it, but here is the room I am the proudest of.
An over-the top pink fest, complete with mauve double tub, commode and sinks, shiny brass fixtures and trim, the goal was to neutralize as much of the pink as possible, for the least amount of money. And ohyes, quickly.
Painting was the answer-as it so very often is. We picked up the creamier tones in the marble, and used that color on the walls, ceiling, formica vanity and mirror frames that same color. And YES-this Westchester County Home Stager learned -that when done properly, using a special formula primer, laminate cabinets are able to be painted very nicely.
Hard to tell here, but the ceiling was vaulted, there was more surface area to work with, that really helped to dilute the pink.
BECAUSE the owner was willing to do what it took to get their property ready, BECAUSE the REALTOR was super-duper smart, focused, and spot-on with the pricing, and BECAUSE we all worked together, this Mamaroneck house had multiple offers within 48 hours, the contracts were signed in 15 days, and now everyone has moved on with their life. Can you say WOO-HOO?!
Tags: painting laminate cabinets, Sold in Mamaroneck, teamwork gets houses sold, the refreshed home, Westchester County Home Stager
Posted in Decorating, Dollars and Sense, Home and Professional Services, Home Selling and Home Staging | No Comments »
August 26th, 2012
Tomorrow marks the start of the the US Open in Flushing Meadows Park, in Queens, New York, which means yesterday was Arthur Ashe Kids’Day.
The annual kick-off event for the US Open since 1993, it’s a combination tennis-entertainment-charity event that commemorates tennis legend Ashe’s commitment to reach, and help kids through tennis.
Free events make up the first part of the day, where kids can attend tennis clinics, play on the courts, meet some of the pros, and enjoy other kid-centric activities.
Tickets for the afternoon entertainment, a concert held in Arthur Ashe stadium are modestly priced at $10.00-20.00. This year recording artists Carly Rae Jepson, and the group The Wanted played to a sellout crowd.
Ashe was unquestionably a talented player and a trailblazer, but he always used his celebrity as a means to help enrich others, address and end inequalities.
When winnings were not on par with the explosion of growth in the industry, he supported the formation of the Professional Tennis Association.
When denied a visa-preventing him from competing in the South African Open-he used it to call attention to apartheid. Later, after his retirement from the pros, he co-founded the National Junior Tennis Association.
Arthur Ashe passed away in February 1993 from AIDS-related pnemonia, after contracting the disease from a blood transfusion during heart surgery in 1983.
He announced his illness to the world in 1992, and even in the last year of his life, did what he could to call attention to AIDS sufferers world-wide. After his death, his body lay in state in the Govener’s Mansion in Virginia, where he was born….an honor last bestowed on Stonewall Jackson, during the Civil War.
He is the kind of person I wished I had been more aware of while he was alive, but every year this event helps keep our memory of this kind and extraordinary man-and his dreams for a better world- bright.
During his life he said a number of simple, yet profound things, this is one of my favorites.
“Start where you are. Use what you have. Do what you can.”
Tags: Arthur Ashe Kid's Day, Arthur Ashe Stadium, Celebrating Arthur Ashe, Flushing Meadows Park, Start where you are, US Open
Posted in A Day In The Life, Appearances and Events, Community/Greater Good, TRH Recommends | No Comments »
August 25th, 2012
Faithful readers know this series is about snappy answers to questions everyone asks, or thinks about asking.
Today’s post is an epic departure, for two reasons. First-this question hasn’t actually come up before the other day, AND I didn’t have an answer handy that I liked when it did.
But it i,s a VERY good question. So have given it some thought, and here goes:
I do ponder this on my own from time to time…but instead, I write another blog post, or schedule another workshop. Or I’ll stop in at some RE offices to check in with ‘my’ agents, take another CE class. or….ohyes-there are the clients, too!
My business is fluid, am always evaluating, and re-evaluating how I run things. Are my choices predicated on their efficacy, or my personal preferences? I don’t know…but since “I am” my business… who knows?
As a service and information business, much of the value The Refreshed Home brings is intangible. So without too much over-rationalization, I present my virtual portfolio:
The Refreshed Home is interactive and personal. We play well with others, and can smoothly, quickly slip into the mindset of a potential client-and any of the other players. Demonstrating my abilities on the fly at our first meeting is what I enjoy, and it seems to make others happy, and comfortable in hiring me.
