YES, I’m B-A-A-A-C-K!

Gotta love Google Analytics, and the alerts you set up to skim tidbits out of cyber-space on your behalf…I have several: most to make sure my intellectual property stays mine, but a few to see who else is talking about the same concepts and directions I do.

Last few weeks when my computer was in and out of ICU-what saved me-what connected me-were the accumulated alerts that I had left for that proverbial rainy day that I accessed through my handy-dandy smart phone.

One gem is a recent WSJ article by Mark Stevenson: Eight Principles of Successful Optimists.  Adapted from his book, An Optimist’s Tour of the Future-what is there not to be enthused about in either title?? The article did not disappoint, I especially liked his first principle:

Have an unashamed optimism of ambition. Don’t feel embarrassed to say that things can be better. Have no qualms about imagining an improved world and advocating for it, no matter how much derision you may receive at the hands of the cynical.

I believe we have the power to attract what we want in our lives; and I am also an optimist…not sure which came first, but no matter.  How empowering is it to voice your best dreams and hope, and give them legs?

The book  was named one of the 10 Essential Books for Thought-Provoking Summer Reading by The Atlantic…but follow the link above to read the article,  enjoy the rest of them on your own, and may your own best force be with you!

Ahhh, it’s May, and this weekend the annual wave of commencement ceremonies begins. And yes, the inevitable Doonsbury comics, but that’s not where we’re going with this…

ANYWAY~

Unless you were Stanford ’05, chances are good to excellent you have no memory of who delivered your commencement speech, or what they spoke about.

So many other thoughts in my head those days… I know I don’t remember any of mine, but I do enjoy listening to thoughful speakers, and their messages in others’ speeches.

IMO, a good commencement speech is equal parts timeless and fresh, is both hopeful, and reality-based, and shares both retrospect, and vision.

Former speechwriter Charles Wheelan had his share of commencement speeches; writing them was his first job out of college.  He’s since moved on, and in a recent WSJ essay, he wrote of things he wished someone would have shared with Class of 1988.

Adapted from his about to be published book 10-1/2 things No Commencement Speaker Has Ever Said, #3-Don’t make the world worse, and # 9-It’s all borrowed time I thought were particularly wise.  Neither snarky or pessimistic, I think most are things we probably already ‘know’,  but are just so well-articulated here. Click the link above to check it out, maybe get a little re-calibrated yourself.

A well-chosen word will engage your audience, and allow you to communicate more effectively, and economically. This is an exciting prospect, so every week I pick, and ruminate about a normal, average word that I think is under-appreciated, this week’s word is BELIEF.

BELIEF is an umbrella  word:  it encompasses opinions, thoughts, hopes, fears, wishes and  superstitions. A belief can come from experience, gossip, tradition, information or instinct.

It’s a conviction, an acceptance, a certainty. A belief can be inferred from another’s’ actions, or passed down from another generation.  In polite conversation, it’s a way to differentiate  another’s opinion from fact.

But at the end of the day, it’s a personal,  internal entity that guides external actions.

Some realities may drive a belief, a belief is not necessarily tied to a result, or a reality, in many cases they just exist: Because the NY Giants won the last two Super Bowl matchups with the NE Patriots, one might be led to BELIEVE that Eli Manning is the best QB in football today. Unless one was from Boston, that is.  Or Green Bay. Similarly, BELIEVING the health benefits of eating dark chocolate puts it on par with having a salad will not make it so, no matter how fervently I might believe it can.

Respecting the right to an individual’s belief system is part of MY belief system; but in business, remember: I am typically called into a job because someone’s belief is not working out so well:  No, buyers will not be impressed by your vintage red flocked wallpaper…maybe lime green is the color to go for in PILLOWS, not the sofa….yes, spend the money to get a LICENSED electrician to install that new lighting….

