At a recent event kellydesigns had an opportunity to interview with Bizz Buzz TV and talk a little bit about what they do … Click on the photo below to watch the video….

The secret to your soul…
your front door!

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Spring has finally arrived! It brings us outdoors, replanting, renewing and refreshing. One thing I always notice this time of year when all the landscaping and mulch is fresh ~ is a house with curb appeal. What makes a house have curb appeal?

 

The color of a door says alot….green doors offer tranquility and calm.  In China, a green door symbolizes the life cycle and growth. In the United States, the color means safety, prosperity, and a zest for life. Green is also the international color code for safety. Red doors have traditionally been a sign for welcoming. Back in the days when horses were the main way of traveling, travelers would look for homes with red doors. These homes were ones where they would be welcome to stop and stay for awhile on their journey. In China a red door symbolizes a welcome mat and encourages good luck to those who enter. A red door has also been associated with providing protection, keeping evil away from the occupants. In Scotland, homeowners would paint their front door red to signify that they had paid off their mortgage! A yellow or orange door means excitement and energy abounds in the home. Orange is also known to promote food cravings, so that is one door color I will stay away from, but a good color for a restaurant. A yellow color fosters mental sharpness, creates a sense of happiness and well-being. A bright color door is also a signal to visitors where to enter the house. Cottage type homes are especially amenable to a more whimsical approach with color. The color of the door is the accent piece for the front of the house. Look at the photo on the top of the page, this is just an ordinary 6-panel door but the turquoise color is a great accent and complement to the copper awning. A blue front door can feel soothing because blue is often associated with the heavens, sky and water. In various cultures blue doors suggest a feeling of abundance and prosperity,a blue front door is a good choice for your home.

It is not only the color that intrigues me but the style of the door as well. I am cuckoo for dutch doors. I just adore them!! They offer such a comfortable, casual and easily accessible feeling and aesthetic.

                                  

Some day when I have a beach house (really dreaming now!) I am going to put in dutch doors! Other styles of doors maybe more traditional, or more modern or have a vintage charm. Each of these different styles do not necessarily belong on one type house or another. People feel hindered by the architectural style of the home when selecting a door. It is possible to put a more modern door on a traditional home for example, it can add character and interest. Although, there is something to be said for staying true to the architecture and period style of the home. The bottom line is that there are no rules, select a door that achieves the look you want for your home.

Amongst the beautiful sorbet palette of pantone colors trends for 2013 is a monaco blue and a dusty blue that are so hot, they are trending everywhere!

Take a look at our houzz ideabook to see some of the breathtaking wall colors, fabrics, rugs, upholstery and accessories all in shades of blue! They look fresh, stylish and are easy to work with in any home, in any room.

Having trouble deciding on lighting for your kitchen?

I usually suggest that functionality comes first before aesthetics in the kitchen. When choosing your lighting know your options! The main types of kitchen lighting are recessed lights or mounted overhead fixtures for general overhead light; under-cabinet lighting (linear tubes or puck lights) for lighting countertops; and pendants over sinks, counters, or islands for accent lighting. First you must think about how you’ll work in your kitchen and where you need the most task lighting. You want to make sure that the lighting is placed so that it illuminates all work surfaces and doesn’t cast any shadows across your work surface when you’re at the counter or island. Keeping in mind that the cook surface or range will, usually, be lit from the hood above, and you’ll want to light the sink with recessed lighting or pendant lighting. After that, see where you most need lighting on the countertops, and then light with under-cabinet lighting or recessed lighting over those areas. For an island,this is where the aesthetics can come into play, consider using eye-catching pendants or a fabulous chandelier over the kitchen table.

Quirky tip for the month:
Does your basement have a musty odor? To get rid of that musty smell you can place an open bag of charcoal in your basement to absorp the bad odors. Just make sure the bag says 100% natural with no additives like mesquite which can become toxic.

If you are planning to put your house on the market, I am sure that you are hoping to sell your home as quickly as possible and to get your asking price! By following these tips for staging your home successfully, you WILL get results- and fast! According to a recent RESA survey, staged homes sell 73% faster than non-staged homes.

The potential buyer makes a connection to the home before even coming through the front door. So that is why curb appeal and maintenance are key! Make sure your home is ready to lure the “lookers” inside.