The Refreshed Home is people-centric. A pleasing aesthetic is important, but it’s just a starting point. Decorating and Home Staging is about the people and the process as well as the stuff, and the visual result. Defining and managing client expectations is as much a part of the scope of my work as picking paint, or creating a floor plan.
The Refreshed Home specializes in niches. And niche not meaning a price point or ZIP code. I have the training to make the best of most any space, and the practical experience to deal with most any circumstance. I am a critical thinker, and a creative problem solver. Whether Staging or Decorating-my specialties include smaller, older, unusual, unexpected or unremarkable spaces.
I’m curious-what is the current thinking? What is its’ overall importance in the scheme of confidence-building and decision-making? Does it confirm a decision, or have a stronger role?
A more formal presentation of my body of work is not a bad idea. Whether it will ultimately end up in a big black carrying case, on a website, a PowerPoint on a tablet or a CD remains to be seen. But for now, the reality is my portfolio consists of happy people who’ve been empowered to make good plans and wise decisions, and are now enjoying their new spaces.
Tags: FAQs, Having a portfolio, How it works, the refreshed home, Westchester County Decorator, Westchester County Home Stager
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August 21st, 2012
Regular readers know I am a big baseball fan, but I had never heard of MLB umpire Jim Joyce before summer of 2010…then in an unlikely confluence of events, he burst into probably all our consciousnesses.
Doug and I had attended a high school lacrosse game that evening. It was a spirited rivalry, but some fans did not know how to behave…we found ourselves in the middle of an entire section of angry, rowdy, potty-mouth ADULT fans.
Seeing the look on the younger kids faces while they absorbed the verbal spewage from these faux-grownups was such a sad moment.
Flipped on the news before going to bed, only to find out this Jim Joyce made an admitted wrong call on the last play of the game, costing the pitcher a perfect game.
But in baseball there are no do-overs, and the pitcher accepted his tearful apology. I was moved to tears at this unbelievable juxtaposition, and wrote passionately about how I hoped these same kids would talk about, and 
remember this wonderful, gracious role model the next morning.
Jim Joyce and the pitcher, Armando Galarraga went on to become friendly, even writing a book together, called Nobody’s Perfect.
Then, last year the major league players themselves voted Jim Joyce the best umpire in all of Major League Baseball. Forgiveness and redemption is a very powerful thing to witness, so yes, I cried, and wrote more, on how the MLB players got that call right.
Now news comes that Jim Joyce saved a life with CPR. Really.
Last night, Joyce saw an employee of the Arizona Diamondbacks, Jayne Powers having a seizure in the tunnel near their dressing room, about an hour and a half before game time. Even after the defibrillator failed to get her heart going, Joyce kept CPR going until the paramedics arrived, using the Bee Gee’s classic Stayin’ Alive to keep to the necessary rhythm.
Jayne is recovering in a local hospital, in stable condition. And Joyce? He’s probably back behind home plate again tonight, calling balls and strikes.
For a regular guy like Jim Joyce-the story keeps getting better. Good for him, and even better for Jayne Power; but lucky, lucky us-who get to watch, learn and be inspired.
Tags: Arizona Diamondbacks, CPR, Jayne Powers, MLB Umpire Jim Joyce
Posted in A Day In The Life, Better Health/Better Life, Community/Greater Good, Ruminations, Smiles | No Comments »
August 20th, 2012
Facts have never been as intriguing to me as people, and their personal experiences. I am a curious person, and understanding another’s circumstances fully paints a more complete and memorable picture.
For several years now Doug has wanted to see the WWII vintage planes at the annual traveling Wings of Freedom exhibition, but as convenient as the Westchester County Airport is to get to, something else always got in the way. Til yesterday.
WOW. You’ve got to go.
Standing next to the planes is one thing. Walking across the open belly of the plane, on an suspended 8″ wide strip, in between (faux/de-commissioned) bombs…standing in the top gunner turret, looking down to see the paint worn away from the platform, where so many brave had stood…seeing the under-gun turret: understanding men were enclosed in this approx. 3′ in diameter bubble, then lowered out of the plane during flight spinning 360 degrees to 
protect the plan from all angles…WHOA….