BUT

What if I found out that their mom-who recently passed away-always loved red flocked wallpaper. Or perhaps they didn’t think lime green in pillows would add enough pop. Maybe their son’s friend is ‘handy’, and they don’t know the law, or how to say no?

Knowing, and understanding the ‘whys’ behind these beliefs allows you to understand the their actions, the first step to helping clients find solutions that will work. 

The last time I wrote a blog post with the words “Picking Paint Colors” in the title was over a year ago.  Since, I’ve written over 100 other  posts…yet, per  Google Analytics, this post is my #2 all-time draw-only recently nudged out of 1st place by a post about Michelangelo. So yes, it’d seem there is a lot of interest in how to pick a paint color.

But picking the right paint color goes beyond what is trendy, or what works with the sofa. Yes, color is a highly personal expression, but IMO  there is way too much pressure to pick THE color. Here’s how to get some perspective, and get you  going in the right direction, confidently.

FORGET

Whispy, fluffy pastels  Even in nurseries, colors are more sophisticated, more saturated-meaning there is a solid, dense appearance to the pigment. I agree with the notion that our world influences our color preferences; these days we seem to want our walls to comfort us, our rooms to embrace us.

Any colors you don’t already have in your closet  Because we get dressed every day, we tend to be more confident about the colors we like, and what makes us look and feel good.  If there isn’t any  ____ in your closet, chances are  you won’t be happy with it on the wall.

Believing you can imagine how it’ll look from a 2×2 square. Or a 4×4 square. Or those nail-polish sample bottles.  Seriously.  Narrow it down to your top 2 or 3, then spring for a quart of each, and just put it on the wall. You can always paint it over,  and it’ll  probably cost you a lot less than having to hit Home Goods after, to buy a lot of stupid stuff you don’t need to try to make a wrong color right.

Thinking this is a decision of a lifetime  Paint is the cheapest and the quickest way to change a room. Look-we get tired of things, we all change our minds, and even sometimes we mis-calculate (!!).  I’m not saying it’s not an important decision, or that you should just pick anything and hope for the best, but it’s just paint!  Make your best choice, and run with it.

INSTEAD

Look at magazine pics, cruise through furniture stores as an easy way to try different colors on for size.  Quickly, see what looks you’re drawn to.  I recommend NOT fixating on the exact color  used there, but use it to guide you, give you direction or encouragement to maybe step out of your comfort zone a teeney bit.  Again-color will ’read’ differently depending on how big the room is, what was underneath, how many coats, lighting , and what else it’s shown with.

Know you have some wiggle room.  When you paint, everything comes down, or gets covered up; it’s just walls with your new color, and can give you all kinds of pause.  But it’ll look different after everything is uncovered or moved back, then different again once you start adding other things in.  Don’t rush to judgement,  play with it, give it a little time.  If you find you like the color, but it needs to be ‘cut’ a bit,  an oversize mirror or piece of wall art would do the job nicely.

AND-you have a “Plan B”  OK, a week goes by, and there is no way around it, you truly hate the new wall color-just have it re-painted. It’s easy, and cheap enough. The hardest, and most expensive work is already done: repairing-priming-trim-ceilings.  Just make the decision quickly:  have the painter come back one rainy day to cover work they recently did, then you can get on with your life.

HAVE FUN!   Trust your instincts, and go for it. Seeing the process through to get a look you love will more than worth it, and it’ll make  your next project easier!

Astrology is one of those things that has lots of degrees of believing, but thought it’d be fun to take a casual look at the current sign, and some of the decor ideas the stars say they will love. So this month, we wish a Happy Birthday to Taurus!

Taurus (April 21-May 20) is represented by the Bull. An Earth sign, they are solid, and truly planted. Most Taureans would describe themselves as ‘patient’…while  the other 11/12ths of the population would characterize them as ‘stubborn’.  Ahhh, perspective! 

Home-as a place to welcome and put up friends and family-is very important to Taurus. They are a real ‘home and hearth’ personality; a stable group that prefers a serene and consistent environment.  They don’t make any decisions before they are ready to, and not too fond of change in general; sudden change sets them off badly.

