EventsEvents

Council meets

Discovery Furniture and RoomMakers are hosting free seminars on holiday decorating during November.Nov. 20 - Decorating around Christmas themes, at RoomMakers, 1155 S.W. Wanamaker.The Topeka Garden Council will meet for a brunch at 10 a.m. Nov. 5 at Old Prairie Town, 124 N.W. Fillmore. Attendees are asked to bring a dish to share. Information: 286-1317.Nov. 27 - Holiday decorating of mantels and tabletops, at RoomMakers.Council meetsNov. 13 - Decorating with holiday colors and textures, at Discovery.Nov. 27 - Holiday decorating of mantels and tabletops, at RoomMakers.Each class will be offered at 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. on its scheduled day, and an extra class will be at 9 a.m. Nov. 10. Seating is limited; make reservations by calling 271-0684.Nov. 6 - Porch and entryway decorating, at Discovery, 1133 S.W. Wanamaker.Toni Farrell-Higgins and Paula Johnson, Rooms ReNew stylists, will lead the classes, which are:

Nov. 27 - Holiday decorating of mantels and tabletops, at RoomMakers.

Clutter control: Style maven Maybelle Imasa-Stukuls reveals her storage secrets for tiny spaces

BUILD IN FLEXIBILITY

Any unused space is fair game for storage. Drawers on casters conceal seldom-used items under the bed. They also work well for storing toys in a cramped kid's room. Under-bed drawers $75 from Stumasa. BONUS TIP Use garment bags to keep dust out of stored linens.PUT FURNITURE TO WORKOpen shelves are all about easy access, but they force you to edit. "When it's in plain sight, you know what you've got," says Maybelle. "You forget about things behind cupboard doors." Oaktown cubby unit $399 from Stumasa. BONUS TIP Group displays of utilitarian items by color.RECYCLE MAGAZINES Tear favorite ideas and recipes from magazines and store in folders.RELATED ARTICLE: Maybelle on minimalismACCESS WHAT YOU OFTEN NEEDMultipurpose furniture is a must. "We don't have an entryway closet, so this storage bench holds anything I need to unload," says Maybelle. Westport storage bench $379 and baskets $15 each from Stumasa. BONUS TIP Forget folding chairs--move the bench for extra seating."Freestanding wall units can be much less expensive than built-ins," says Maybelle. Custom wall unit $3,800 and wire baskets $29 each from Stumasa. Chalkboard by not Neutral, $36; seejanework.com BONUS TIP Create a niche in the unit for a workstation to add even more function.MAXIMIZE WALL SPACECubbies are ideal for storage and display--and are easy to stack. "I'm constantly changing that area as we acquire new art and books," says Maybelle. Cubes $60 and $80 from Stumasa Office Basics accordion style organizer $36; seejanework.com BOUNS TIP A tower of books makes a great display pedestal.Designer, illustrator, and calligrapher Maybelle Imasa-Stukuls shares a one-closet, 740-square-foot home with her woodworker husband, Greg Stukuls, and their dog, Kiki. Both Maybelle and Greg design for Stumasa, a furniture store in San Francisco. She describes their shared predilection for organization: "Shortly after we met, I came home from a trip to my closetless apartment to find an armoire he'd hand-built. I knew it was love." Her advice for living minimally:THINK AHEAD If you don't love it or need it, don't bring it in the house.INFO Stumasa (stumasa.com or 415/759-1234)CONTINUALLY EDIT Especially your book collection and your closet. Maybelle keeps a "to donate" bag in her car for regular clothing purges.

