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REAL ESTATE- SEPTEMBER 2014 Page RE-3
Are you starting a new
design project, or looking to
redesign a room in your
home?
Many homeowners feel
overwhelmed and stressed
when starting to decorate.
"Where do I start? What
should I do first?"
Often, a homeowner will
jump right into shopping for
furniture or choosing paint
colors, but if this is your
first step, you may not end
up with the harmonious
design you hope to achieve.
So take a step back and
let your inspiration lead you
to creating the perfect
space.
In order to create the
best outcome, you need to
start with an inspiration
from which everything else
will follow. Your inspiration
will be the model for every-
thing you do.
What is a design inspira-
tion? It is anything that
gives you the feeling that
you want in the room you
are decorating.
Your inspiration could
literally be an item like a
photo or a favorite decora-
tive pillow...or it could be
something that inspires you
to create your own look, like
a sunset you saw while
walking on the beach or the
memory of your favorite
vacation spot as a child.
When searching for
design inspiration, here are
a few ideas of where to look
to get the creative juices
flowing:
MAGAZINES:
Magazines are great
sources of inspiration for
designing a home; but don't
limit yourself to design pub-
lications. Look through
fashion magazines, food
magazines, children's publi-
cations, and product cata-
logs for insight and ideas.
You don't want to copy
exactly what you see in
design magazines. Take a
few ideas and combine them
with your own ideas to cre-
ate your signature look.
HOTELS:
Hotels use the finest
designers and architects, so
why not use their expertise
and creativity. Look at the
colors, furniture, and over-
all style to inspire your next
project. Ifyou don't want to
travel around the world to
check out hotels, you can
simply go to the bookstore
or look online. There are
many books and websites
with photos to inspire you.
ACCESSORY STORES:
One beautiful accessory
can speak to you in a big
way. You can build an
entire room around one
piece. Think about what
you love about that vase. Is
it the color, the shape, the
overall mood? Use those
elements in your room to
create the same feeling.
Now that you are
inspired, go find your spe-
cial piece that will pull that
entire room together...a
room that will make you
very proud.
PROTECT YOUR HOME FROM FIRE - A fire can destroy a home quickly, but what is more terrifying is that a fire can
start and accelerate rapidly and usually due to a simple mistake. While there is no way to keep a home safe from fire
completely, there are things we can all do to help prevent home fires. See the story below for tips on how to keep your
home as safe as possible.
Prevention Tips Can Help Keep Your Home Safe
fire at home can occur in just about any
room of the house and even outdoors. While
one can't account for natural disasters or
other unforseen problems, there are many
steps homeowners can take to prevent fires.
* Check the cords on all appliances and electronics.
Replace any frayed or damaged cords or wires.
* Do not overload outlets or rely heavily on multi-
plug power strips. * Keep cords out of the reach of children and pets.
* When cooking in the kitchen, always be present
while food is on the stove or in the oven. Flare-ups can
Occur at a moment's notice.
* Don't store items over the stove. They can fall and
ignite.
* Turn pot handles so that children can't reach them
and pull them over, risking burns.
* Be sure appliance vents have room to "breathe."
* Have the chimney checked and cleaned regularly.
* Use a metal or glass fireplace screen to block
embers.
* Limit the use of portable space heaters around the
home.
* Use extreme caution with cigarettes and ashtrays.
Empty them frequently when signs of heat and burning
are gone.
* Use light bulbs that are at the recommended
wattage for a fixture•
* Don't place any electrical items by water in the
bathroom.
* Store flammable materials in a locked metal con-
tainer in the basement or garage.
* Service the furnace and hot water heater on a regu-
lar basis.
* Do not store items too close to the furnace.
* Be sure every level of the home is equipped with
working smoke detectors•
* Keep one or two fire extinguishers charged and at
the ready.