There are two planes that are open for walking through-a B17, and B24-and several others to ponder. There are Air Corps personnel dressed in gear of the time, to answer all your questions about whatever-the planes, the history, the experiences of the time.
There was a real cross-section there, people of all ages. Most civilians, but a few small groups were scattered throughout the crowds…veterans who came to see, to remember, and thankfully, to share. Luckily, we met Frank.
Frank Honigman served late in the war, in the US Army Air Corps. He was married and with a 5 year old child when the family moved to a base in Mississippi. And yes, he trained as one of those guys suspended from the bottom of the underside of the 
plane, a bottom gunner on the B24, in a Sperry Ball Turret.
Frank will be 95 next May, and was there yesterday with his daughter Brenda Jeselnik, and her husband Joe Jeselnik. All Westchester residents, it was Brenda’s first time really seeing the things her dad had talked about all these years. Here he is (in plaid shirt) looking up into the bomb bay with Joe’s help.
We spoke for a bit, he explained about his training, how the ball turret worked, and what the risks were. Sobered, and with a mix of awe, gratitude and sadness for it all- we shook his hand, and thanked him for his service.
This traveling exhibition is sponsored by The Collins Group of Stow MA, and will be at the airport through Wednesday. Parking is free, and admission is $12.00 for adults, $6.00 for children 12 years and under. Go. If you’re lucky, you’ll also have the opportunity to meet, and thank a veteran like Frank, and their family- yourself.
Tags: thank a vet, The Collins Group, vintage aviation, Westchester County Airport, WIngs of Freedon, WW 2 planes
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August 17th, 2012
A few days ago had started writing about a project I’ve been watching, and was now going to be participating in.
The 1950s ranch house at 64 Holbrooke Road in White Plains has been transformed into an eco-friendly model of green building, and is going for Gold LEED certification, I’m helping style the photos for an AIA consideration.
Every project has a goal, and in this case, the focus is the space, and the innovation. Any ‘styling’ would need to be simple and clever.
Meet Joey
Joey the Goldfish was brought in to add life and whimsy to the Master Bath. (More about the room itslef next time). He handled the shoot like a pro, not needing too many takes to hit his mark. Here he is with Josefera Mulaire, who is handling all the photography for the house.
The plan was to have Joey rest on his fish-laurels after the shoot, in a quiet corner of my office, in a really pretty bowl. But goldfish need a lot more care than you might think. The need a lot more room than a bowl, and trust me on this, they really, really need to be water with a filter.
Here is Joey getting acclimated to his new home
Doug was a little surprised when he came home the other night, but we are both enjoying having Joey around. It’s ironic that(as a Decorator) I have not gotten around to decorating his tank yet, but we’ll be hitting the pet store over the weekend. Besides some plants, the glow-in-the-dark treasure chest, and the deep-sea diver who blows bubbles, I think we’ll be bringing home some more new friends, too.
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August 14th, 2012
While waiting in line at a framing counter some years back, I noticed the woman next to me had some very striking canvases in her cart.
We started talking about framing them, that’s how I met oft-honored Westchester artist
Lorie Gurian.
Lorie started taking art classes in 1995 while still teaching, but when she retired, her avocation flourished.Now a full-time artist, Lorie works in oils, acrylics and watercolors, and with nature.
Lorie has a great eye for color and detail. Viewing her paintings in person at the very well-attended reception last night, I felt both serene and focused.
What makes for a really neat back story is Lorie’s husband Bob. Partners in everything, Bob comes up the cool names for Lorie’s shows…Natural Fractions and (several) AfterMath shows, all nods to Lorie’s first career as a math teacher.
Go, you’ll see! Exhibit is free and open to the public, and may be viewed during regular library hours
Tags: Harrison Public Library, Lorie Gurian, Natural Fractions, the refreshed home recommends
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August 13th, 2012
Over the winter of 2009-20010 homeowner Gerry Angel paid about $1000.00 per month to heat her 1850 square-foot ranch. This coming winter she’s thinking around $100.00 a month for her newly re-designed, now 2900 square foot house. Maybe.
Today starts a mini-series about a local project that is very exciting. Gerry’s passion for green and sustainable, combined with the vision of Hastings-on-Hudson archtect Christina Griffin and her team, and the work of uber-contractors Mamaroneck’s Murphy Brothers have merged to bring the eco-transformation of this house to almost completion.
