How to Improve Your Homes Curbside Appeal

To improve your homes curbside appeal install security doors, put up a veranda, plant

garden and put down outdoor pavers.

There are a number of things you can do to improve the look of your home from the front, or
it's curbside appeal. If you are planning on ever selling your home this is something you should

definitely be conscious of doing as it is this first impression that will influence potential buyers

whether or not they will come in and have a better look or make further enquiries. You can
improve your garden, add security doors or security screens to your windows or even build a front
veranda.

veranda design

Security doors

Security doors do not need to be just a steel door with wire on it to keep out the bugs. There
are many styles of security doors, some which incorporate good looks into their secure design.
Depending on the layout of the front of your home you could have a larger iron wrought security
door that is more of a gate, with intricate patterns and designs that will vastly improve the look of
your home. Contact a company specialising in security doors and you will see there is a whole
range of different products to suit your style of home.

Security screens

Putting security screens on your windows will appeal to anyone wanting to buy your house because
they will feel happier knowing their future investment is secure. Security screens no longer have to
be ugly attachments to your windows that block out the view. Security screens will keep out any
intruders and insects but let you keep the window open to let in the breeze, while not disturbing
your view.

Veranda

Install a veranda along the front of your home and you will greatly improve the look of it. A
veranda can give you home a more period look, it gives you somewhere to sit out of the sun and
will keep the rooms along the front of your house cooler as the veranda will shade them from the
hot sun.

Garden

A garden will definitely make a difference to the look of your home from the curb. If your land
slopes away, or if your house is built down lower than the front pathway you may need to build
a retaining wall. Build any structures that you need to first before sowing any lawn and planting
plants. Roses are easy to look after and always look beautiful. For a garden that is simple to look
after you might want to choose a more minimalist style of garden or native plants which will thrive
in your environment.

Outdoor paving

Paving will look great in your garden. You can lay a pathway to your front door or around to a

side gate way. You might choose sandstone pavers or other stone like blue stone. Pebbles look
nice along the side of pavers, or you can use them around your garden.

Water feature

You might choose to have something like a water feature in the centre of your front lawn to break
up your garden. Another idea is having a statue of some kind or an ornamental tree like a Weeping
Cherry or Japanese Maple.

Feature Friday: Cole's Nursery

Today I am featuring the adorable nursery done by Katie for her son Cole.  I love the subtle stripe on the wall and those curtains! 

 

  

Go here to get more details on the room.

Come and Get It

Okay, it's almost here. The Tag Sale event of the year. Saturday is the day. Here is a small preview of some of my items up for sale.

Sorry, but the majority of these shots were taken in my dark, disgusting basement. But, if I get it cleaned out it could be transformed. So, you have to help me by coming and buying my stuff. It's really cool. I promise. 

Hope to see you there . . . 

New at Sarah Jane Studios

Sarah Jane Studios has some great new stuff in her shop. 

I am totally getting this one for Jett's room. 

She is also doing poster size prints of her work! See more info about those here and here. 

 I think any of her prints would look great blown up as a poster! See all of her products at her esty shop here.

Girl's Room Progress

For the past year I have been working on a clients girl's room. This poor room has gone through a lot. We started with one plan and now we are going a completely different direction. I'm really really excited about our new direction and I know the girls are going to love it! 

My client came to me with this inspiration picture for the room. 

image via Design Sponge 

She loved the colors coral and yellow together.

We chose this fabric as the jumping off point for the room .

Here are the fabric choices we've pulled together so far. 

The room is going to include lots of fun details including a custom window seat with built-ins. I am so excited about how everything is coming together. 

Peacock Bridal Shower

Last week my friend Kristen and I threw a peacock themed bridal shower for our friend Rosey. I created this invitation in power point. 

As mentioned in my previous post I had CreateItGirl make these tissue paper lanterns to hang above the table. 

The napkins were found here. The tablecloth was made with fabric from a local fabric store. 

I punched out dots to make this table runner. 

I took glass Christmas ornaments and put feathers in them to add a decorative element to the table. 

We also had feather boas to give all the girls who came. 

We had so much fun and we are so happy for Rosey! 

Create it Girl Review

I'm sure you've seen these adorable paper lantern pom poms floating around on Pintrest. I threw a peacock themed bridal shower last week and I thought it would be great to have a few hanging above the table. 

I found CreateItGirl on Etsy. She makes these adorable paper lanterns in all colors. 

Here are a few of her creations. 