INFO Stumasa (stumasa.com or 415/759-1234)

The new rules: interior designer Sheri Sheridan gives us the secrets of freestyle decorating from her Oakland home. The key: Make the most of what you have, and indulge with care

1. START BIG

Prioritize your space & choose key furnishings firstWEST ELMZ GALLERIEAlthough Sheridan originally wanted a pricey tufted headboard, she instead bought four-packs of miniature Sorli mirror tiles from Ikea ($4.99) to create a glamorous high-end look. The organic cotton pin tuck duvet cover ($99 queen) and Euro shams in Sea Spray ($24) are from West Elm.crateandbarrel.comCombine eras, price points, and stylesFrom malls to big box, where to get whatwestelm.comFor Sheridan, every surface is an opportunity to tell a story or create a mood. A still life on her dresser is made up of trinket boxes she's had since childhood, a vintage-looking phone from Pottery Barn, and other ephemera, including a 1920s art deco figurine she found at a flea market."I love mixing time periods and styles so they work together," says Sheridan. The combination makes the vintage seem current and the contemporary pieces less stark. In her dining room, she's mixed mass-market bargains with a few design treasures. "Adding one element can change a whole look," she says. A midcentury Saarinen table and chair combine with a new chair from West Elm (similar-style chair $99). Pillar candles from Pottery Barn fill the fireplace; the mantel is home to several balls of string, saved by Sheridan's grandmother, plus 19th-century candelabra. Hanging over it all is a vintage George Nelson saucer lamp (new ones from $300 at Design Within Reach; dwr.com).CRATE AND BARRELSALVAGE SOMETHING Sheridan found this bench on a street corner--and though it came with a broken leg and some pretty sorry fabric, she saw its potential. She repaired the leg, painted the frame white, and had the cushion reupholstered in a $75 fabric remnant.Invest in furniture that will withstand the test of time; its basic shapes and colors serve as decorating cornerstones. In Sheridan's house, design icons like a Saarinen dining table, a modern sofa, bubble lamps, and an acrylic coffee table balance her colorful, eclectic accessories.Sheridan adamantly advises that any high-end purchases be original art. "Never be afraid to buy art if you love it," she says. "Art is always a smart investment." To counter such indulgence, Sheridan shows off her valuable 19th-century original Beaux-Arts illustrations in $20 frames from arts and crafts store Michaels (michaels.com for locations).Sheridan paid retail prices for the kitchen's sunny yellow paint and for the rich, neutral trim (Benjamin Moore's Swiss Coffee) throughout the house. The rest of her colors came from the paint store's $5 bin--a collection of slightly mismixed paint and orders that were never picked up. "You can't always find all your colors, but you can usually locate some for one or two rooms," she says.SELECTIVE SHOPPINGINDULGE IN ARTGreat for: dining chairs, side tables, Parsons desks, specialty designer items, and quirky ephemeraMake what you already have display-worthyOn a lawyer's bookcase in her kitchen (opposite), she's combined a doll form found at a flea market with antlers her dad found at his Oregon ranch (nostalgic pieces she plans to accent with gold leaf), a wax diorama from a 1920s biology class, and a stuffed duck ("I don't support taxidermy, but I do celebrate antique art forms," Sheridan explains).Great for: shelves, accessories like jewelry armoires, candlestarget.comCREATIVE COMBINATIONSrestoration hardware.compotterybarn.comRESTORATION HARDWAREHOW SHERIDAN MAKES IT WORKTake a chance on colorGreat for: mirrored furniture, trays, barware, decantersPhotographs by Thomas J. Story * Styling by Miranda Jones2. CELEBRATE TCHOTCHKESGreat for: designer specialty lines, bed linens (Fieldcrest Luxury), towels, bath accessories, chair cushionszgallerie.comCREATIVE ALTERNATIVESChoose low-cost solid-color pillows, such as this Tempo velvet pillow in fuchsia from Crate and Barrel ($33), then accent them with designer pillows such as the lavender Flock pillow by Thomas Paul, available at Swallowtail ($98).Accent a set of basic white dishware from a chain store with a few beautiful vintage pieces. "The white makes the other pieces pop--like a white frame around a beautiful piece of art," Sheridan says. Vintage Waterford china tops Cuisine dinnerware from Crate and Barrel ($4.95-$50).IKEAA simple modern white table gets a more sophisticated look when paired with a reupholstered Hollywood regency chair and a feminine tea set. City Slicker table is from CB2 ($199; cb2.com); Mongolian lamb pillow is from Krimsa ($110; 415/441-4321).Great for: basic upholstered furnitureikea.comAccording to Sheridan, the most important areas in a house are the entryway and the living and dining rooms. "These are your entertaining spaces, and they should be celebrated every day." Each needs something big and bold, so the room feels substantial. "You want to add something tall to support flow and draw the eye up, making the ceiling seem higher," Sheridan says. Note her Greek column in the corner.Great for: draperies, flowerpots, bath mats, flokati rugs, candles, kitchenware, mirrors, frames, teak garden furniturePOTTERY BARNGreat for: towels, hardware, cleaning supplies with design-friendly packagingTARGET3. SHUN LABELS