Today the photo-taking starts, and The Refreshed Home has been brought in to help style them. More to follow-can’t be late for the first day!-but here’s the exterior B&A just so you can see how cool this is going to be.
Tags: 64 Holbrooke Road, Christina Griffin Architect, Murphy Brothers, White Plains LEED Gold house
Posted in A Day In The Life, Appearances and Events, Better Health/Better Life, Decorating, Enviorment | No Comments »
August 11th, 2012
In the 80s and 90s, there was little talk of how someone “felt” when they were buying things and doing stuff to their house.
Everything was about the visual. People spoke, and thought in singular, visionary words: stunning, gorgeous, elegant.
Then feelings entered the picture again….tentitively, at first. Words like warm, inviting and cozy were big, as were simple and peaceful.
Life changed for most of us in 2001, and our homes became our base. They were our refuge, our buffer. They kept gritty reality at a distance, while we yearned for the imposible, to be safe and sane in a scary and uncertain world.
The past decade has had so many of us in holding patterns. Busy doing and coping, keeping up and maintaining. But still waiting.
Even during those wild 80s and rebounding 90s, my client base rarely included people whose focus was procuring. People drawn to to work with me were people choosing to be happy. Planning to be happy, expecting to be happy. It’s what this Westchester County Decorator has always loved best of this business. And it’s b-a-a-a-a-c-k!
Happiness is a choice. But it’s not as easy as it might sound. It’s a choice to accept, let go, and move past who and what held you. It’s daring to want better, and doing something to go after it. It’s actually pretty brave.
Everyday I see Westchester County homeowners who are choosing to be happy. I see their confidence in paint charts, their dreams that look like a floor plan, and their hope that shines in the way of finally cleaned out basements and pared-down closets. I love it!! Better, couldn’t be happier for them!
Tags: choosing happiness, marie graham, Westchester County Decorator
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August 10th, 2012
As an institution, The Refreshed Home holds an individual’s right to vote very dearly, and decries anyone who wants to mess with that. ANYONE.
As we journey through the last weeks of summer, November seems oh-so-far-away. But anyone who treasures this right as much as TRH does need not be concerned about November at the moment. It is the here and now.
Deadlines to register to vote are fast approaching. Do it now, or lose it. Here is the link to get you started in NY State.
Realtors and Movers: Want to reach out to your clients in a meaningful way? Anyone who has changed addresses in the last few years should hear from you on this, send them the link to your local Board of Elections with info on how they might register in a new area.
College-bound? Citizens who will turn 18 by Election Day can register. Use your FB page to remind your peers to register before they leave-and also to inquire/make arrangements NOW about absentee ballots. Post links, and ask others to like and share.
Friends, parents, neighbors: Know anyone whose status/address might have changed? How to quickly and easily register in your municipality is one google search away. Your one tweet, your one post can make a difference.
Similarly, your own status as an eligible voter is not to be taken lightly. Even if you are a regular voter, the rules in your state may have changed without you being aware of it. In the last two years, a whopping 16 states have made changes in their voting laws. That’s right, it’s not just about Florida and Pennsylvania.
At this writing, Florida, Georgia, Indiana, Kansas, New Hampshire, North Carolina Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Tennessee, Virgina and Wisconsin all have changes on the books; Alabama, Mississippi, South Carolina and Texas have laws that are being challenged.
Legal challenges to these laws will certainly continue after the election. But if you want to make your voice heard in November, you need to be prepared in the way your state now requires. Is there any greater reason to make sure you are able to vote now, that your future interests will be protected??
If you have any reason to question your status, now is the time to check with your local Board of Elections. PLEASE. Here in Westchester County, a quick phone call to the Board of Elections (914.995.5700) can confirm your eligibility on the spot.
Deadlines are fast-approaching: Do it now, or lose it.
President Lyndon Johnson delivering remarks in the Rotundra of the US Capitol after signing the National Voter Registration Act, August 6th, 1965.
LBJ Library/Photo by Frank Wolfe
Tags: college-bound register now, Do it now or lose it, how to register to vote, LBJ, new voter id laws, register to vote now, voter eligibility, voter registration, Voter Registration Act
Posted in Appearances and Events, Better Health/Better Life, Community/Greater Good, Dollars and Sense, Enviorment, TRH Recommends | No Comments »
August 9th, 2012
Welcome back to FAQs-the series where the specialty is snappy answers to your most burning questions on home decor, and home selling.