But don’t get any idea they are sticks-in-the-mud, or anyone to trifle with, either. They are rock-solid in their chosen fields, just without all the drama. Some famous Bulls include sports legends Johnny Unitas, Yogi Berra, Andre Agassi and David Beckham, and Popes Pius IX, and John Paul II.  Actors Gary Cooper, Jimmy Stewart, George Clooney; Doctors Sigmund Freud and Benjamin Spock also born under this sign.

World leaders-the good, bad and the ugly-have a strong presence here: Golda Meir, Czar Nicholas II, former PM Tony Blair, Queen Elizabeth; as well as Hirohito, Saddam Hussein, Marx, Lenin, Ho Chi Min.  Taurus is second most popular sign of US Presidents (after Leo):  Monroe, Buchanan, Grant and Truman…presidential progenitor Prescott Bush was also born a Taurus, does that count for two more??

Grounded as they are, Taureans tend toward the earth tones-warm browns and corals, mossy greens, and neutrals. Picture the matador waving a red flag-you’ll remember bouncy and vibrant colors hold little appeal to Bulls. They are not early adapters-meaning they will not be camping out for the next ipod release, but show they BIG-well, that’s another story. There is no room in their lives for cute, dainty or fussy.  They will buy the loft over the seaside cottage, and their choice of furniture will be simple, but of generous proportions.

One in five people will move this year, and 45% of these moves will happen between Memorial Day and Labor Day. 

A little pre-planning goes a long way.  Joe Barone, owner of JB Moving and Storage has been moving Westchester and Fairfield county families since 1985, here are his top tips to help smooth the process:

First-leave yourself  enough time: Interview movers as early as possible. Ask about their experience,  their range of services, their specialties.  What was the most unusual move they  ever handled?  How do they find and hire workers, and how long have workers typically been with the company? How do they keep a consistent level of quality during this peak time?  Ask for,  and follow up on the company’s client references.

Make as many  decisions about your stuff that you can, before you get quotes. This makes getting accurate,  apple-to-apple comparisons easier.

Keep last minute decisions to a minimum.  Deciding to leave, give away, store or have delivered to a third party will  change your price. Day-of decision leaves you little recourse other than to pay  them what they tell you to.  Follow up your decisions with deadlines, have a  back-up plan, and stick to it. If your sister doesn’t pick up the sofa by X  date, it goes to recipient #2.

Get detailed  quotes in writing, after a site visit. This will the ‘what, there are  stairs?’ or ‘you want us to pack that?’ on-site  issues with the crew.

Assume nothing. Especially that you will get ‘a  deal’. NYS-DOT does not let these vendors  ‘throw in’ anything. In fact, they have  to register their fee schedule with the state on an annual basis.  Get costs of all packing materials, agreement of what will be put together, installed,  etc.

Only hire a licensed and insured mover. Depending on your move, your consumer rights are protected either by a local  (staying within your state) or federal (crossing state lines) agency. These agencies license and regulate the carriers. As a consumer, you are on your own if you choose to do business with an unlicensed, uninsured business.  Check to see they are members in good standing with both the   Better Business Bureau , and the Department of Transportation.

Last-this is my suggestion:  Inspired by-some might even say spoiled by!-JB’s own facility and operation-Ask  to visit the warehouse. See the operation, check out their trucks. Is it clean, and orderly?  Are the movers wearing some type of uniform? In my  experience, appearances and condition of equipment are indicative of the  operation as a whole, as well as how you and  your possessions will be treated.

 The Refreshed Home~Because Experience Matters, and Kindness Counts

Now before you roll your eyes and moan- I HATE DRAPES !!  (And yes, I know you are doing that!!)-let me ask- did you actually read the word “DRAPES “?  No, you did not.  But this is where-and why-so many get stuck, so let’s understand this first.

