Archive for April 2009

The Tale of 2 Teachers, 2 Mortgages and a Baby...

Wednesday, April 22, 2009 –



Ah-Hah! You thought that hiring a professional Stager would cost you big bucks and they were exclusively for fancy, expensive homes.
Think again. With the wise advice of a pro, a homeowner can make smart, economical updates and enhancements to their home to get it prepped and ready for the market.

Case Example The Tale of Two Teachers, Two Mortgages and a Baby…
With a baby, two mortgages, and salaries as music teacher and swimming coach - This young couple was working on a super tight budget to make their for-sale home shine! With the help of a stager, they made great choices on how to stage their home.
Home Statistics: Starter or Down-size Home 2 Bedrooms 1 Bath Price $150,000.00
Pluses: Great cottage feel features, fireplace, beamed ceilings, nice size rooms, awesome, high ceiling bonus room off kitchen.
Issues: Empty, Too personal choice of paint colors.
Action Plan: Because of the price point, no drastic changes were made – Instead with a fresh coat of paint, a few ceiling light fixtures and strategic staging the home was transformed.
#1. Make repairs and updates yourself. With a few stager chosen paint colors and a few key economic updates – In one weekend the home began the shine - Paint, etc…$ 150.00
#2. Empty Rooms? What should I do? Rather than renting furniture, the homeowner purchased and borrowed a few advised key pieces. Once sold, the new will go to their new home – Furniture $ 1400.00

#3. Making it a Home. Once painted and furniture delivered, the professional stager swept through the house - bringing in a host of accessories, art and window treatments, thus turning the house into a home - Staging Fee $ 750.00

Results: See for yourself…. http://www.realestateshows.com/393418

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Easy Gourmet Recipe of the Month - April 2009

Friday, April 17, 2009 –


These Recipes are perfect for a special spring brunch, baby or wedding shower. Pair the quiche with a wonderful baby mixed greens salad, and cheese cake for dessert - And you'll be the great hostess for your next event!

To watch a streaming video of the show "Easy Gourmet" visit Palos Heights Channel 4 at -http://www.palosheights.org/



Canadian Bacon & Potato Quiche
Ingredients:
1 Refrigerated pie crust
1 cup frozen shredded potatoes, thawed
1 cup ½ pieces fresh asparagus
¾ cup diced Canadian bacon
½ Cup shredded Havarti cheese
4 eggs
1 cup of milk
½ teaspoon dried marjoram leaves
¼ teaspoon salt
Directions:
Heat oven to 375◦. Roll out pie crust into glass pie pan. Bake around 7-8 minutes to set crust.
While pie is baking, whisk eggs with milk, marjoram and salt – Set aside. Grate cheese, dice bacon and cut asparagus.
Remove pie from oven. Layer potatoes, asparagus, bacon and cheese in crust; pour egg/milk mixture over pie. Bake 35 minutes. Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

Sparkling Grape/Lemonade
1 bunch red or purple seedless grapes.
1 bottle sparkling grape juice
¼ frozen pink lemonade.
Freeze grapes over night. Stir lemonade and sparkling juice in large picture. Add frozen grapes. Serve immediately.

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An Eco-Chic Makeover - Celebrate Earth Day by Shopping in Your Own Home



It’s now chic to be frugal. It’s cool to conserve and you’re a total faux paus to even consider throwing it all out and starting over.

April 22 is Earth day and I think it’s just awesome that we’re collectively re-educating ourselves on how to be a bit more GREEN. But when it comes to making your home interiors beautiful, how do you following the emerald trail, and make Mother Nature proud?

Simple, you use what you already have!

  • A Room Re-Arrange – Give your spaces a fresh new look with a new room arrangement. As the season changes, so should your interiors. A change in your room’s foot print is a great way to revitalize your space. Take it a step further and switch out some of your furniture and accessories too. Swap out your dark wood side tables for those glass and metal ones from another room, or give your room a seasonal focal point by re-arranging the furniture to face your picture window rather than the fireplace.
  • Re-Move or Rotate – Sometimes by just removing or rotating your belongings, your room will have a fresh new look. I call it “archiving.” Too many family photos, a collection that has been you curio forever, or flower arrangements that have seen better days – Remove, or rotate them. Perhaps that collection can be swapped with another, or the family photos can be scatted around the home in smaller numbers, or the floral arrangement can be rejuvenated.
  • Rejuvenate Exisiting Things – Reinvent that tired floral arrangement by giving it a second life. Gather all your florals and stored stem and give them “re-do” by swapping stems, containers and greenery. That old dresser can be repurposed into an entry piece or dining buffet by reviving it with a fresh coat of paint, knobs and a great tassel attached to one of the drawers. A stale lamp can be given a new light with a new sassy shade, a new harp, or a nifty specialty finial. A favorite print can be re-matted and framed in a style or color.
  • Reupholster or Slipcover – That much loved old couch, side chair or settee which most likely has great bones and could use a shot of Botox with a stylish new fabric, and plump new cushions. Older pieces were sure built well, so if you’ve inherited a great arm chair or couch – It’s in your best interest to have it reupholstered or slip covered. Although a bit costly, it is a far cheaper design method than investing in an expensive high-end sofa which could run you thousands. The upside is you can do custom detailing such as nail heads or more than one slipcover - Which will give you a couture look.


Resources:
http://www.fastframe.com/
http://www.lampfinials.com/
http://www.paulsupholstery.com/
http://www.berforenafterslipcovers.com/

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