Ohhh Christmas Tree....Oh NO!!!
Contributed by:Janene Gaines & Margaret Kellyon 11/25/2007
Its time for CHRISTMAS!! Where did the year go. It seems like we just
put all the decorations away from last year and already we are pulling
them out again; well, no matter time is up.
Perhaps this year you have completed a remodel or maybe you have updated
a couple of rooms. Possibly some projects were completed due to
necessity / maintenance; maybe alterations were done because....well
just because.
It's December, the changes are complete and it appears no one gave any
consideration as to where are we going to put the Christmas tree. But,
the day has arrived and here comes "the tree" in all its glory, as your
significant other drags it up the walkway and the kids are screaming in
delight your jaw has just hit the ground. It appears to be WAY TOO BIG..
but now its home so where are we going to put it.
Don't worry, it's not as bad as it might seem and the furniture
manipulation may not have to be dramatic. All you need to do is a little
planning.
1. If you are a hardcore Christmas Tree connoisseur, then it doesn't
matter what the tree is like. By hook or by crook its going to fit, all
you will need is some good furniture shoe movers.
2. There are now all types of trees available: there is the half wall
tree, the extra thin tree, the corner tree, the lighted tree, the
unlighted tree, etc.
3. Fake vs Real, the age old debate. Bottom line its based on your
preference and taste.....that's it. If you like fake stand up for
yourself, if you like the real deal that's fine too. Just know there are
some limitations:
for example, regarding real trees watch out for the sap , needles, the
sugar water getting on the carpet and keeping the tree watered...no need
for a fire. However, as we all know nothing can make up for the real
evergreen smell. So those of us who go fake bring in a small real
Charlie Brown tree and place it in an unobtrusive spot. Have the best
from both worlds fake and real. Who said you can only have one tree and
what size it should be. There is no standard size, it's whatever you
make of it.
4. You have tree choices in color, shapes and sizes so be choosey. Make
it easy on you and your family to place the Christmas tree anywhere in
your house, a tree display can be in other rooms besides the living room
or family room. Of course, don't forget the red/ white netting. Besides
hiding the disposable Christmas tree bag, the netting also enhances the
display of all those incredible gifts your significant other and/or your
children will be giving you to show their appreciation of all your year
long efforts.
5. When doing changes to your home, just for a second take into
consideration the holidays. Choose a smaller chair or bench with
accessories to occupy the designated Christmas tree spot during the
year. So when it's time for the Christmas tree changeover you don't have
a complete meltdown redistributing your furniture.
6. Moving the furniture around is not the end of the world, just have a
basic plan in mind when buying your furniture in the first place. It may
seem to be a ridiculous thought at the time but in December you will be
thrilled you at least considered it.
Oops, we almost forgot. Be honest it has happened at least once to all
of us, the kids / clumsy adult / cat / dog induced accident. When the
Christmas tree tips over onto the floor don't get too mad. Warm up some
cider or hot cocoa and make it a "family affair" to put it all back
together again.
So get out the red, white and green. Wrap the presents, set the
fireplace, let your senses tingle with the evergreen smell and enjoy
your holiday season. For those of you who would like a bit of assistance
with your holiday cheer, it would be our pleasure to assist in
organizing your holiday decor. Our contact number is (805) 795 7244.
From Interior Gaines we wish everyone Happy Holidays and a wonderful New
Year.
Dressing Your Home for Thanksgiving
Contributed by:Janene Gaines & Margaret Kelly on 11/13/2007
Well, its about time......we get to dump the diets, pick good foods at
the grocery store and eat a nice meat and potatoes meal.......Thankgoodness
for Thanksgiving.
The smells from the kitchen the day before.....the butter running down
the muffins...Moms' homemade Mac N Cheese, thick bright white mashed
potatoes, Ham, sauteed green beans, cranberries, dressing/stuffing..and
finally, placing the glazed bronze turkey on the most beautiful table
sparkling with other fresh warm delights.
.......ok,,,ok.....that is a lot of wishful thinking because we all know
what happens on Thanksgiving....the guys are in front of the TV with
their TV trays and the ladies are at the table barely able to stay awake
due to all the cooking the night before.......alright ....that is a bit
of an exaggeration too... But somewhere inbetween is the
truth...everyone has to admit there is some sort of drama preparing for
Thanksgiving....but in the end the feast makes it all worth it.
