Haley MacDougall – Sutton West Coast Realty – transition made simple.

What better way to throw the house a street view facelift than to splash a little color on the front door. It immediately dresses up the exterior and the best part is you can change it with each new year. Simple to do and definitely freshens up any exterior! Saying I love this mint green door is an understatement…

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Okay, so normally I don’t blog about chattles…sorry realtor speak…unfixed items such as furniture etc. but I just had to mention this. The functionality of this coffee table just blew my mind and it’s at a great price. The top of this coffee table split in 2 and spring loaded so you can store things inside and still get to them when all your other annoying coffee table staples (remote, magazines, coffee) are strewed all over the place. And that’s not all…it’s a built in tv table! If you are anything like me (and who isn’t?!?) you eat your dinner in front of the TV. This enables you to eat a decent height; no more leaning over! This one is definitely on the birthday list:)

At West Elm on sale for $417.28 right now http://www.westelm.com/products/rustic-storage-coffee-table-g569/?pkey=ccoffee-table-sale

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I’ve got spring on my mind…I don’t know why;) And I have a deck/yard/exterior renovation to tackle now that the interior gut job is complete (pictures to follow I promise, I’ve been preoccupied with raising a new little human;)

If your deck is lucky enough to be anything like our new one it is south facing and very exposed to the elements…great for light and view but not so nice for blowing rain/winter bbq’ing/overheating the house in the summer. We really want some cover but not all the time. When we bought the house there was a very large corrugated vinyl fixed awning which made the house really dark and looked like…well you get the picture. What is the solution? I’m loving these custom made awnings that just roll out when you need them. Sure some of them happen to look like they should be attached to the ol’ fifth wheel but if you get one done up in custom colors to match your trim they really can look very reminiscent of a Parisian bistro in the summer months don’t you think? I’m going to put up some globe lights in the backyard to finish off the look;)

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I love the substance of chandeliers in a room but they are starting to getting a bit played out aren’t they? All the crystal and glitz and glam. Not to mention they seem to be everywhere from Walmart to Ikea. Another thing that you can find plenty of are brass lighting fixtures but who wants brass? NOT I. So why not spray paint them another fun color to spice up your room for minimal cost. I love the idea of doing one in aqua blue or yellow like the ones below. You never would guess they were once brass eyesores so go hit those second hand shops people!

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The thought of putting natural stone or quartz countertops into a kitchen can sound like a fabulous idea until you see the price it. It is alarmingly expensive…but looks great and adds value to your home. In my travels I’ve discovered that slate countertops are a cheaper alternative. They look contemporary and beautiful but cost half as much. Definitely an option if you are struggling with the idea of spending an arm and a leg on your new countertops!

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To paint the staircase or to leave it in it’s heritage glory? That is the question…

Split the difference. This is a fabulous cost effective way to make a staircase ‘pop’ while not totally abandoning the beauty of the old stair treads. Much cheaper than getting a carpet runner too;) Go with white for a clean modern esthetic or change it up with a bright aqua blue or red for a punch of color. Fun!

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I remember when I was a kid I just loved window seats…what’s not to love? They are a cozy place to curl up and read or make a great glorified dog bed/watch post. Custom cabinetry can be costly if you are wanting to build a window seat in your home but there is a more affordable route. It’s called Ikea! Oh Ikea how I love thee…

Why not go and check out some options to mix and match and create that great “built in” look. They have some great TV benches that would serve as the window seat and then flank it with a couple bookshelves (the Hemnes line has both). Throw on some nice decorative pillows and there you have it…custom look for half the price:)

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So my hubby and I are always “conversing” about what appliances should be left on the counter and which should be put away. I love the look of a clean counter but if I’m using the kettle 3 times a day shouldn’t it just stay there?!

These “appliance garages” are perfect alternatives to the endless debating and I have my heart set on one. The appliances are at an arms length but also out of sight. Just make sure you get an electrician in so it’s wired accordingly!

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Ahhhh, kitchens. They are the place we spend a majority of our time and they are the most costly renovation to a house. That being said there are a lot of ways to save some bucks on your next kitchen reno without sacrificing style or equity potential. Buying floor model appliances is a good one. So is doing your own back splash (I did it and so can you!). Wood counter tops look great and are cheap cheap cheap! I think another great way to save costs is using shelving instead of upper cabinetry. Cabinets are expensive! Yes you need a nice place to hide all bags of rice and cans of beans but a nice pantry will suffice…but what about those wine glasses and your cute eclectic mug collection? Why not put it on display? By avoiding upper cabinets you can really save yourself some money…and I think gain some style (just make sure to have a drawer picked out for all those kiddie cups and tupperware).

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Who doesn’t love a campfire? Check out this amazing new contemporary campfire for your urban patio or backyard. It’s from Hiroshi Tsunoda and burns clean bio-ethanol…perfect for your next patio party! Bet it would brown up a smore real nice…

Check out more info here

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