Taking the Stress out of Holiday Decorating!

Taking the Stress Out of Holiday Decorating

• Start Early
• Treat it like a Job
• Be Relentless
• Be Realistic
• Know when to say when

Approach decorating your home for the Holidays like it is a JOB. Unfortunately very few of us have the time to spend days decorating and enjoying the process of decorating our homes for the Christmas season. BUT, we do enjoy the results! So, approach it with relentlessness. Start early in the season, I sometimes start in early November, and spend the whole day "getting the job done".

A few ideas to keep in mind;

• Start at the front door
• What areas of your home do you and guests see the most
• Are you going to entertain
• Have priorities about what you want to get done
• be realistic with your expectations
• Be Relentless

Staging Has WINGS

Staging Has WINGS!

The San Antonio chapter of Accredited Staging Professionals (IAHSP) transformed the offices of WINGS (http://www.texaswings.org/) (a breast cancer charity that provides treatment for women with breast cancer that are uninsured or under insured). As part of the national organization StagedHomes.com, the local IAHSP chapter participated in WWSSW (world wide staging service week) as a way to give back to the communities we live in.

Members of San Antonio IAHSP Chapter

Before
The office was a steel grey which made the rooms feel cold and uninviting. We painted the accent walls Jute Brown a Sherwin Williams color. By re-arranging the office equipment and restaging the artwork and framed awards we created a working environment that was warm and inviting for workers and patients alike.

After

Colors of Germany

We have just returned from a week in Germany! Since we went with friends who were very familiar with the country, we had the perfect traveling companions. We rented a car and toured through cities large and small, the Alps in Germany and Austria and the Black Forest to name a few of the sights we saw on our trip. Our first night we stayed in a castle! What an experience. And the Gesthaus experience is certainly the way to see a country!
One of the things I noticed (besides the fact that buildings and roads are thousands of years old) was the colors and architecture of the buildings, especially the soft combinations of paint colors throughout the country. Soft pinks and greens, greys and tans, and some stronger terra cotta combinations. What struck me the most, was how these soft combinations in such ancient surroundings could be adapted to even comtemporary decor.







Greens were wonderful. Either as a main house color or as a trim color!

Pink was everywhere. Here with turquoise! Also combined with soft greens and cool greys.












Classic blue and white!
This building was on the river in Bamburg.
A beautiful ancient city.

Art sets the Stage

Art Sets the Stage in a room. We often try to create the mood of a room with wallpaper or paint, and both are certainly important, but we may just need to bring the right art into the space. When you are working with things like a small space, cluttering it with wallpaper or too much color only makes the room seem smaller. Try more neutral colors to make the room look bigger and then some great art!

Home Staging Update

The transformation that takes place during a Home Staging is amazing. Staging, the process of

taking your home and decluttering, depersonalizing and neutralizing it so Buyers can imagine themselves living in your house. As an Accredited Staging Professional, I have been trained to use techniques that will initiate that process.

Buyers only see what is, not what can be. When we purchase a house, we are looking for a lifestyle, so Staging your house helps to set that "stage".

Staging the Living Show

Watch the transformation on the San Antonio Living Show.

Staging Service Week

World Wide Service Staging Week 2008

The local chapter of International Association of Home Staging Professionals pooled their talent to transform the Harvey Najim Respite House.

Before

Staged

Inaguaration Day January 20th, 2009

This is such a strange event for me. I have not been home on Inauguration day in a very long time. There is an allusion that owning a business gives you the free time to set your own schedule, but in fact it is more confining because you never leave it behind.

No matter where you stand in your political opinions this is a historic day in America. "We must begin the work of rebuilding America." For me, and the experiences of 2008 this rings true. For truly the "ground underneath us has shifted." "For the world has changed, and we must change with it". How these words depict My Journey. For it is the economy that lead me to the decision to close what had been my home for nearly 17 years, Traditions.
Change? A new way!

Chinati Hot Springs

Chinati Hot Springs

Set in an arroyo near the Mexico border, Chinati is a primitive respite from the rush of everyday life. We spent the New Year's holiday in this desert oasis with old and new friends. We cooked great food, soaked in the hot tubs and enjoyed time catching up on old times.

I tried my hand at decorating with "found" items such as tree roots, cactus leaves and rocks. I had brought ribbon, candle holders and table runners with me so I had a good start.

On the way out we stopped and purchased 3 colors of spray paint from the local hardware store. Gold, metallic bronze and brown matched the animal print and aqua runners. (Come by the office on Rhapsody and see). I spray painted the tree roots that washed up in the creek bed during a spring flood. Also sprayed were the cactus leaves, bushy limbs and the fallen leaves from a cotton wood tree. When put all together it was quite a sight. When we lit the tea lights and all came dressed in our Burlap costumes it was quite a sight to see!



















One fun thing I did , was to again scour the creek bed, this time for the perfect rocks. (Actually Charles carried up the rocks in by the pans full). We then washed them, heated them in the oven, then poured them out on the table to keep the bread warm.
























Enjoy the rustic views of Chinati Hot Springs in the desert of West Texas.








The mountain pass on the way to Chinati. After you leave the pavement behind, the road curves up and over the pass creating quite a dramatic adventure.

New Year in the desert of West Texas set the stage for Rustic Elegance. Chinati Hot Springs is a primitive oasis with adobe cabins and hot springs on tap. Leslie and I and 25 friends took to the outback with the vision of creating an elegant New Year's Eve dinner. We chose simple table settings of gold chargers, clear tableware and fringed runners made from a sophisticated aqua fabric with animal print added in to compliment the surroundings.

Armed with cans of gold and metalic spray paint I set out to find my decorations. After scouring the riverbed I discovered tree roots washed up from a spring flood, weeds dried to perfection and even some cactus leaves that could be spray painted and added to the table decor. Add burnout brown ribbon and tealights ensconced in recently painted candleabras and you have the perfect combination of rustic and elegant!