So lets be serious, we all would like to have the beautiful presentation
before the Thanksgiving main event is devoured..... so here are some
ideas to have your home ready for the meal of the YEAR!!!!!
1. Usually we do not use black dishes. The color black has a tendency to
look absolutely phenomenal alone. The thought is once the food is placed
on the dishes it does not look appetizing.
2. It is great to have a georgous display for the center piece...just
don't make it so big it blocks conversation throughout the table.
3.Keep eating dish color on the edges of the set...the charger
underneath is where you want to add texture to the table. The charger
does not interfere with the look of the food...it is to enhance the
colors of the food and the colors on the edge of the dishes.
4.To add even more color, tie on ribbons or decorative backs to the
chairs. This is another way to add sophiscation to the table without
affecting the look of the food.
5. Glasses should be spotless and just shine. The lights bouncing off of
spotted wine glasses and water goblets can make anyone loose their
appetite. Folks won't say it...but it will make them wonder if other
dinnerware is actually not clean.
6. Do not have the same table cloth as napkins....do some
contrasting.....it will make a major inpact on the setting of the
table....matchy, matchy fabric is boring; give your table a litte pick
me up.....look at it like this.....Thanksgiving is only once a year.
Think visual as your setting your table....if it looks nice together
than just adding some white lights would be the icing on the cake. After
you have completed your project...stand back and admire your handywork....and
give yourself a pat on the back....after cooking you deserve the
kudos.... If your hubby or significant other does the place setting for
you; give them a great big hug.....because they just took your meal to
the next level.
At Interior Gaines we enjoy the Holidays immensly....if you don't have
time to do some of the details, we can be of assistance. Just give us a
call at (805)795 7244 and we can make your home look like you have
nothing but time on your hands.....Happy Thanksgiving from Janene and
Mags.
Disaster vs. You and Your Home
Contributed by:Janene Gaines & Margaret Kelly on 10/22/2007
This can be a most trying and terrifying time for families; your home is
being threatened by fire. Many have put a lot of time and effort into
providing and making a home for their families. It is devastating to see
it destroyed. Mother Nature is going to do what she does, but there are
some things you can do to make a very bad situation not turn completely
devastating for your family.
1. If you have the opportunity it is a great comfort to put an in-ground
fire proof safe in your garage floor. Due to disaster situations, like a
fire, this will enable you to save a few additional items besides those
you are able to salvage by taking them with you , if your evacuated.
2.We suggest you put cash into the safe. The reasoning is if a community
situation occurs and banks are not accessible after a disaster, you at
least have access to some cash. Once the cash is in the safe it should
be forgotten; its not petty cash.
3. Have copies of your insurance papers in the safe or take them with
you. Make sure you have your Declarations Page and a copy of the actual
policy either with you or in the safe. Also, make sure you have your
Insurance Agents' phone number.
4. Take pictures of your home inside and outside. Take photos of
accessories, furniture, kitchens and bedrooms. All this should be kept
in the safe. If your home should unfortunately succomb to the disaster,
you have at least some documentation to assist you, if you should have
to make an insurance claim.
5. Choose strategically the memories you want to preserve.
Unfortunately, you won't be able to save it all. If you have pictures
throughout the years that you treasure have some of them copied and sent
to family members, who do not reside near you...better yet those who
live in a different state is even better
6. If you have to leave your home hose down your roof and your home also
put on your sprinkler system, it will help keep the ground around your
home wet and assist with perhaps keeping the fire at bay somewhat.
7. Put phone numbers and addresses in the safe. If for some reason the
family becomes separated...there will be a starting point for finding
loved ones.
8. Our final thought is....Life.....Buildings are replaceable. You are
not..... Drywall, paint, drapes, carpet and a roof can be repaired.
We wish all of you safety during this trying time and to keep in mind to
protect your families and if you are one of the fortunate ones...be kind
to a neighbor who may not have been so lucky. Anyone affected by
disaster knows it changes your life forever. So lets have the score:
Disaster 0, the Home team undefeated.
