Have fun with murano glass beaded wallpaper

Faux glass bead wallpaper makes for a lovely and glamorous look for your wall anywhere in the home. The wall coverings shed beautiful light to give an impact. They give a statement to any space and are available in a wide array of colors. This is an easy way to bring color and texture into your home while making an impression on the space itself.

Guest blogger: Katherine Fountain

Organic Design

Organic design

In today's society the use of organic materials is becoming not just a trend but also a necessity for people with extreme allergies. Many products have “off gassing” that contributes to air quality in the home. Designers are working with organically made products to create a more healthy environment.

• Organic bedding made with organic cotton

• Organic rugs and carpets made of wool, jute, bamboo, cotton, and hemp.

• Flooring made of bamboo and reclaimed wood.

• Low Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) paints

These are just a few materials you can begin to change when designing or redesigning your home.

Guest blogger: Rebecca Plank

Why you should stage your home

I was recently a guest blogger at Your CNY Home Blog, an informative real estate blog produced by The Pei Lin Team in Syracuse, NY.

I have had the pleasure of working with The Pei Lin Team for several years and have seen first hand the lengths they go to provide top notch service. They know what it takes to get homes in and out of the market quickly and they know the value of home staging.

Check out their very insightful blog and my article on Why You Should Stage Your Home.

Adding Luxury to Your Home

One of the easiest ways to add luxury to your home is through custom, decorative paint treatments. Sponge painting? Très 1990. Want murals in your kids’ rooms, entry hall inspiration to greet your guests? Maybe harlequin diamonds or a chair rail? Whatever it may be, decorative paint treatments are a simple and chic method for upping the luxury in your home life.

Last year we had the pleasure of working with Sarah Moribito of Sarah Harris Designs in the 2010 Parade of Homes. This year she will be working with us once again and bringing her talents to the Sciuga and Pigliavento homes in the 2011 Parade of Homes. Give her a call to bring her talents to your home.

Redesign Complete

These before and after pictures are from a recent redesign in Syracuse, NY.
Scope of this project: window treatments, area rugs, some furniture pieces, art, accessories, and putting it all together.

Parade of Homes 2011

Smart Move Design will be the designer for 2 homes in the Parade of Homes this year. We will be representing Sciuga Builders and Pigliavento Builders. The Parade of Homes will be held in Liverpool, NY in September 2011 with 10 builders participating in the event.

Green Tip(s) of the Weeks

Going Green - 5 Easy First Steps to Going Green - The Daily Green

www.thedailygreen.com

To get started going green, check out these 5 easy first steps. Bring your own bag, turn off the lights, keep your car tires inflated to the right pressure, shop at farmers' markets and skip bottled water.

Reclaimed wood wall

I did this wall at our camp in the 1000 Islands after seeing something similar in a magazine several years ago. Yes, imitation IS the sincerest form of flattery. And I am hooked on finding new uses for old objects. The items on the wall come from salvage yards, an old barn on Oak Island on the St. Lawrence, shutters from my mother-in-law's home, a Chicago flea market, and gifts from friends.

Stage that home to sell!

A picture is worth 1000 words, especially when selling your home. Make sure your home is staged before listing and that you have great photos for the MLS. We offer not only home staging, but a photography service as well. Just bartered getting my toes done in exchange for professional photography for the mls :-)

Household Tip of the Week

Flexible vacuum

To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.

The Rules of Lighting

To improve the look of your home, its best to know the types of lighting and how to use them. The first is ambient lighting. The purpose is to create evenly distributed light in a room. These can be ceiling lights, recessed lights, and lamps.

The next is accent lighting. These are secondary lights in a room. They help visually separate a room or highlight an architectural feature or art. They must be 3 to 5 times brighter than the ambient lighting. Examples of this type of lighting are spotlights, a sconce, or even candlelight.

The next is task lighting which is used for just that, performing a task. It needs to be 6 to 10 times brighter than the ambient light.

The next is natural light, which we spoke about in the previous blog post, and the last is outdoor lighting. Outdoor lighting is important as it provides security and gives your exterior a nice look.

Try layering all types of lighting in a room for an impressive look.

Source: http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/home/5-ways-to-light-up-your-home5.htm

Letting Light In

A big difference can be made in the appearance of your home with the use of natural lighting, and also has proven health benefits. Having more light in the home increases productivity and makes you feel better! Having skylights is a great way to utilize day lighting, but if your home doesn't have them there are still ways to use natural light. Get rid of heavy draperies. Use curtains that are more transparent to let more light in. Opt for no curtains or a valance. Consider adding transom windows above your current windows. It is also a good idea to utilize large windows, or any window in the home as a focal point. Bringing more natural light into the home is like bringing the outdoors in! When staging your home to sell, potential buyers love a home that is light and bright!

