Home Improvement for Women

 Holiday Home – in Under 2 ½ Hours 

If you’re like me, you’re super busy at holiday time (and probably all the time). That often means preparations for holiday decorating come later in the season than you hoped – especially when it comes to projects around the house. Well, I have a 5-step, foolproof game plan for “holiday preparedness” that is easy to implement, simple, and effective. You’ll be ready to spread holiday cheer and toast the New Year in style in no time.

1. De-clutter and give back

Time: 2 hours

Clean up, make way for new toys, and teach the art of giving and recycling to your kids all at the same time. Devote a morning, afternoon or evening to going through your child’s toys to identify what he or she no longer uses, what is still in good condition, and then donate those items to a shelter, charity, or mom’s club. Recycle plastic broken or worn toys on trash day, and toss those that do not meet recycling requirements.

2. Add greenery

Time: 30 minutes

Even if you don’t celebrate Christmas with a trimmed tree, you can still add some natural scent and texture to your home, which is seasonal and should carry you through to the New Year. Boughs of holly or fir branches simply placed or draped on the mantel or arranged in vases, large and small, adds color and life – just what’s needed as we head deep into winter.

3. Light up your life

Time: 30 minutes

Fairy or string lights add twinkle and sparkle to your home – and are easy to hang. New LED and battery operated lights make adding lights to your décor even easier, more creative and energy efficient. So don’t just take the traditional route and line a window or mantel with lights. Try twisting them around a banister, hanging them across kitchen cabinets (the cook deserves some cheer too!) or pile them in a glass bowl and set them on a coffee table.

4. Set a fruitful table

Time: 15 minutes

Flowers are in short supply in the winter – they are expensive and travel long distances, making them the least “green” choice you can make for your holiday table. Instead, look in the grocery store for a bounty of seasonal and beautiful fruits and nuts for your holiday centerpiece. It’s an easy, elegant, edible and long lasting alternative to a vase full of hot- house red roses. Fill a large glass hurricane lamp with tangerines and limes; a silver bowl can overflow with nuts and lady apples; a basket of red and green pears all make fabulous centerpieces.

5. Take a powder.

Time: 15 minutes

The bathroom is often overlooked when it comes to holiday decorating. But, a lovely scented powder room, nicely decorated is an essential part of successful entertaining and hospitality. Since it’s a small room it is easy to decorate. Invest in a new set of towels in seasonal colors – winter white and sky blue, crimson and gold, or green and brown. Then add some pine scented soaps, scent diffusers, and lotion on the counter. A pretty container of hand cream will be much appreciated by you and your guests – nothing gets drier faster in winter than your hands!

Voila! You’re ready for a party. If I can do it, so can you!

  

Step Into Style in 2008! Quick Fixes for under $500.

 So another new year is upon us and that “Rosy Red” paint chip didn’t quite turn out to be the color you thought it was going to be! Sometimes repainting your living room or rearranging your furniture (again!) isn’t enough to freshen and revamp your space.  However, with some imagination and a modest investment of around $500 (or less) you can make dramatic changes to your home. What better way to ring in the New Year with a little face lift for our home.  Nothing gives quite the feeling of looking forward to a brand new year than repairing and replacing to give your home a comfortable, clean and organized start.

Here’s my list of top ten revamps – one or more will refresh tired living rooms and revamp boring kitchens and baths.

1. Kitchen facelift. You will not be able to replace your countertops with granite or marble for $500, but you might be able to replace worn laminate with new laminate depending on the size of your kitchen. And laminate comes in many styles that mimic stone or look gloriously mod. Paint your kitchen cabinets a glossy white and add new handles and knobs.  Adding new knobs are easy. All you will need is a screwdriver ( or power screwdriver)– and you’ve got yourself a new kitchen for $500!