Peace to all from Janene and Margaret.
Contributed by: Janene Gaines & Margaret Kelly
on 10/7/2007
What
a wonderful time of the year. The season is changing to Fall. The air is
a bit more crisp, the dark morning stays with us a little longer with
the evening coming faster. This month the little ghouls, goblins and
witches are getting ready to visit our homes, so why not prepare for
their Halloween visit.
Decorating for this event can be loads of
fun! Its a time to visit with neighbors and meet the newcomers who just
moved in. So here are some tips for a Nightmare of an Evening:
1. The winds can be high in October so
choose decorations that can be strapped down or garden stakes can be
used. Tape alone may not be enough and your decor ends up down the
street or worse yet...ruined. Otherwise, the more fragile items don't go
out for display until the frightful day.
2. Pick robust items that can take storage.
You don't want to pull items out the next year and they are crushed.
3. Pick cartons with orange and black. It
makes it easier to do the finding of the Halloween items and less
painful and distressing when searching the garage for your decor. Also,
cartons help with organization and fragile displays.
4. For the hard core celebrators, when
planning your landscape keep in mind your holiday set up. So when you do
set the grave yard/bone yard mummy feature, it is easy to place your
items and less time consuming. Don't forget, make sure your accessories
are waterproof.
5. Get to know your neighbors, do a display
party, display day or just set your homes around or about at the same
time. The morphing transformation is
really neat. Agree each year to buy one or
two scary accessories and soon in a little bit of time you have the most
amazing House that Haunts. Buy items on Halloween or right after the
holiday. Always think sale. However, there is usually the most
incredible item you believe is worth full price.....sometimes it's nice
to splurge....just a little.
Finally, Lighting.....make sure you have
lots of lights placed strategically in the yard, on the garage, the roof
and near the steps. Use the outdoor extension cords and be creative.
Keep in mind the little monsters have to be able to see thru the fog and
get to the incredible "trick or treat" you provide in the bowl with the
wandering eyes.
So drag out the spider webs, skulls and
boiling pots, put on the Halloween T-shirt and ENJOY!!!! It's a great
way for neighbors to get to be neighbors and not just known as the folks
next door.
Happy Halloween from Interior Gaines. Our
contact number is (805) 795 7244, we would love to be of assistance in
transforming your home to a House that Haunts.
The "To Do" List turns to "Won't Get Done" List
Contributed by: Janene Gaines & Margaret Kelly on 9/15/2007
We
all have them. The dreaded "To Do" List which at some point turns to the
"Honey Do" List that after some time turns to the "Won't Get Done" List.
Finally, we contemplate obtaining some help, hiring the Professional
Tradesperson: a Handyman, Contractor, Painter, Dry Waller or whatever
your case may be.
When
you meet the person, think of yourself as an interviewer. Get your
questions prepared before the meeting and interview him or her as if
your house is a business and you are hiring for a position. If you
really think about it your home is a business.
So
here are some tips:
1.
Make sure you are comfortable with the person being in your home.
2.
They should be professional in appearance and in answering your
questions. Being a hands-on tradesperson does not excuse
unprofessionalism.
3.
Obtain a detail estimate and reasonable Time table for the work to be
completed. If they are good they will give you a long timetable and get
the work done early; thus being the "HERO".
4.
Check the Profit and Overhead being addressed by a Contractor and make
sure you both have the" EXACT" Plan of Action to complete the project.
5.
Commitment to pricing is very important to both parties. No surprise or
hidden costs. If a problem arises you are to be notified before work on
the surprise occurs. It does happen occasionally.
6.
Referrals are GREAT!!!!
Want
to Sell your Home: Try Staging
Contributed by: Janene Gaines on 9/4/2007
Tough time to sell a home means you need to think
out of the box when attempting to interest buyers. Set your home up as a
beautiful place to come to after a long day at work, if you keep this
concept in mind, it will help make the changes easier.
As you live in your home throughout the years do
updates periodically. So when you do sell your home you are not
attempting last minute major renovations like updating kitchens and
bathrooms. Do the renovations so you can enjoy them while you live in
the house.
