Showhouse Deck with a View

Deck with a View

If you have a great view from your deck, you have an automatic focal point. Great! Enjoy your view with a stylish bar set instead of ordinary table and chairs. Most bars and bar chairs are at least 36 inches high which will allow you to dine and enjoy your picturesque viewwith ease without straining your neck.

Enjoy your space, Rena

Top Tip for Decorating Children's Spaces

Of all the things I've shared concerning decorating a child's space, the most important tip to remember is this: "involve your child in the process".
I cannot stress enough how involving your child will make a huge difference from them accepting your color scheme to them keeping their room neat and tidy. When you involve your child in the process, it will instill in them a sense of ownership and a sense of pride.

So, go ahead, don't be shy, ask your child what he or she thinks, you may be pleasantly surprised.

Enjoy your space, Rena

Happy New Year!

Count your blessings! Make this year your best year ever! Enjoy your space, Rena

Welcome Fall!

Outdoor Eating & Entertaining Tips

Did you know Rena spent over 10 years operating her own Big Apple catering company and is a certified Food Safety Manager? Listen to the archived show anytime.

Pizzaz with Paint

Painting a wall is nice, but adding stripes is twice as nice! Horizontal stripes will make a space appear wider and vertical stripes will make a space appear taller. Hue knew?

Enjoy your space, Rena

Remove Clutter When Selling a House

After the curb appeal test has been passed and a prospective buyer crosses the threshold they decide if they like the house within the first 8 seconds! First impressions are lasting! Pay special attention to the foyer. Make it warm and welcoming instead of a drop off place for shoes, mail, and keys. In addition, clutter must be banished from every area of the house. Buyers are looking for square footage. Clutter is the number one culprit that conceals valuable real estate.

When selling, it is imperative that a house appear as large as it possibly can. If there are boxes or extraneous furniture in the house, a buyer cannot see what's for sale. Most buyers lack imagination and can't visualize what the home would look like if it were not overrun with clutter. Remember to help the buyer see what is for sale by removing the clutter. Enjoy your space, ReDecorating by Rena

Make a Large Room Cozy

Large rooms can be a good dilemma to have. To make a large room more cozy and inviting, consider establishing a seating group that is anchored by at least 1 chair, a table and lamp. Adding area rugs are also helpful in defining areas in a large space. Just remember to take a step back and make sure there is enough room left for an unobstructed traffic pattern. Enjoy your space, ReDecorating by Rena

Painting Ceilings

Go ahead and paint what design professionals call the "5th wall". Why not? Painting the ceiling can make a room cozy and intimate if a warm hue is used or open the space and make it seem larger if a cool color is used. Also, painting the ceiling the correct value of whatever color you choose can give the entire space a nice glow. So, go for it! Just remember to use a flat finish to hide the imperfections typically found in ceilings. Enjoy your space, ReDecorating by Rena

Choose fabrics carefully

The style you choose to decorate in and the purpose of the space will strongly dictate the kind of fabrics you choose. For instance, if you are decorating a family room that has a southern exposure in the casual style, fabrics that do not stand up to constant use (perhaps by children and pets) would not be a good choice. Additionally, a space that receives a great deal of sunlight would make using silks and other delicate fabrics prone to fade not cost effective options. So, take some time and research the fabric before introducing it to your space. Enjoy your space, ReDecorating by Rena

Determine the style for the space

Resist the urge to jump right in. Begin by asking yourself a few questions about the space. What will I do in the space?How do I want to feel in the space?Who else will use the space on a regular basis? If necessary, ask other members of the family the same questions. The answers to these queries will help to decide if the space is to be decorated formally or casually, for instance. Of course, there are other styles to be considered.

The style chosen will determine many of the subsequent decisions such as the type of furniture placed in the room, the fabric chosen, as well as the type of window treatment that is installed, to name a few. For example, the casual style typically has simple details, textured elements and lots of horizontal lines. The furniture tends to be large in scale and upholstered or slip covered. Whereas the formal style is inspired by period homes with elaborate architectural features and special attention is placed on symmetry and lines.

Enjoy your space, ReDecorating by Rena