Green Tip of the Week

Aluminum Foil - who knew there were so many ways to re-use it?

* Paint and plaster texture: Use crumpled up foil to add interesting texture to painting and plastering projects. Also when you're painting, old foil is handy for masking doorknobs and other fixtures you don't want painted, and wrapping your paintbrushes and rollers in during a lunch break.

* Wash it and use it again, and again, and again. Wash it with soap and water, lay it flat and smooth it with your hands or a rolling pin. (Do not use it again for food purposes if it has been contact with raw meat.)

* Sharpen scissors and garden shears: fold the foil so it's six to eight layers thick, then cut thru it a few times with dull scissors to instantly sharpen them. To sharpen hefty garden and pruning shears, fold the foil so that it's even thicker.

* Reduce static cling: I don't understand how it works, but if you throw a crumpled piece of aluminum foil into the clothes dryer, it seems to magically reduce static electricity. A true miracle of cheapskate science.

* Deter pets and other animals: cats, dogs, and other animals can't stand aluminum foil! Use it to break their bad habits.

* Make metals shine: Scrub rust off of steel and chrome with a wad of aluminum foil, it works even better than steel wool!

* Shim a table leg: Ball up some old foil for under the short leg of an uneven table to make it a level field once again.

* Scrub grills and baked-on messes: A wad of used foil makes a great scouring pad for cleaning the gunk off BBQ grills and stuck-on food from pots, pans, and inside ovens.

* Repair stripped threads: got a nut, bolt or screw with stripped threads? Wrap a little aluminum foil around the bolt or screw and try gently tightening it again. A quick temporary fix.


Read more: http://www.thedailygreen.com/living-green/blogs/save-money/aluminum-foil-recycled-460210#ixzz0lqNfATLx

Lisa Ryan, Owner
Smart Move Design
Professional Home Staging and Redesign
Serving Syracuse, NY and surrounding areas.

2010 Parade of Homes

Smart Move Design has been chosen as the design company to work with Sciuga Builders this year on their home in the 2010 Parade of Homes.

The Parade of Homes will take place September 11-26 at Mallard's landing in Manlius, NY. Eight distinguished Central New York builders, representing the latest in design, decorating, construction and energy-saving techniques are participating in the 2010 Parade of Homes. The Parade of Homes is open to the public and usually sees 20,000 or more come through to view the homes during the 16 day event.

Sciuga Builders are three generations of artisans working together to create the finest in custom homes today. The home featured in this year's parade is a Craftsman Style Home. We look forward to working with Sciuga Builders to create a showcase home at this event. More info to come in future weeks!

Lisa Ryan, Owner
Smart Move Design
Professional Home Staging and Redesign
Serving Syracuse, NY and surrounding areas.

Home Staging Philosphy

I attended a lecture this past Thursday given by author and architect, Sarah Susanka, on The Not So Big House. I love her thoughts on what makes a place feel like home.

As an HSR certified home stager we use an 8 step philosophy to stage homes called "Feel Home". During the lecture I could find many correlations between the way we stage a home and the way she designs.

When Sarah designs a home she designs with these attributes:

Beauty and Balance

Harmony

Home as Sanctuary

Sustainability

Well Being

Details Make it Personal

Each week I will post one of the eight "Feel Home" steps we use when staging homes. First step will be on Monday.

To learn more about Sarah Susanka and The Not So Big Home click here

I'll Huff and I'll Puff and I'll Blow Your House Down (not)

Photos: Brett Weinstein/Realty Advocates

Why would someone build a house out of straw? Because if you are eco concious and looking for a sustainable product, straw is undeniably green! Packed tightly, straw in the walls helps to retain heat, keeping a home warm in the winter and cool in the summer, and minimizes the home's carbon footprint. Straw is also a sustainable material; it is the leftover stalks from grain that would otherwise be burnt. Aside from the environmental issue, if looking at the home above is any indication, straw homes can also be beautiful structures. It is a perfect reflection of the owner's respect and care for the environment. What a cozy and unique home this would be to stage or decorate!

Lisa Ryan owns Smart Move Design, a home staging and redesign company servicing Syracuse NY and the surrounding areas.