Energy consciousness was not part of  homes built prior to the 1970s, and aside from Scarlett O’Hara’s Plan B, “DRAPES” were the original climate control system.

Windows were made of wood frames, with a single pane of glass;  perhaps with another, slide-down panel as a storm window. In the winter the wood contracted, causing drafts; while summertime light cooked rooms unmercifully, and fabric covering the window was the fix.

SO-while building materials and practices have improved greatly in the last 40 years, most people don’t think about their window coverings that often.  So ”DRAPES”-what many of us grew up with-is the vision most revert to…but it doesn’t have to be that way.

Windows are a part of the walls, the biggest surface in any room.  As such, they can be huge problem-solvers, but they also possess tremendous potential to  change the chemistry of the rest of the room…which is why I am so passionate about giving them their due.

Most folks most make one of two mistakes: they are 100% focused on the color, trying to hit the exact shade of ___,  or totally obsessed with function (PRIVACY! GLARE! etc).  The best choices include both, but fabric and color choices abound, so here are some of the factors I consider first:

• Function:  What is needed? Privacy, light filtering, or sound absorption?  Temperature regulation? Or “just” frame a great view and add some drama?
• Size of windows/room:  Like when you shop for clothes-you look at the overall proportions, and the right amount of fabric and detail to flatter your body; same thing for windows. A triple window should have more fabric around it than a single window; a valence could be perfect in a kitchen, but be totally under-whelming in a LR or DR.
• Natural Light: Amount, and direction-bright sunlight will fade blue and disintegrate silk in short order. Cool colors will do little for a room whose main exposure is northern.
• Surroundings: Are there radiators, baseboard elements or A/C units? Pets that will find new window coverings entertaining? Young children with potential safety issue to consider?  Homes with heavy smokers, or enthusiastic cooks might do best with minimal fabrics, so as to not absorb/retain all the odors.
• Aesthetics: Need to add interest, offset the monolithic sectional, frame the view, or just have the luxury of being pretty?
• Budget: Impossible to adequately address in this venue* but a few things to consider: almost anything can be created and installed with the right people, but more and more the home stores are carrying really nice, ready-to-install options as well.
• What you like: Yes, that matters too!

Even in homes I’m preparing to sell, I always consider the windows. Counter-intuitive, yes. But fresh, basic, updated treatments already in place for a new owner is a problem solved, and value added. It elevates the value of a room…a dining area becomes a Dining Room.

And nothing says welcome to the 80′s like vertical blinds.  I have two jobs going right now where we took them down, and replaced them with soft-pleated shades in a gentle off-white.  Rooms are immediately livable, and easy enough for new owners to frame the window with a color/pattern of their choosing, at their leisure.

Here is another project I did last year.

After being on the market for almost a year with little traffic and no offers, the 2.0 version sold the first day it was back on the market.

Sure, we did other things, but the windows were huge, it was what faced you when you first walked in. I added the blue stationary panels to call  attention to, and frame the view of the Hudson River.  They also added definition and purpose to that end of the LR, presence and balance to the DR. Panels and hardware, both windows. about $250.00 at BBB.  Did I mention it got a full asking? 

While it doesn’t have to be a complicated process, it is a unique one, and difficult to address in the 500 word comfort level experts say blog readers prefer, but dear readers, I’m not going to leave you ‘hanging’ (sorry, couldn’t resist!!)

* IF you are still flummoxed, call me! (Yes, I do windows!)  But if you wouldn’t mind your windows and situation being a blog topic at another time, still contact me directly and we’ll work it out.  Meantime, hope this helps you see your windows more confidently, through new eyes.

FIRST, DO NO HARM: When It’s Personal, And A Stager Isn’t The Answer

Being able to create a pleasing aesthetic is mistakenly thought to be the most vital of tools a Stager can possess.  But as a physician evaluates and determines the best treatment option for each patient, an effective Stager does the same:  looks at the big picture, and uses their knowledge and experience to evaluate,  set a strategy, and even say NO when appropriate.