2. Lighten up: change the hanging fixtures and add sconces to the walls of your living room or bedroom. Depending on the cost of the fixtures, you can find replacement lighting in a new style and have it installed by a licensed electrician for about $500 per room. Check eBay for vintage versions (new wiring is a must) or big home centers for modern looks.
3. Roll out the carpet: Cover a floor with sisal or jute cut and trimmed with a contrasting fabric to almost cover the entire floor. It’s a wall-to-wall look without the hassle. Jute and sisal rugs give your rooms a modern look, and also allow traditional Oriental rugs to stand out.
4. Fixture it.  Change all fixtures in your bathroom – Mounting extra shelves, towel bars, bathrobe hooks, shower set, soap dish,. This may seem daunting especially if you have a tile wall and shower.  But with the right tools it’s pretty simple.  Make sure you have my 12 volt drill with variable speeds and a set of masonry drill bits- and if you don’t own one , buy one! (hopefully mine).  Save on labor costs and do it yourself.  Make sure you use heavy duty tape to put over the tile and use toggle bolts which help strengthen and distribute the weight of what you are hanging.
5. Clean up! Regrout Bathroom Tile-  If you’re like most people you’ve put this job off for too long! The best time to deal with this problem is as soon as you see cracks that indicate the wall grout has failed.  Extract the existing grout by using an abrasive grout saw to remove as much grout as possible from the joint. Make sure you vacuum all depris and dust. Clean the grout to remove all mildew with a commercial mildew remover.  Make sure the surface drys thoroughly. Apply the grout with a grout trowel and spread diagonally across the tile going over the area 2-3 times using your fingers where you have too. ( use gloves to protect your manicure!) 
6. Replace window shades. Replace mini blinds or paper shades with bamboo or matchstick blinds. Big box stores such as Target and K-Mart sell good quality, but inexpensive versions. For $500 you can probable unify and outfit 3-4 rooms…these types of blinds never go out of style and always look chic, especially when draperies are layered over them.
7. Mirror it. Hang large mirrors in your living room or bedroom instead of art work Large mirrors bring sparkle and light into rooms, and give it a chic, modern look.  A great tip. To locate an exact spot on your wall for the more heavier mirrors use construction paper or newspaper. Trace the paper over your mirror or picture and use tape to hang on the wall so you know the exact spot and your not fumbling with the heavy mirror. I do it all the time!!
8. Minimize and replace. De-clutter one room – and be ruthless. Everyone usually has too much stuff in his or her rooms, not too little. Simplify, and get rid of any furniture or accessories that are broken, ugly, old, or tired. Then, bring one new piece into the room – such as a sculpture, a new rug, a fabulous pair of table lamps, a side chair, or coffee table. If you shop wisely, each of these items can be found for $500 or less.
9. Material change. Change the entire look of your rooms by replacing a drab or broken doorknob.  There are so many styles to choose from and this is a project you can do on a weekend.  Go to any home center or hardware store and pick out the style that best suits your taste.  Make sure you keep all the parts organized.  All you will need is a screwdriver or power screwdriver for quicker action and the appropriate hardware that usually comes with the doorknob. Remove the existing doorknob by loosening the two screws that hold the plate on.  Pull the doorknob apart and remove them and then the two screws holding the bolt. To install place the trim piece between the new doorknob and the door and insert the doorknob into the hole in the door.  Insert the other doorknob with the trim piece on the opposite side of the door making sure the two are aligned. Insert the screws and tighten.

10. Stencil Painting.  Cover one or more of the walls of your bedroom or living room with new paint using stenciling.  This effect will make it look like you spent thousands of dollars on some fancy wallpaper. I created an elaborate looking headboard out of stenciling using great colors.  It’s a project you can do on a weekend that costs less than $200 and that included some expensive paint! Buy the stencil for pennies at any good hardware or paint store.  Read my book Room For Improvement or Invest in Your Nest for easy instructions.

 Visit my website at www.barbarak.com for more tips.

Now, invite some friends over and have a party!

If I can do it , so can you!