Photographs by Thomas J. Story * Styling by Miranda Jones

Constantin Wallhauser: COSAR HMT

Right in the entryway of this show loomed the projected image of a "carousel" made of wooden table legs and staircase balusters. Three steps farther in, behind the wall on which this was projected, was a room that seemed like a hidden world. Here one saw in reality the jury-rigged carousel one had just seen in the video loop; the sound of the projection gave the regular, swaying motion of the various shapes an almost meditative sense of inevitability. Between the projection in the entryway and this procession of wooden furniture parts, the boundary between image and real space began to blur. Through this world of shadows, titled Karussell (Carousel), 2010, the video transitioned to showing a man walking in a circle; the light of the projection beamed through the rotating assemblage.

"Herr Schatten, Sie haben Prokura" (Mr. Shadow, You Have Power of Attorney) is the title Constantin Wallhauser gave this simultaneously laconic yet pathos-ridden exhibition. "Mr. Shadow" enjoys a certain power, if the title is to be believed, and yet, as the protagonist of the video, he staggers about headless, reeling and staggering. He raises his arms in the air theatrically, then falls down flat on the floor: Mr. Shadow is on shaky ground. And if the word Prokura translates to "power of attorney," Mr. Shadow seemed, appropriately, to act on behalf of the artist himself: eternally circling in the shadow of his own work, stumbling between euphoria and failure, constantly struggling to find his way.--Sabine B. VogelTranslated from German by Oliver E. Bryfuss.In Karussell, the slats are similarly ersatz, made of an epoxy resin. Yet the lathe-turned balusters in the work are in fact found objects and made of actual wood. With this confusion of things and their representations, everything can be seen as a kind of proxy, a power of attorney. The "wooden" slats seem to similarly stand in for the brand name Herold, or at least for the transformation of straightforward building materials into complex sculptures. In Karussell, things, projections, and references rotate and replace one another with dizzying facility. What at first appears as a straightforward allegory begins to seem like something else. Our belief in one overriding reality is suspended.

Translated from German by Oliver E. Bryfuss.

Backyard Ideas: Convert Your Old Shed Into Your Favorite Getaway

Do you have an old shed sitting in your backyard that has seen better days? Has it past its life expectancy? Has the original paint job made way for a more prominent color called rust? Well, if you have answered yes to just one of these question, I would like to share a weekend project with you that will turn that old shed into your favorite getaway.