“SO-what’s WRONG with my wallpaper??” is a big, big question these days. And the short answer is usually nothing is wrong with your wallpaper…per se. But this is not a logical question, it’s an emotional one.
See, when you live in your home, any decor you are fond of-and doesn’t violate any local ordinances pretty much works. However, when you want to sell the house, you want a warm and welcoming vibe, so many people to like your house, and be able to see themselves in it.
Walls make up the largest space in any room, and have the most potential to make the biggest statement. Very distinctive wall color is a big personal stamp. Besides that it will often be what potential buyers remember most about your property-instead of the property itself-it tells buyers that HEY! you are still there! Worse, they could think that maybe you are harboring a secret desire to not really move, after all! And with all the houses for them to choose from, why on earth would they bother with yours?
As bad as vivid-colored walls usually are, wallpaper is many times worse…it is color AND pattern AND your personality, all literally glued to the wall. Something that took great several steps and great forethought to put up, and will take time and effort to take it down.
OLD wallpaper is even worse…very little says ‘we stopped caring about this house a while ago’ than seams that are separating, corners that are curling, or that mauve and blue (or, peach and green) color scheme that was so popular …way too long ago.
Logically we all know it’s not like dis-assembling the pyramids or anything, but it is still you, marking your territory, and like it or not, buyers today simply do not want that vibe.
So the longer answer is nothing is wrong with your wallpaper in your HOME, but if you want to sell your HOUSE, this Westchester County Home Stager says: take the wallpaper down and paint!
Tags: Staging FAQs, take wallpaper down and get your house sold, wallpaper in houses for sale, wallpaper is for decorating
Posted in Decorating, FAQs, Home Selling and Home Staging | No Comments »
August 7th, 2012
Many possessions are difficult to part with, but having another place where said possessions can go and be loved and utilized often eases the distress.
Unwanted pianos though are notoriously difficult to adopt-out. They are big, and difficult to move; often in need of some restorative work. Hyper-local facilities like churches, schools, Boys/Girls clubs have usually been the best options.
There was a helpful resource article, Where A Condemned Piano Can Win An Appeal in this mornings NYT. Stagers, Realtors, and Movers-should take special note.
A follow-up actually, in response to comments to an earlier article about old pianos being destroyed because of lack of options-For More Pianos, Last Note is Thud in the Dump
The resources are all over the country-Sacramento and St. Paul are named, as is an online clearinghouse and even an artist in Maine who gives new life to old piano parts (all links in article)…it’s still not going to be like dropping a shopping bag of clothes off at the local thrift shop, but for the passionate and the determined, if all local avenues fail, something else to try. Good luck!!
Tags: 88 Keys, condemmed pianos, donate old pianos, Keys 4/4 Kids, NYT, what to do with unwanted piano
Posted in Better Health/Better Life, Community/Greater Good, Dollars and Sense, Enviorment, TRH Recommends | No Comments »
August 6th, 2012
In sales, many believe objections are just unanswered questions. And that repeated 
questions about the same topic aren’t really about that topic, they point to other issues that have not been addressed.
As a fairly analytical person myself, I get that, and believe that. For the most part.
“HOME” is so very personal-it holds our hopes and dreams. It’s where we go to face our triumphs and losses, it is the representation of us, and pretty much all we hold dear. It’s tender territory, and in this business, it’s understood that a surprise delivery of emotional baggage can appear at almost any moment. Yet the veracity of online comments to last weekend’s NYT article about Staging really gave me pause.
When I first started this business, I eagerly sought objections (and questions)…they helped shape my business model, and sharpen my message. As time goes on, my ear has become more finely tuned. Am I the only one hearing the one long flat note from people who are just patently unhappy?
It stunned, really stunned me how all the objections were on a purely intellectual basis. By my count, NONE of the negative commenters had any experience with a professional Home Stager…yet EVERYONE who had worked with a Home Stager had a positive comment.