Home Staging is anything you can do to better it’s standing in the market, so it will sell quickly, for the best price. Sure, everyone wants a property that looks great-and I love to be the person to do just that-BUT  if there are holes in the roof, a basement full of mold, or other signs of neglect show there are bigger problems to deal with, and that’s an obvious NO.

Slightly less obvious NOs:  When the goals, time required, costs or the sellers expectations do not match. A owner ambiguous about selling, or unrealistic about the market.  Agents who are removed and not encouraging about the process. Sellers who really want to get their decorating ya-yas out. Agents who are are “verybusy”, and have a stable of old, old listings with bad listing photos.

The commitment to first doing no harm requires taking a long and broad view of all the circumstances. Here are two unexpected NOs I have come across,  and how I handle them.

When there is a very serious, or terminal illness within the household

The idea of focusing on getting a property ready for sale at this time can be a welcome diversion. Sometimes it’s seen as motivation toward getting better, sometimes a coping mechanism, and others, it’s a race against time.

On paper, honorable intentions all; but all too soon the reality of the situation become paramount. Added stress, expense, and pressure to make decisions is not needed. I have lived this story before, with my own family, and with clients. Buyers can pick up vibes from a house.  Incomplete, or haphazard projects tell people more than you may want them to know.  So in this case, instead of no, we talk of first things first, postpone til it’s a better time, and I keep in touch.

If there is a messy divorce going on in within the household

If it is civil-to-amicable, and we all feel we can focus on the task at hand, then YES, we can get some things done-but communication is key.  But in my experience, rarely does a badly divorcing couple want to wrangle with properly preparing a house for sale. More realistically they want to wrangle with each other, and I’d just be another way to (inadvertently) help them do that-so I’m out.

The Refreshed Home believes in keeps the focus on what CAN be done, and where there’s a will, there’s a way.  So I’ve coached REALTORS, using their pre-listing photos or video- we frame out what to say, and what to do. This way the message gets through, but there’s not  another person causing  distractions, or mucking things up.

TOMORROW: Toile-Fest, and “Retro” bathrooms!

The Refreshed Home~Because Experience Matters, and Kindness Counts 

Who doesn’t love spring? OK allergy sufferers aside…who doesn’t love spring?  There  is just so much going on, and so much to like about this time of year.

One thing I’m seeing and hearing a lot about are pet adoption events.  Pet stores, volunteer rescue organizations, even vets are promoting pet adoption.

Pet adoption is an act of true compassion. Done well and responsibly, I think it’s a wonderful idea, as there are SO many animals, with SO much love and comfort to

give and share.

Animals end up in a shelter for a number of reasons, but one big one is a pet owner making an impulsive, uninformed, or unsuitable choice in t

he first place, which is why I love this book so much.

No matter your age, or your level of experience or familiarity with the canine species, you will learn something from

this book.

Carol Lea Benjamin has been writing about dogs for decades.  Easy to see it is a lobor of love. Much of her early work is about dogs from shelters. I found this book at the local library about 10 or 11 years ago; I have since bought and given out probably 2 dozen copies as gifts.

See, here’s the thing-when you finally make it to the shelter, in your mind, you think you have made the hardest decision. You get there, and you are goo…just so are ready to scoop up the first wriggling bundle of fur so you can romp off into the sunset together.  After losing Maggie Mae in 1999, we were three years in between dogs, and my arms literally ached to hold, and snuzzle with a dog again, so I know the feeling.

The Chosen Puppy is less than 90 pages long. A paperback, it’s about $10.00, unless you buy a used copy online someplace. It is sweet and short and common-sense advice on how to interview, choose, and train a shelter dog of any age.

Suitable and interesting for readers of any age, no complex terms, and lots of cute pencil drawings, reading it before we made the trip to it was an INVALUABLE guide when our moment of truth arrived, and in the ensuing months as we were training our sweet Bella Blue.

