One option for you to consider is marble. Marble is a gorgeous natural stone that can add warmth and a ton of character to your home. Kitchens are often the heart of a home and many families are choosing to opt for open spaces and great rooms to allow for their families to be in the kitchen together, to bring guests into the kitchen, and make memories and traditions that last for generations to come. So if you are looking for a legacy of love and warmth wrapped around family mealtimes, let you countertops join you.

There are many marbles to choose from, such as:

The traditional white marble, Carrara Marble, from Tuscany, Italy. It is primarily a white or blue grey marble.

Carrara marble countertops

I am super excited about another marble, Eramosa, from Canada. This gorgeous marble looks similar to wood when vein cut.

Eramosa Limestone

I look forward to seeing this marble in a kitchen I am working on!! I will post photos when it’s done.

Marble is waterproof, heatproof and beautiful! It’s finish can be polished, honed or leathered. Polished being the most common finish because this is how it arrives from the quarry. Honed finish is created by removing the very top layer of polished stone and is a very desirable finish. A leathered treatment it a little more work with brushes to create a slightly textured surface. Leathering is a very good finish for kitchen counters as it will be more durable.

Don’t be afraid to use a natural stone other than granite in your kitchen. You will enjoy the stories your countertops will tell of birthdays, Saturday dinners with friends, or family times together.

I love the paint in this room! Great for larger rooms with great light. Our nursery is not large so we have incorporated one argyle strip and I will post those photos soon.

Photo from Design Dazzle

And for your girl….

Pink and green argyle nursery

OK….if this is too much for your room. Try just a small bit like this one:

Large single argyle accent wall

I love this barn door! A sophisticated nursery for a little cowboy or girl. Love the neutral tones with the pop of my favorite color…orange.

Sophisticated cowboy/cowgirl nursery

For those afraid of color….skip the next one! This very bright room is very fun during non nap times….not sure I could sleep in there though. But I must give credit to the bold idea and great composition.

Not afraid of color!

How about a more soothing monochromatic scheme. Random letters or your child’s name would be super fun in this nursery. Keep the decor simple and let the letters shine. Speaking of….try doing them not only in different shades of blue, but also different paint finishes such as high gloss.

Painted letters monochromatic nursery photo:Decor Pad

And how about stripes….these are large neutral stripes that really allow the wall decals to pop. But so much better than a solid colored wall.

Large neutral stripes photo: www.babylifestyles.com

And lastly…how about dots?

Modern dots nursery

So have some fun. Be creative. I’ll let you know how ours turns out soon!

So let me introduce you…….  https://www.onekingslane.com/invite/tristangary

Brown and Ivory geometric rug

And what’s fun is that once you sign up, you can invite your friends/family to join and you get credit.

I love these 22″ pillows at $52 for the pair!

22" Red and White Pillows

Archipelago CandlesFlorentine 3 Tiered Server

This is an elegant server just in time for the holidays!

Florentine 3 Tiered Server

Enjoy the website and let me know of any great buys you make, treasures you find, or Christmas presents for me

Pantone released their Fall Color Chart for 2011 and it it gorgeous!

The warmth of coffee liqueur, nougat and cedar with accents of ember glow and phlox! I love it! There is something sophisticated and romantic about these combinations that just feel right.

From Pantone themselves:

Radiant Emberglow, a traditional autumnal tone, emanates the warmth of a glowing fire – the perfect panacea to the crisp air of fall. Combine Emberglow with Coffee Liqueúr for a classic look, or with Honeysuckle for something a bit more retro. Add a spark with shoes or a handbag in Emberglow, or perhaps a patterned scarf combining purpled Phlox or Deep Teal.

Phlox, a magical, deep purple with a hint of mystery, is an outstanding statement when worn on its own. Add Phlox to this season’s neutrals to create a bit of drama, or combine it with Cedar, Deep Teal or Coffee Liqueúr for something extraordinary. To add even more excitement, pair Phlox with Honeysuckle or Bamboo against a Cedar background – a combination inspired by Mother Nature.

Consumers continue to add stability to their wardrobes with neutrals. Rich, decadent Coffee Liqueúr brings a sense of elegance to fall, and is a savory alternative to basic black. A deliciously warm camel tan, Nougat is tastefully embellished by Phlox, Emberglow or Honeysuckle. Orchid Hush, a unique tone of gray with complex orchid undertones, blends well with any other color in the palette. Quarry, a reliable medium gray, remains, as always, a practical, dependable staple.

Contact me to talk about incorporating these fall colors (or any others) into your home today!

• MONEY! Staged homes sell, on average, 8-10% higher, according to the NAR (National Association of Realtors). According to HomeGain real estate, staging your home is the 2^nd highest home improvement you can do to get the highest ROI (Return on investment). Agents surveyed through HomeGain report the overall prices of a 3bd/2ba home, after spending between $5,000-$8,000 on professional whole house staging, can result in the following price increases: in the West, as high as $22,762; in the East, as high as $23,532; in the South, $21,470; in the Mid-West, $20,279. All of those figures reflect over a 150% return on investment.

• Staged homes sell faster! According to Realtors:

Nationwide: 5.3% of Realtors think the home sells days faster (less than a week)

44.8% think a home sells weeks faster

25.8% think a home sells months faster

Higher inventory means that buyers can take their time looking for just the right
home. The goal is to make them want yours!  By highlighting the best features of your home and making it more desirable than the next one, they won’t want to risk losing
yours.

• A professionally staged home photographs well. According to the NAR’s research of buyers, 90% of all buyers start their search online.  Give buyers areason to visit your listing first with great photos of a well-staged home.  A buyer may overlook 1 less bathroom or lack of garage if they can “see themselves” living in your home.

•  Advertising your listing as being professionally staged! The fees you pay that increase the value of your home and help it sell faster can also be tax deductible! Ask your CPA for more details.

As my clients will tell you, I often say, “When you walk into a space and you feel good (or conversely, bad) and you can’t say for sure why, it’s often the color.”

The psychology of color in interior design is a fascinating topic…no really, it is.

Reds are thought to be vivacious and exciting, blues are calming and serious, greens are soothing and tranquil, oranges are enthusiasm and energy, purples are creative and royal, white is clean and neutral, greys are timeless and solid….etc, etc…

And while some of these stereotypes are true, choosing your colors has as much or more to do with supporting your style or your “look”.  Are you wanting to complete a room that has furniture and art you love with walls that seem to disappear? Are you wanting to create drama with wall color? Are you afraid of making the wrong decision?

I implore you to please NOT stop at just your walls! To create an overall pleasing design, you need to address your ceilings with a complimentary color. A general rule of thumb is: If your ceilings are 8′ or lower, stick with a very light neutral in similar tones to your walls. If you ceilings are 8′+, then you can use more color to really create a finished, welcoming space.

So when choosing your colors, you have options.

1. Hire an interior designer, who can bring their passion into your home to create inspired spaces tailored to your style.

2. Pour through magazines and websites, identifying spaces that you see yourself in. Look to see if it is the color, the space planning, the lighting or the furnishings that you are drawn to. Maybe it’s a bold color, but you pair it with large white molding or waiscoting and those bold colors can lose some of their “powers” and be just what you are looking for.

Is this your color of the year?

3. Consult your wardrobe. What colors make you feel good when you wear them or be surrounded by? Sometimes this is a terrific way to jump start your interior color choices! Or make you rethink your own wardrobe….How much black and white can one person wear??

4. Have I mentioned hiring a designer yet? A color consultation can be done in a short period of time. Money well spent!