Red, White, and Blue Decorating...

Every year our family celebrates 4th of July with a different twist on decorating! My mother-in-law started a tradition over 10 years ago of Waffle Decorating! I know you’re thinking how does this relate to 4th of July? We decorate with strawberries (red), blueberries (blue), and whip cream (white).

Competition gets tougher every year to come up with an original idea! We’ve had everything from the Statue of Liberty to Elmo. Days, even weeks ahead, the phone calls start coming in with family asking ‘have you thought of what you’re decorating this year?’…but I know a good artist never tells reveals their masterpiece until it’s complete.

Prizes are awarded, and range from the most creative, best overall, and most delicious! I must say before we had kids, my husband and I thought the idea was a little strange. After having children, they cannot wait to get to grandma’s and get their groove on!

Here are some of this year’s entries, can you guess what they are?

Just a little fun to share and a reminder to have fun and enjoy the little things in life!

Interior Painting Tips

Often times we walk into a home that’s been freshly painted before entering the market. New paint is one of the most recommended upgrades for home sellers. A fresh coat of paint showcases the home in a ‘newer’ condition even if the home is older.

Before selecting the obvious WHITE for your wall color, consider painting an alternate neutral color throughout the home to give warmth to the space. Remember neutral colors extend past the obvious white and tan.

Here are some of our favorite colors we’ve recommended to realtors.

Trim, Woodwork, Ceilings - Swiss Coffee BEHR Paint #1812, This creamy white is our all time favorite.

Wall Colors -

Gallery Taupe, BEHR Paint, #ICC-89

Navajo White, BEHR Paint, #1822

Oyster, Kelly Moore Paint, #26

Don’t be afraid to go neutral with something other than tan. We recently consulted on a property and used a light sage green throughout the home as our neutral. The results were beautiful. Color trends are recommending lighter versions of green, yellow, and blue as the ‘new neutrals’.

Once you’ve chosen your color, you’ll need to decide on the proper finish. Satin, Semi-Gloss, High Gloss, Eggshell, Flat, how do I choose? Here are some basic rules to follow:

Flat - Its matte appearance softens a room and helps hide surface blemishes, making walls look smooth. Ideal for: Adult bedrooms, Dining rooms, Formal living rooms, Ceilings.

Satin - With its slight gloss, this finish offers the benefits of a flat finish with added cleanability. It works best for high-traffic areas such as: Halls, Woodwork, Children's bedrooms, Family rooms. This is our finish of choice in most cases, when in doubt go Satin!

Semi-Gloss - This lustrous, durable finish is perfect for areas that get cleaned frequently, such as: Kitchens, Bathrooms, Utility area, Closet doors, Trim

Gloss - This extremely hard and shiny finish provides a rich, smooth luster and is excellent for: Wood trim, Cabinets, Doors, Furniture

Companies like BEHR, Kelly Moore, and Sherwin Williams offer lots of tips and techniques on their websites. ‘Finish Selection’ was shared from the Sherwin Williams website. When in doubt about the color you are selecting, feel free to contact us for a quick and affordable paint color consultation. Your clients will thank you!