HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Citizen, 2003-05-14, Page 23THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 14, 2003. PAGE 23.
Add appeal before putting home on the market
If you’re in the market to sell your
home, you’ll want to get the most
out of your investment. Added curb
appeal will help draw in prospective
buyers.
People buying an existing home
often want to do their own
remodelling, so you probably don’t
want to do any major overhauls, but
cosmetic fix-ups are definitely a
must.
Here are simple and cost-effective
tips to spruce-up your home and
provide greater buyer appeal.
Landscaping:
Take the time to mow the lawn,
trim the hedges, and plant some new
flowers to create a more attractive
and inviting exterior.
Lighting:
A clever way to show off your
home is lighting. Replace old light
fixtures with recessed pot lights or
dimmers, and ensure you change all
burnt-out light bulbs.
Faucets:
A new faucet is an inexpensive
way to freshen up kitchens and
Decorator Q&A: harmonizing decor
By Dominique Pepin, Senior
Brand Manager at Sico, the
largest Canadian paint
manufacturer
Q: How do I create a colour
scheme for my decor?
A: The trend today is towards more
minimalist monochrome com
binations.
Therefore, it is important to find
your inspiration in items which
already decorate the room such as
furniture, fabric, a lamp, a painting,
etc.
Once a starting point is selected,
study the item’s main colours and
determine how you can best
accentuate them , with your paint
colour choice.
A turquoise blue, for example
would work beautifully to update a
room dominated by brown and
neutral furnishings and acces
sories.
To help select the best colours, the
following questions must be
answered:
• What is the style of the house?
• Is it based on an open area
concept where colours must all be
in harmony?
• How is the room oriented?
• What is the surface area of each
room?
• What colours are the items that
will remain in the house?
Planning for garden living?
What about patio furniture
• What ambiance do we want to
create?
Q: How do I harmonize colours in
an open-layout concept?
A: Since the rooms open on one
another, their colours must agree
with each other. A single key colour
should be used in all rooms and a
complementary colour should be
specifically selected for each
individual room.
For more information on paint and
coating choices, including a chance
to test room colours yourself, visit
the virtual decorator and interactive
decor rooms, online at sico.ca.
- News Canada
bathrooms, the most critically
assessed rooms by potential buyers.
Create a high-end, designer look
with the range of new faucet finishes
available to co-ordinate with
appliances and cookware.
Carpets:
Steam clean your carpets! Not
only will this remove some of the
signs of wear, especially in high
traffic areas, it will also minimize
smoke, animal and other odours.
Paint:
Blast new energy into your home
with a fresh coat of paint. Neutral
colours work best when selling your
home — create an accent wall to add
drama.
Clean it up:
Get rid of unwanted pieces and
mismatched odds and ends. Your
home will look more organized,
spacious and inviting. Ensure all is
tidy and stored neatly in its place,
and aim to keep it that way. Potential
buyers will take notice of dirty
dishes in the sink and unmade beds.
- News Canada
If redoing your patio or your
outdoor area is on your list of
projects this year, here are some
2003 summer trends that we hope
you’ll find particularly attractive.
Whether you own a home in town
or a property with broad lawns all
around, a condominium with a small
terrace, or a third-floor apartment
with just a balcony — wherever you
live, there’s always an ideal way to
plan and plant your space.. .a way to
make more of your great out
doors.
Some new, exciting trends
With the right shopping choices,
you can create a virtual extra room to
get the most out of summer in the
outdoor space around your
home.
Available in a vast array of
materials and colours, garden
furnishings and accessories are well
known for their long-lasting quality
and original designs.
Shoppers have the choice of
furniture styles and materials, from
wrought iron to molded glass, from
complete furniture ensembles in
aluminum to wickerwork and
fiberglass, all redesigned and
available in champagne, bronze,
black and charcoal gray colours.
And don’t miss the latest fashion
hit in the outdoor furniture
market...exterior hardwood furn
iture series, including a new line of
serving tables, benches and other
small accessory items to complete
your outdoor plan. b
Some styles even come with their
own cushions.
Garden accessories: Everything
you need for garden living
“Bistro” furniture sets make great
additions to your existing outdoor
furniture.. .ideal for ground floor lots
or balconies, or any other space you
have.
Wood and steel items for 2003 are
available in bronze, black or rattan
stains for wooden models.
Strap-woven lawn chairs, folding
chairs (single or double) and chair
swings are also great ideas to
complete your garden
ensemble.
Last but not least, there’s
selection of metal umbrella
molded steel park benches and
hammocks.
Plus chairs for picnics, camping,
sporting events and other occasions
in the great outdoors.
- News Canada
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