• Make sure house is clean-front door lights free of dirt and spider webs.
• Power wash the siding and walkways -make sure nothing appears moldy
• Mow -resod-trim lawn and shrubs
• Wash the windows inside and out
• Repaint the porch and make inviting
• Add planters with fresh greens or flowers

What is an inviting porch?

• Even if you only have a small front stoop-make it say “come on in-Welcome”
• Add a fresh doormat, potted plants or greens
• Add some furniture -chairs and table, soften with cushions or decorative pillows
• Keep porch clean and put lights on
• Illuminate the front of the house with solar lights if possible.

Make sure your house has been cleaned from top to bottom -inside and out.

• Every surface should sparkle-this is essential!!
• No one wants to buy a home that is dirty or perceived as uncared for
• Clear away all clutter-if you are seriously selling then this is your chance to jump start your packing!
• Closets and bookshelves should be only 2/3 full.
• You should be able to see the floor in every closet.
• Countertops in kitchen and bath must be free of clutter and personal items
• Cabinets should be neatly arranged and organized.

** Strike a balance between clean and lived-in. **

Rearrange your furniture so that perspective buyers can see the house and the architectural details. You don’t want buyers getting distracted by your furnishings or décor. You want to enhance the good features of the house-so look at your house with a visitor’s eye.

Choose neutral sophisticated colors that flow from room to room. Some of my go to colors include: Wheeling Neutral BM HC-92, Edgecomb Gray BM HC-173, Revere Pewter BM HC-172, Blue Haze BM #1667, Sandy Hook Gray BM HC-108,Nantucket Gray BM HC-111
White Dove for trim.

The master bedroom:

• Should be clean and crisp without clutter, exercise machines, personal items or work stuff all around.
• The bathrooms should look pristine, free from robes, toys, too many shampoos, soaps, toothbrushes ,pastes and jewelry.

Keep a set of fresh, crisp, clean white towels for each bath ready and put them out when you have a showing.

Take a good look at your floors and carpets. At bare minimum they need to be cleaned. If the floors are in okay shape then a steam cleaning on both hardwood and carpets will do the trick. If the floors are in poor shape you can try steaming cleaning or best thing is to refinish. Strategically place area rugs to hide some imperfections.

If you have a kid’s playroom then make sure it is organized and neat. There should not be every toy your child ever received strewn about on the floor. Start packing! Pack away at least ½ of all the toys-when you move your kids will think they have all new toys when they open those boxes. You want the buyers to see this house as a fresh start and they will not be able to do so if there are toys in every room.

If you have pets, be aware of any pet odors and hair. This can really dissuade a buyer. Take the pet out of the home if possible for showings and have an accessible storage bin to put all the pet toys and paraphernalia away.

Always put the lights on -task, ambient and overhead.
Keep shades and blinds open -unless the view is unfavorable.

Stage the outdoors, too so the buyer can imagine themselves entertaining on the patio or reading a book on nice summer day.

You can always call us at kellydesigns. We can come assess your home and advise what needs to be done to get it ready for sale. We can implement a plan for you, if you choose. We can help you rent furniture and accessories to stage an empty or model home.

Annual Survey and Analysis of 11 Million Monthly Users Reveals Top-Rated U.S. Professionals

kellydesigns of CT has been awarded “Best Of Houzz for Customer Satisfaction” 2013 by Houzz, the leading online platform for residential remodeling and design. The six year old Fairfield based interior design firm was chosen by the more than 11 million monthly users that comprise the Houzz community.

The Houzz “Best Of Houzz” Customer Satisfaction award winners are based on homeowner members who rated their experience working with remodeling professionals in 12 categories ranging from architects, and interior designers to contractors and other residential remodeling professionals.

“It is an honor to be selected by clients who have had such a positive experience,” said Kelly Sohigian, founder of kellydesigns. “Collaborating with homeowners to give them the look and feel they desire within their budget is our top priority.”


“Houzz provides homeowners with an in-depth, 360-degree view of building, remodeling and design professionals through images of their work, reviews and an opportunity to interact with them directly in the Houzz community,” said Liza Hausman, vice president of community. “We’re delighted to recognize Kelly among our “Best Of” professionals for exceptional customer service as judged by our community of homeowners and design enthusiasts who are actively remodeling and decorating their homes.”