To flip or not to flip

As a home stager I work with several home "flippers" to stage their homes prior to going on the market. And with a great success rate. Hoping to flip a home myself one day, I've been compiling info on flipping. Here are a few general rules of thumb if you are thinking about entering into this business venture.

1. Have a Plan
Flipping is a business and requires a business plan. Do your research - research materials needed, housing market comparables, budget and carrying costs, and create a time line to stay on track.

2. Pick the right house in a familiar neighborhood.
Know your neighborhood, then don't buy the biggest house on the block. Start small - a little fixer upper that needs mostly cosmetic changes is a good beginner flip.
3. Get an inspection.
Do not overlook this step. An inspection will cover all major aspects of the home (plumbing, electrical, foundation). Not getting an inspection can be a budget breaker in the long run.
4. Find a good contractor.
A good contractor is gold in your pocket Get referrals, see the work the contractor has done, and then check references. A good contractor also knows what permits are needed. Not having the right permit can hold up work and cost you money.
5. Do what you can yourself.
Painting, swapping out light fixtures, new hardware in the bathroom , landscaping-these are areas where you may be able to do the work yourself and save some money.
6. Over estimate costs
Figure out your budget then add 10-20% on to it. This will help you deal with any surprises that may come up during your flip.
7. Hire a good realtor.
Find one that knows the area and is experienced. A good realtor will help sell your home faster. For a "flip" you want to do just that, sell fast. Which leads us to number 8.
8. Understand the value of home staging.
Home Staging is putting the icing on the cake. Home stagers pay attention to detail and create a warm and welcoming appeal for your buyers. They can help with paint color, interior finishes, and give creative suggestions for space. They bring in the right furniture and accessories for the home style. The bottom line? Staged homes sell faster and for more money.

Smart Move Design is a Home Staging and Redesign company serving Central New York (syracuse, camillus, liverpool, fayetteville, and all other surrounding areas

Green Tip of the Week

Olive oil, not Popeye's goil, and not just for cooking and eating either.

Here are some surprising household uses for olive oil

Polish Furniture and Metal (and Condition Leather)
Silverware, copper and other metal items can be polished with ketchup or toothpaste. After you're done, rub a bit of olive oil on to prevent streaks, corrosion and tarnish.

To polish wood, use two parts olive oil mixed with one part lemon juice. Pour just a few drops on a soft cloth, wipe away the dust, scuffs and fingerprints, and make wood shine.

You can also condition and revitalize leather goods by rubbing in olive oil. Let set for 30 minutes, then wipe away any excess.

Fix Squeaky Doors
Olive oil can actually be used as a lubricant in many applications. It's safe to keep around the house, so you don’t have to worry about children or pets getting into it. Try it out on squeaky doors, hinges and any where else you might consider using WD-40 or another lubricant. While WD-40 may work well, it's also based on hydrocarbons, so any time we can use less of those we're taking a step toward a cleaner world

and olive oil for home staging? try a grouping of decorative bottles on the kitchen counter, behind glass cabinets, or on a shelf. Useful but oh so pretty too.

Read more: http://www.thedailygreen.com/green-homes/latest/olive-oil-benefits-uses-460609?click=main_sr#ixzz0fw8BNBCd

Smart Move Design is a Home Staging and Redesign company serving Central New York (syracuse, camillus, liverpool, fayetteville, and all other surrounding areas)

Staged and Sold in One Day.

The scenario: on the market for five months with very little traffic and no offers

The problem: faux paint and stenciling throughout gave the home a dated look. No furniture kept potential buyers focusing on negative details.

The solution: bring in neutral paint color and beautiful furnishings to accentuate the home's positive aspects.

The result: First buyer in the door after staging made an offer and the home has sold.

Smart Move Design is a home staging and redesign company located near Syracuse, NY. We serve central and northern ny.

The New and Improved Tax Credit

Good news - The extension to the home buyer tax credit has been approved. Yesterday, the Senate voted 98-0 in favor of the tax credit extension. It is up to the President now to put his signature on the bill for approval. The tax credit is $8000.00 for first time home owners and has been extended to June 30, 2010. Purchase offers must be in by April 30 with a closing date of no later than June 30.

Better news - The new bill has been expanded to include existing home owners. Those who have owned a home for at least 5 years can receive a tax credit of up to $6,500 when they purchase their next home. There are income limitations of $125,000 for singles and $225,000 for joint filers. The maximum purchase price of a home is $800,000 and vacation homes do not qualify. The same date deadlines above will apply.

Smart Move Design is a Home Staging and Redesign company located near Syracuse, NY and serves the Central and Northern New York areas.