HMMMMM>>>>
It is not my nature to judge anyone…call me naive (OK, you’re naive!) but I have slowly been coming to the realization that many people with objections don’t REALLY have questions. Like listeners on call-in the sports or political radio shows, they have passionate view points they want to share with the world. They are not about getting anything done, making changes or moving forward. They are fishing for reinforcement, and primed for a fight. They are about their 15 or 30 seconds of fame on a big stage where they get to argue why they are right.
This is their place, and they are comfortable with it. And channeling Seinfeld now….not that there is anything wrong with that! But be very clear on this point: Stubborn and obtuse is not about moving forward, it is being content to stay put, and often, being angry or unhappy.
Everything The Refreshed Home does is about moving forward…be it Staging solutions for your Westchester County property to get it sold quickly, for the best price, or Decorating it so your Westchester home better suits your needs and tastes.
ALL the other stuff, I get. All the emotions that come dealing with going through changes and making decisions, it’s part of the process…in fact, one of the things The Refreshed Home shines at. If something in-or about- your space or stuff is getting in the way of you having your best life possible, bring it on. But if you are looking for an audience to crank on from your armchair-please, turn on your radio instead.
Tags: call in radio, moving forward, NYT, objections to home staging, questions about staging, Ruthless Came the Stager, the refreshed home
Posted in Appearances and Events, Better Health/Better Life, Decorating, Dollars and Sense, Home Selling and Home Staging, Reality Check | No Comments »
August 4th, 2012
Death Wish Coffee. Are you kidding me?
Seriously-have you heard about this stuff yet?
Touted as The World’s Strongest Coffee, it comes from a mysterious bean that contains 200% more caffeine than the regular Arabica beans.
NOT CHEAP ($20.00/lb) but it is Kosher, Organic, Fair-Trade, and even bird friendly (??).
Disclaimers abound on their website-Warning! Not for sissies!
Cooler heads offer warm online testimonials-one would assume they were given when the Death Wish effect had plateaued, and they were feeling a nicer mellow?
I don’t know…sure, who doesn’t have days where we could use a little extra kick?
And clever name…like any other product that has ever dared Mr./Ms. Consumer to take them on, they will probably get a lot of mileage out of the novelty.
Well thought-out, they evey have their own line of merchandise…besides coffee and coffee cups, there are t-shirts, and …come on…bumper stickers?
Just what I want to see on the Interstate or Parkway-drivers who are even more jazzed, and couldn’t be prouder.
Tags: Death Wish Coffee
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August 4th, 2012
Adult children moving back home was the topic of an article earlier this week in USA Today. It was the latest in a parade of commentaries, citing the obvious. Multi-generational living arrangements is neither news, or a trend. For many people, for many reasons, it’s been reality for a while.
But it’s not just adult children-or financial need at play here. NY Magazine’s look at extended child-bearing years (you know, with the demurely nude, pregnant sexagenarian on the cover!) made me think about how all the blurred lines and out-of-sync life markers have necessitated these changes.
Extended and blended Westchester and Fairfield County families have been part of my client base for years. Yet in 2005-6, while organizing my 30th High school reunion, I was stunned to hear how many of my classmates were raising children of every age…their step-children, or grandchildren. Hosting grown children or parents. Tending to ill or recovering loved ones. Their stories-and their stresses- were a real eye-opener
Look-when life changes and the household size grows, re-thinking where the TV goes, or how the office is set up is probably not high on most people’s priority list-might even seem frivolous. But if your space has become suddenly over-crowded and under-organized, re-evaluating these things is precisely what will bring peace, and a better quality of life to the household.
The same approach works when you are selling a house in Westchester or Fairfield County. The more USE you can demonstrate, the more FUNCTION a buyer sees-the more VALUE your property will have in their eyes. It is the yellow brick road to SOLD.
Neither situation automatically means a mass purge, just putting all the similar stuff together, or filling it with things that just look good. But in all situations you need to drill down and find out exactly who are the people who’ll be using the space. When preparing a house for sale, I ask lots and lots of questions of the Realtor. When considering changes in a home you are already in, getting everyone on board should happen first.
- Decide who gets to vote Decision by committee lends more toward harmony and compliance than dictates or ultimatums.
- Address wants and hopes as well as needs and frustrations Living together can be dicey…consideration of others’ feelings helps foster cooperation.
- Keep the big picture in mind Remember this is about change for gain, not just punitive or subjective calls to give things up.