With Houzz, homeowners can identify not only the top-rated professionals like kellydesigns of CT, but also those whose work matches their own aspirations for their home. Homeowners can also evaluate professionals by contacting them directly on the Houzz platform, asking questions about their work and evaluating their responses to questions from others in the Houzz community.

I trust everyone had nice holidays and were able to be close with those they love. Nothing like good friends and family to remind us of what is important!

Beginning this New Year we are faced with the “fiscal cliff” and lots of uncertainties. Whether you are feeling the fiscal crunch or not, it is never too late to get smart about how you spend your money. In doing some research, I found great sites online like: Squawkfox, And then She Saved, The Simple Dollar, Mint.com, to name a few good places that can help you budget and be wise as to how you are spending your money.

Some other tips: Google for coupons before you shop (there are lots of coupons out there!) also go to sites like: Sweet Jack’s, Living Social, Groupon , and Retail Me Not for savings on places and businesses that you frequent.

With the fiscal crunch in mind I want to remind you that if you are thinking that you are tired of your house or the way it looks, we can do a redesign and work wonders with what you already have. Small changes can make a big difference. Sometimes a new layout, new paint, layering of different accessories, a few tweaks here and there and VOILA! You have a brand new look for very little money. It can often be done in one day! (Not including painting)

<Depending on the size of the room or rooms that you would like to redo the price can be as low as $400! We can also make recommendations for any additional items that you might need and even help you get them for less money!

The featured photos are from a redesign we did that had been in a spread in Real Simple Magazine. When we started in this room the room was white, there was 2 sofas and the armoire in the back that was pine and an eyesore! We painted the room a warm color as well the armoire and a country hutch that we turned into a bar. We found other furniture, a rug, lamps throughout the house and tweaked with a few new accessories and some ready made drapes. The homeowner was delighted and could not believe it was her house -let all alone almost all of her own things!

So, let’s start 2013 with new life, new hope and beauty all around us ~ all while being savvy with our money. Let’s relove where we live.

Call kellydesigns today to book an appt for a redesign! Refine. Refresh. Renew.

Check out the Holiday 2012 issue of Fairfield magazine for an article called, “The Look,” that includes tips from kellydesigns on decorating for the holidays and all year long. Below is an excerpt from the article:

The Look

decorating for the holidays and all year long

By ROBIN H. PHILLIPS

Seven years ago, Andrea and Andrew Shantz were charmed by this 18th-century colonial. “We especially liked this antique home because it is within biking distance of Fairfield center,” explains Andrea. The circa-1709 house was first owned by Captain John Osborn, who was elected the Deputy of Fairfield in 1699. The dining room is among the original rooms and retains its period paneling and details. The toile wallpaper sets a cheerful backdrop for a traditional red-and-green holiday color scheme, but this year Andrea hoped for a more sophisticated approach. Kelly Sohigian, of kdHOME, took on the project. Read More

Add Color to Your Front Door

To accent a bright white or red door use the deep colors of an evergreen wreath and garland. Tie on extra-wide ribbons to complete the Christmas look and add graphic punch. Twinkling white lights add a soft glow at night and allow the door and decor to be seen from the street.

Make a Merry Mailbox Topper

Top off a square mailbox with a large bouquet of winter plants. Fill a wide, shallow planter with a mix of flowering cabbage, cedar, fir, lavender, and rosemary trimmed to resemble a Christmas tree. Tuck in ornaments and oversize pinecones to add color and fill in gaps. Read More →

Halloween/Thanksgiving Decorating Ideas

Happy October! It’s time to decorate for Halloween. Did you know that besides wandering to all the houses from the neighborhood for candy, there is another custom at every Halloween: each house must be decorated with scary decorations, so the spirits – which are supposed to walk free in this night – will be scared and won’t come in or near the house! While it is fun to be scary and frightening, it is also the perfect time of year for beautiful foliage, gourds and pumpkins. I have collected some of the better ideas I have found on in my travels both on foot and on the web to share with you. Read More →

Thinking about redecorating a room or your entire home? Here are some tips from kellydesigns about choosing the right colors for your home.

Color Considerations

The colors in a room can have a huge impact on how a person feels. Before you rush to the paint store, take the time to consider who is going to use the room, how is it going to be used, and the mood you wish to create. Since the light the room receives naturally from the sun can effect how a paint color looks in your home, you should also consider the direction the room faces.

Read More →