I asked her to make six of them for our shower last week. 

They turned out so cute! She did a fabulous job. 

I'll post more pictures from the party later today! 

Make sure to visit her shop here. If you want to order any of these for yourself use the code Kirsten10 to get 10% off.

Random Bits of Fall

Thank you for all your sweet comments about my recent makeovers. Two down, about a hundred to go. Projects just seem to multiply around our house. Now, on to fall . . . what a glorious time of year. Along with millions of other people, it's my favorite season for lots of reasons - the crisp, boot/jean-wearing weather, the beautiful changing of the leaves and, of course, football. Since it is now officially fall, here is a random smattering of fall-ness (just made that word up).

First, I got my fall pedicure yesterday when my daughter and I enjoyed a little mother-daughter time. Usually, I go really dark (deep purple, almost black), but this time I opted for OPI's "You Don't Know Jacques," a taupe-y gray. Love it . . .

Now, I need the perfect peep-toe shoes to show off my new pedi. Maybe these from Piperlime . . . 

Okay, I would totally fall over in these, but I can still dream of being chic like Rachel Zoe (who chose these as one of her "picks," by the way). I was mainly seduced by the leopard. Speaking of leopard, I've been dying over green and leopard together lately both in fashion and in the home (one follows the other, right?). Observe.

Source: easyfashion.blogspot.com via Kathy on Pinterest

Source: themustardceiling.blogspot.com via Kathy on Pinterest

Source: mdesignla.com via Kathy on Pinterest

And one of my new favorites from Veranda's House of Windsor, this room by Peter Dunham.

Source: idesignlove.com via Kathy on Pinterest

This room is so cozy and enveloping . . . the perfect spot to escape to and relax on a fall day.

Happy fall, everyone, and stay tuned for sneak peeks of items from Saturday's Tag Sale. That's right, it is upon us . . . four days and counting. Hooray!

Sources: Piperlime  , Drugstore.com

Kitchen Designs and Decororations Tips

When decorating your kitchen remember to have enough storage, plan your kitchen around the fridge, bench and stove being in a triangle and pick a colour to suit the style of room.

There are a few things you should consider when decorating your kitchen. As well as planning a stylish and pleasant looking kitchen to suit your tastes you also want something that is functional. If you are building a new home you might want to choose your major appliances first, such as your Bosch dishwasher, and build your kitchen to comfortably fit. Once your have finished decorating your kitchen don't forget to check that any improvements are included in your contents insurance.

Kitchen Designs

Storage
Every kitchen needs plenty of storage space. You want to be able to put all your smaller appliances, such as the mixer, the toaster and slow cooker away. If you don't have space for them they end up sitting on the bench and give your kitchen a cluttered look. Have big deep drawers where you can store your pots and pans, have a specific cupboard or drawer for your plastic containers, which always seem to take up a lot of space, and create bigger shelves or drawers that will hold your small appliances.

The working triangle

For your kitchen to function as a proper working space you should have three main parts of your kitchen joined up by an invisible triangle. That is you can easy walk from the fridge, to the stove and to the bench in a triangle shape. Having this working triangle shape within your kitchen means that you will save time when cooking, that is you are not walking from one end to the other constantly, and cooking will be much easier. 

Quality appliances

When choosing appliances make sure you go for quality brands. If it is a matter of a few hundred dollars you are better to save that bit longer and get the better quality product or the one that you really want. Having a good quality fridge and dishwasher are important, as well as the oven that you really want. 

Style

When decorating your kitchen you will most likely choose a style to match the rest of your house. If you have a period home then you will want to have a more old fashioned kitchen. You can buy old fashioned tap ware and sinks, such as the Butler sink or the Farm House style sink. There are great modern kitchen designs which are simple and uncluttered. There are plenty of magazines available where you can gain inspiration in choosing the right style of kitchen to suit your home. 

Light

Make sure your kitchen is as light as possible both during the day and in the evening. If the kitchen windows are small you might want to consider renovating and putting in bigger windows to let in more natural light. If this isn't feasible you could always put in a sky light. Having spot lights over your bench is a good idea so that you can see properly when you are cooking. 

Colours

Kitchens look great in most colours. For something bright and cheerful yellow looks great. White or cream are flexible shades that give you the option to change the colour in your kitchen just by changing the colour of your accessories or brightening the room with flowers. For a modern kitchen you might want to try a vibrant red or dramatic black paint. In an old fashioned or country style kitchen any shade of blue or green looks great or more neutral tones.