Window Treatment Solutions for Hard to Reach Windows

I have my very first guest blogger today! Special thanks to Richard Moyle at Horizon Window Treatments!

Do you have windows that are simply too hard to get to? If you have windows that are behind a couch or even windows that are too high, opening and closing the shades is nearly impossible. Another problem is having too many windows. Opening and closing numerous windows takes too much time.

The good news is that there is a solution for this type of window dilemma. Try window treatments that are motorized, for example so that you can make changes with the push of a button. You may think they are too expensive, but in fact, motorized window shades are easier to operate and quite affordable. Most people will benefit from this easy to install solution that is likely within their budget and easy to use.

What are your hard to reach windows? They may be a skylight or a window that is up high. It may be a window located behind furniture that is too heavy or large to move on a regular basis. You could have too many windows in one space that need to be opened and closed throughout the day. You may have two windows, one located on top of the other. In these situations, conventional drapes are a hassle and they may even look bad in the space. However, motorizing your window treatments can make using your windows easier and more effective in virtually any situation.

While it may sound like an expensive or hard to install option it really is not. With one click of a button, you can easily adjust any of the drapes or shades you need to, depending on what you want from them. Not only is this process is affordable but, it helps you to take advantage of even those hard to reach windows. Motorized shades are available in all colors and styles.

Increase Your Curb Appeal For Summer

When decorating for summer, the exterior of your home can be just as important as the inside -- after all, it's the first thing people see. Walk out to the sidewalk and take a look at your house from the street -- is it fresh and welcoming or dull and tired? The fastest way to brighten up the outside of your home is to paint the front door in a crisp new colour. If you want to take on a bigger project, now is a great time to paint siding and trim too.

Landscaping plays a huge part in getting your home summer-ready. Clean up the debris left over from winter; plant a garden full of brightly coloured flowers; place a planter full of greenery or flowers on each side of the front door. Add window boxes for splashes of colour that draw the eye up as well.

A brightly coloured welcome mat is a great summer accent that has an added bonus -- besides the visual appeal, it keeps the dirt tracked inside to a minimum (less time spent cleaning and more time for outside!). Add a wreath (grapevine or twig work best) to the front door - it can be decorated with summery accents and easily changed to reflect each season. If space permits, a comfortable bench by the front door is a perfect finishing touch.

Take it a step further and create an outdoor living space. Start with some comfortable patio furniture -- a couple of lounge chairs, a wicker loveseat, a swing or hammock, and small side tables if you have room. Add a few lanterns, some greenery and a summery rug, and you have a relaxing summer retreat that will really boost your home's summer curb appeal!

Where Do I Stop Paint Colour?

One question I get asked a lot is where to stop paint colour. Here are a few guidelines for a couple of different scenarios:

If the ceiling in your room goes up on an angle from a low wall, continue the wall colour upwards – otherwise it brings the ceiling too far down and makes the room look oddly proportioned.

When it comes to rounded corners, stopping the colour would create an odd line, so colour should be continued. Only stop at straight corners/edges.

A common scenario is the living/dining room combo. When both rooms share one long wall, that wall should be one colour - stopping anywhere along that wall will look choppy. If you choose, you can paint the entire wall a different colour from the other walls in the room to define space – but that wall needs to be all one colour along its whole length.

A Year's Worth of Quick & Easy Updates for Your Home

January – Remove your holiday decorations by the middle of the month. Organize them when putting away so you're ready for December.

February – Apply a fresh coat of paint to any rooms that need it. This is one of the least expensive ways to add a change to the inside of your home.

March – Move some accessories or a piece of furniture to a different room to give you a fresh perspective.

April – Update the pictures on your walls. Double check that they're not hung too high.

May – Get a fun new welcome mat to usher in spring.

June – Paint your front door. It's the quickest, easiest way to increase curb appeal.

July – Have a piece of furniture you can't stand? Paint it!

August – Organize your bookcases to create an arrangement that's pleasing to the eye.

September – Rearrange your living room furniture. Pull the sofa away from the wall.

October – Get ready for winter by tossing warm throws over your sofa or chair. Add a couple of new throw cushions in warm colours and soft textures.

November – Get rid of one box of clutter this month.

December – Treat yourself to new bathroom towels (maybe even a shower curtain & bath mat!).

Woohoo!! We have a winner!!

Thanks to everyone who entered the giveaway!

Congratulations to the winner - Vanessa at momsgotmanyhats! Let me know whether you'd prefer the candle holder or the wine rack and I'll get it set up :)

My Very First Giveaway!!!!!

I'm super-excited to announce my very first giveaway!!

I was thrilled when the folks at diningroomsdirect.com offered to let me use one of their products as a giveaway...I easily spent an afternoon browsing through everything on their site (besides dining room furniture they have a ton of awesome accessories - it took me forever to choose!).

Being as indecisive as I am, I couldn't narrow it down to just one item, so they took pity on me and are letting me give you a choice between my 2 favourites:

a) Teak Tea Light Candle Holder or b) 7-Bottle Wine Rack

How to Enter:

You can get one entry for each of the following...

• visit www.diningroomsdirect.com then come back and tell me your favourite product
• become a follower of my blog and leave a comment on this post
• visit my facebook page and become a fan
• mention the giveaway on your own blog with a link back here (let me know in your comment!)
• mention the giveaway on Twitter (leave a comment here letting me know)

That's up to 5 chances to win one of these awesome prizes - what a great way to end the year!

Giveaway ends Friday, December 11, 2009.

Before & After - House of Bras

Just got back from taking after pictures at House of Bras (on Wilson Avenue in Timmins) - I loooove how it turned out! I wanted to stay and look at it all day.

A bit of paint (deep purple and lime green) and some faux brick made such a huge difference! The store is much more warm and welcoming, and the new look really shows off their gorgeous merchandise.

Before:

After:

Finding Hidden Space in Your Home

To really maximize your space, look in places you normally may not think of.

Take advantage of space between wall studs to carve out a shallow display shelf. I did this in an upstairs hallway between two bedrooms. A narrow expanse of wall created an awkward space; centering a built-in shelf on the wall fixed the proportion problem and gave the wall a new purpose.

Try adding a shelf above a doorway (great for bathrooms – put some pretty baskets on the shelf to hold various toiletries while keeping them out of sight).

To make use of empty space under a window, try a low bookcase. Or build a window seat with a hinged lid for even more storage and seating options.

Many people have wasted space under their stairs that can be put to good use as well. This is a great place for built-in cabinets or shelving.

What hidden space can you find in your home?

Blog Party Time Again!!

It's Wednesday - which means it's time once again for the HOMEdigz blog party!

Check it out at www.homedigz.com

Quick & Easy Living Room Makeover

This client called me immediately after moving into their new home - the current wall colour did nothing for their sofa and they wanted to change it right away. The first thing I noticed when I walked into the room was the yellow-beige of the sofa vs. the pink-beige of the wall. An easy fix!

The solution? A rich brown to offer contrast. Now the couch stands out instead of blending-in-but-not-quite! The client's bolder artwork finishes off the wall. A simple change and a gallon of paint resulted in a much happier homeowner!