If you have not updated thru the years; update thru
general changes like moving pictures or buying new pictures (reasonably
priced), adding plants and colored accessories. This usually is enough
to do the trick; even changing the color of one wall in a room can be
adequate.
When we mention rearranging rooms, we mean take
furniture out of one room and put it in a totally different room not
just straighten up and clean your home, but think out of the box and
interchange the furniture between rooms. It will amaze you how much you
can transform your home without spending a lot of money by using what
you already have.
Basic Tips for Staging:
*Clean up the yard: add color thru foliage even if
it is fake plants. Good fake plants with real ones can look real in the
yard.
*If you have patio furniture arrange it the same as
if it were in the house, make it cozy and inviting.
*Clean your carpets and if you decide to buy rugs
for the floor think texture.
* Dress the windows, put up some sort of drapery,
sheer or textured shade. Draperies soften and finalizes the look of a
room even if there is not a lot of furniture in the area. Match the
draperies to the feel of the room.
*Finally, think Taste, Smell, Sound, Sight and
Lighting as you set your rooms attack the senses. (Example: bake cookies
before open house: DON"T BURN THEM!) For those of us who could possibly
burn the cookies; light candles instead, put on some soft jazz and bring
in some beautiful fresh flowers pulled out from the yard.
*If you are having a hard time with rearranging and
need fresh eyes to assist don't hesitate to hire an expert to help you.
At Interior Gaines, we can direct you or provide
complete changes for the Staging of your home. Call us at 805 795 7244
and we would be happy to provide suggestions to either revitalize your
home or stage it for selling purposes.
Contributed by: Janene Gaines on 8/29/2007
A wonderful, incredible place to be : The World of Television. There is the $500 room makeover, the $1000 room makeover and the $2000 room makeover. There is also Bugs Bunny, Scooby-Doo and Big Bird.
T.V. is entertainment and at times informative, but may not provide all aspects of a situation. Anything is just about possible on Television; as anything is just about possible in the real world, but "anything" costs money. By discussing a makeover this includes more than painting the walls or general accessorizing.
When doing a room be realistic regarding your choices. You have a budget and only certain things can be accomplished for a dollar amount. On television material costs are revealed to you. What is not addressed directly is the gas expense to obtain materials and the cost of labor to do the job. Your personal time is also an expenditure.
Your costs can be the money you loose if you run your own business; you can't be in two places at once. The second loss is the time you loose with your family because you become so involved with the project. The third loss is the cost of attempting "to fix it" or "redo it" if the room does not live up to your expectations.
So tips to keep in mind:
*A room makeover costs more than $500, keep your expectations reasonable.
*Write yourself a plan of action.
*Professional Trade Labor needs to be addressed thru estimations.
*If you do the job yourself there is a time cost, whether its driving all over town or the actual implementation of the project.
At Interior Gaines we save you time and frustration. Change to your home can be exciting, it does not have to be a nightmare. Call us at (805) 795 7244 and we can help you do your makeover for a reasonable price. Visit our website at www. InteriorGaines.com. We service Los Angeles, Camarillo, Oxnard, Ventura and Conejo Valley.
Contributed by: Janene Gaines on 8/22/2007
Interior design is about having a beautiful home
you want to enjoy. It's not about putting decorators' tastes upon
clients nor does it have to mean throwing away the old and bringing in
the new; it can be just adding a little color, rearranging a room or
just providing a couple of new accessories. Interior decorating does not
have to mean complete renovation.
Most importantly, change does not have to be
stressful; instead you should look forward to transforming your home the
way you want, so you are happy with the end result and not regretting
it.
Here are some tips we at Interior Gaines suggest
when looking for an interior designer. Be sure designers are committed
to the following:
Decorating in your style, not theirs
Designers should redesign your interior, not
redesign your budget
Sticking to the price they set by providing
parameters
A reasonable hourly rate and;
Providing you quality information
If you are looking to redesign your home or just in
need of a bit of directional assistance, call Margaret and Janene for an
appointment at (805) 795-7244. Our firm is one built on friendship, as
we met in décor class, became friends through a long carpool commute and
have fostered the growth of our company for 6 years. We assist clients
with color, fabrication, furniture and accessorizing; interior or
exterior. We service the Los Angeles, Conejo Valley
and Ventura areas.