Get rid of the old and make way for the new:As you can see, converting your old shed into your favorite getaway can be accomplished within ten easy steps. So, the next time you look out your kitchen window and see that old garden shed of an eye sore, do not get dismayed. Go to your local garden center, pick up a few items, and transform that worn down shed into a refurbished oasis.e) Fill in the spaces between the potted plants with the additional plant material you have purchased. The more flowering plants you install the better. You are trying to create a focal point using the color from the flowering plants and contrast created by the large scale of the potted plants.Don�t get rid of that eye sore of a shed that has taken over the back corner of your backyard. Stop being embarrassed every time you have guest over because no matter how nice the rest of your yard is, that rust bucket keep screaming �look at me, look at me.� Well, it is time you give visitors to your home a good reason to look. In just one weekend you will have created a backyard oasis that not even you will be able to resist. Have I convinced you to give that large piece of garden sculpture a chance at a new life? Good. Now let�s get started.Be careful to purchase paint that the manufacturer has created specifically for the material your shed is made from. If your shed is made from metal, you will need a paint designed to cover metal. If your shed is made from wood, you will need a paint designed to cover wood. No matter what your shed is made from, you will need to purchase exterior paint and not paint created for interior surfaces.5)Purchase additional planting material to fill in the gaps between the large potted plants. These should be plants that are planted directly into the ground. Plant as much flowering plants as you can squeeze into this space. The idea here is to create a lush garden along both sides of the shed. Do not worry about over-crowding, as the plants out grow the space you can dig them up and plant them somewhere else in the yard. You want your garden shed getaway to have that mature look today, not two years from now.4)Purchase decorative pots to house your large potted plants. The larger the pots the better. Keep in mind that your potted plants need room to grow so buy large, very large pots. Make sure they can withstand the changes in the outside climate. If you live in one of the northern states, your pots must be able to withstand extreme cold. If you live in one of the southern states, your pots must be able to endure heat waves.a) Prime the inside and outside of the shed.h) Place your outdoor hanging candle lantern within close proximity of your tabled) Place your potted plants on both sides and in the front of the shed. Begin by placing one potted plant on each side of the entryway. Be sure they are centered and attractively invites your guests in. Then place two on the left side of the shed and two on the right side of the shed.One word of advice, GET AN EARLY START! This is without a doubt a weekend project. The earlier in the day you start, the better time management you will have.k) Take a step back and look at what you have created. Add any additional accessories you may need to help create a warm and welcoming environment. Look at the shed as though it is an outside �garden room.� Because accessories will be protected from the weather, consider items from around the house that will help you transform the shed into a place that is calm, soothing, and inviting. You want this to be a place that you will enjoy having your morning coffee or reading a good book or just a place to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life.j) Add a small potted plant here and there to bring the outside in. Fill a decorative pot with a mixture of colorful flowering plants. This is a great way to add seasonal color.Purchase all the items you will need:f) Install the outdoor wall candle lanterns (one on each side of the entryway) at least 12 inches from the doorway.3)An alternative to the 6 potted plants would be to purchase climbing roses or one of your other favorite vines. Plant them in the ground and allow them to climb up both sides of the shed. Either a store bought trellis or a trellis you have created from scratch would be ideal for achieving the desired effect.Be sure to carefully measure the distance from the ground to the height where you will be drilling a hole for the screws that will hold the candle lantern up on the wall. You want both wall candle lanterns to be of equal height and distance from the doorway. Repeat the measurement that was used on the left side to the right side of the entryway.This is the time to choose a bright color to paint your shed. Choose a color that will draw the eye of your guest to the shed. Do not be afraid to use color. Your best option is to pick a color that will contrast against the color of your planting material.Unfortunately, this project will cost you a little money. But, to your surprise, you can accomplish your goals for under $200 depending on how many of these items you already have.i) If your shed has electricity, place a nice table lamp on the table. If your shed does not have electricity, consider purchasing additional candle wall sconces or a candle chandelier from The Candle Lantern Shop and install them within the shed.6)Purchase flooring for your new shed. This is optional and should only be purchased if your budget allows. If your shed is already sitting on a concrete slab you could lay decorative tile down, stain it, or have it resurfaced and stamped. There are many decorative styles your concrete slab can be stamped in. However, this is a job for a professional and by far the most expensive method I have mentioned. If your shed is sitting on the ground, indoor/outdoor carpet might be a good option.b) Paint the inside and outside of the shed.8)Purchase two outdoor wall candle lanterns and one outdoor hanging candle lantern. Two will be used to light the entryway into the shed (place one on each side) and one will be used to provide lighting inside the shed. The Candle Lantern Shop has excellent choices of outdoor hanging candle lanterns that sit on its own stand.7)You are going to need a small table and two chairs. These are items you may already own. If you must purchase them, be sure to consider the inside space of your shed. There is only so much space inside a shed. You do not want to purchase a table and chair set that is too large.Placement of the wall candle lanterns is extremely important. You do not want to be more than 12 inches from the entryway because the candles are open flame and will cause a safety hazard. You do not want to be too far away from the entryway either. After all, the idea is to provide a lighting source for safe entry into the shed during the evening hours.1)You are going to have to paint the shed in order to breathe new life into it. Buy a gallon of GOOD primer and a gallon of EXCELLENT exterior paint. The qualities of these two items are vital for establishing longevity of your paint job. This is not the area where you want to try a save a few bucks. If you do it right today, your shed will still look like a great backyard getaway and be just as inviting fifteen years from now.Do not be afraid to mix and match the colors of your pots. Purchase bright colors that catch the eye from a distance and have interesting detailing on them. Do not go for plain and boring. You are trying to create the WOW factor and playing it safe is the last thing you want to do. Now is the time to take advantage of the use of color.g) Add your table and chairs inside the shedc) Lay your flooring material.The first thing on the agenda to do is clean out that old shed. Get rid of everything. You need to start with a clean slate. The best way to tackle this task is to find a new home for these items and instead of stock piling everything over to the side, go ahead and place them in their new permanent storage location. This will prevent you from having to do a lot of extra work later on. Besides, when you finish creating your new backyard getaway, you don�t want your old storage items blocking your view.2)Purchase 6 LARGE potted plants. These will be used to create a lush garden appeal as well as draw the eye of the visitor to your shed. Try and purchase plants that are, or will be in a very short amount of time, at least five feet tall (including the pot). They should have a look of maturity, be lush and full in nature, and very healthy. DO NOT purchase trees. They will grow to be too tall and eventually overpower the space. You want to create something that is at eye level. Some suggestions are flowering plants or palms.