If you have a friend-neighbor-relative-client who is contemplating adopting a dog-get them this book.  Spring is house-buying season, so if you know a dog is in the future of a new homebuyer, it makes a great housewarming gift. And while you’re at it, might as well check out, even pass on the links of these local shelters: Pets Alive in Elmsford, and the SPCA in Briarcliff. You’ll be glad you did.

The Refreshed Home~Because Experience Matters and Kindness Counts

]]> http://therefreshedhome.com/2012/04/14/adopting-a-dog-read-the-chosen-puppy-first/feed/ 0 http://therefreshedhome.com/2012/04/13/the-refreshed-home-defending-your-life-er-house/ http://therefreshedhome.com/2012/04/13/the-refreshed-home-defending-your-life-er-house/#comments Fri, 13 Apr 2012 14:59:30 +0000 marieg http://therefreshedhome.com/?p=8555 Roger Mucci, an online pal from Active Rain created this contest for it’s members…inspired by the Academy Awards, he challenges members to pick their favorite movie, and draw a parallel between that, and some part of your business. There have been some great entries so far, but here is my choice.

In 1991 Meryl Streep and Albert Brooks starred in a sweet, wise, and poignant movie called Defending Your Life. Quick set-up: It’s modern-day LA, and  Daniel Miller (Albert Brooks’ character) meets a sudden demise.  In a blink, he finds himself riding on a tram, in a place that is a cross between Disneyland and Club Med. It’s Judgement City, where eveyone goes after they die.

The premise is we get numerous lifetimes to work past our defects, and evolve to our highest calling; and at the end of each lifetime, the life is examined, and one’s progress is evaluated. And oh yes, while awaiting his own evaluation, Daniel meets, and falls hard for Julia (Meryl Streep), who is also there to have her life evaluated. Despite the serious subject matter, it’s a clever comedy. REALLY.

Without giving away too much of the plot (seriously, you have to see this movie!) the parallels to home-selling, and to my  business are many.

Judgement City is the house being on the market-strangers evaluating it, is it good enough to move on (be sold)?  As Daniel is questioning, rationalizing, defending and agonizing over his various actions-or inactions-I see homeowners re-living their past decisions; as he is sweating out the process, trying to figure out what is the ’right’ thing to do or say —you guessed it, sellers as they wait for offers, contemplate price reductions, or negotiate.

One of my favorite scenes is early on, where Daniel’s ‘advisor’, Bob Diamond (Rip Torn) acclimates Daniel to his new surroundings and the process, and explains the affect of fear-it strikes a chord, every time.

Meryl’s Julia is a wonderfully relaxed and evolved person. She is genuine, happy and at peace with herself. She enjoys most everything about every day, including one of Judgement City’s best perks-great food, that you can eat all you want and not gain weight. 

She is delightfully un-self-conscious, and not above giggling at herself. Last, she also cares very much for Daniel.  Sees the good, understands the fear, respects and accepts him, while allowing him to come to him own realizations.

This business brings out my inner Julia. On the days I don’t feel like Julia, I aspire to be like her, and to share that with clients… yes, even without the -all you-can-eat-without gaining-weight-thing. 

Most everyone thinks the main focus of Stagers and Decorators is on THINGS.  While there is nothing inherently wrong with THINGS-having them, or wanting them, they are just vehicles.  The Refreshed Home believes that for all that a home means, and does for us, there are larger considerations.

Genuinely good design does not exist in a vacuum, it has got to serve the people who use it and live with it. Sure, there are basic principles, but guiding someone to their best choices does not involve any one standard, one look, or a price point.  Like Julia, The Refreshed Home is big on what is real and what makes you happy; on peace of mind, and on getting past the THINGS that hold you back-so you can truly enjoy your space….like Julia is enjoying her pasta in this clip.