Tomorrow: How to re-work and modify space, whether you’re staying or selling your Westchester County home
Tags: Boomerang kids, decorating for blended/extended families, life markers out of sync, moving back home, multigenerational living, USA Today
Posted in Better Health/Better Life, Decorating, Enviorment, Get It Noticed and SOLD, Home Selling and Home Staging | No Comments »
August 2nd, 2012
Even if you are not a believer, it’s always fun to check and see what the stars are SUPPOSED to hold for you. Each month we take a fun look at what makes each of our boats float, home decor-wise. This month, we wish a Happy Birthday to LEO!
Ahhh…Leo the Lion…born between July 21 and August 20…one of the easiest signs to spot, I think. A strong sign, a real alpha…but not usually harsh, or mean-spirited. They are just confident…very, very confident.
Leos typically have a natural ability to speak well, and lead. It’s a fair statement that Leos are typically found at the top of whatever circles they are drawn to.
You’ll find many in law (current Supreme Court Justices Kennedy and Breyer) and in politics (4 US Presidents). They are pioneers (Amelia Earhart, Neil Armstrong, Bella Abzug) and charmers (Tony Bennett and George Hamilton). Successful and generous (Melissa Gates, Malcolm Forbes, Roberto Clemente), at the top performers with staying power (Madonna, Mick Jagger).
They are larger-than-life sports stars (Tom Brady, Walter Payton, NY Knicks Patrick Ewing, Bill Bradley and Wilt Chamberlain)-one reason the future looks bright for current Olympians LoLo Jones and Ryan Lochte. They also don’t do anything on a small scale-film producers/directors Ken Burns, Alfred Hitchcock, Cecile B. DeMille, James Cameron, Dino DiLaurentis.
Intrigue seems to find them-Watergate’s ‘Deep Throat’ William Felt and Mata Hari were both Leos. Sometimes their confidence can turn the corner into arrogance-Napoleon, and accused steroid users Barry Bonds and Roger Clemmens. And yes, art can imitate life, two of Batman’s most notable Catwomen were Leos-Julie Newmar and Halle Berry.
Last-Schwartzkopf and Schwartzenaegger-both Leos…are you starting to get the picture?
Have listed more famous folks here than usual because this is the best illustration of a Leo: they are used to being seen, to being at the top, and their space needs to reflect that.
Many Leos are drawn to impressive, and expansive spaces-sometimes physically elevated ones (Leo the Lion, on his throne!). Farly adapters for the most part, but they wold not sniff disdainfully at say a set of mid 1800′s original Chippendale dining chairs…as long as they were in mint condition, that is! Pedigree is important, for both quality and status.
So is luxury. Re-purposed, funky, eclectic or retro has little place in the life of a Leo, as does most anything ethereal or soft and fuzzy. Like their personality, there is little ambiguity or frothiness. Best colors are clear, deep and strong, au currant, but not garish.
Leos love to entertain, and their homes typically showcase the finest in design and materials. Silk drapes? Ehhh..silk that came from free-range butterfly farms, where classical music was played for the cocoons as the silk was being spun? Now you’re talking! The music was live?? EVEN BETTER!!
OK< maybe I exaggerate..a little. But budget is a hard topic to discuss with a Leo-they can be extravagant, and who are you-a mere mortal-to offer counsel to Mr./Ms. Leo? Happily, funds are drawn to them almost as much as other people are.
Probably 90% of Leos are meticulously neat and organized, the other 10% not so much-but for both cases, storage and organizational systems will be an integral part of their home.
Years ago , I toured a big Southern plantation house on vacation. The long drive that led up to the house had a line of massive trees-sycamores, I think-on each side. Tall and majestic, their branches touched and intertwined creating a lovely sun-dappled passage, both striking and grand.
Local history says that when the original plantation owner’s daughter got married, he imported many many spiders-from whenever you imported spiders in those days- and set them loose in these trees about a week before the wedding. On the morning of, he had gold dust sprinkled in the trees.
When guest arrived, they saw something quite unlike anything they had ever seen before…the gold dust was suspended in the webs, creating this shimmering canopy, welcoming them to his daughter’s wedding. Safe to say he was a Leo-yes?
Tags: decorating for Leo, Designing for the Stars, Happy Birthday Leo, Marie Graham Westchester County Decorator
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