As you can see, converting your old shed into your favorite getaway can be accomplished within ten easy steps. So, the next time you look out your kitchen window and see that old garden shed of an eye sore, do not get dismayed. Go to your local garden center, pick up a few items, and transform that worn down shed into a refurbished oasis.

Author: Shirley Kelly

Special Tips for Selling Your Home During the Challenging 2007 Market

For those trying to sell a home this summer, the real estate climate can feel unseasonably chilly. Truth be told, this is one of the most difficult selling environments in recent history, so if you are feeling a bit frustrated and anxious, you are far from alone. All across the USA homeowners are pulling out the stops to try and encourage sales, but successful transactions are getting as scarce as hen�s teeth.

� Add curb appeal:There are so many manufacturers to choose from when it comes to fiberglass that it is important for you understand a bit about how fiberglass is made so you can find a reputable column provider. Fiberglass is actually little glass threads which are spun into thin strands that can be woven into a strong, durable material which is impervious to heat, rust and many other extreme elements. Fiberglass columns are not only made of fiberglass but a compound made by combining fiberglass and plastic. These two materials are heated and then molded into the desired column shape. Basically the plastic provides the structure and the fiberglass provides the strength and durability.There are three classic orders�think styles�of columns: Doric, Ionic and Corinthian. The Doric order was the earliest of the Greek columns and are the heaviest and thickest. Ionic columns are known for their ram horn capitals and they were the first to use decorative bases. The most complex column is the Corinthian order, which are slender (most architects refer to them as the �female� column), topped with an ornate decorative capital and entablature. They also have a base and plinth, which is basically a tapered ledge that meets the floor. Keep in mind all orders can by custom changed to architectural specifications.If you really want to give a room a new look or add to your exterior, then you�ll want to check out corbels. With their growing popularity, more and more designs are available for you to choose from. Corbels are available in solid wood, polyurethane and stone. The preferred material is wood, because it�s hand carved and can be painted, stained or glazed to add to your home�s decor. Most manufactures have their own line of corbels to choose from, but you can always have one custom designed. Corbels can be used almost anywhere, but generally you�ll find them used as stand alone on cabinets, furniture, pilasters, door panels or over doors or as support for shelves and mantels.Wood columns are a wonderful architectural addition to any home because they add a sense of class and distinction to your home�s overall appearance both inside and out. They are easy to install and can be carved in any shape or style and painted to match or stand out from your home�s decor.* Easy installation.Architectural MillworkThe price of adding columns to your home will depend on the size and material of the column, its load-bearing capacity and the amount of detailing. A plain, eight-inch-diameter, eight-foot-long wooden column in pine, hemlock, or fir costs about $160. Double that price for one made of redwood or cedar. A comparable column in fiberglass starts around $200 or more for a plain, round eight-footer. Installation will add to the price, but it�s worth every penny to give your home, porch or entryway the grand look of a Greek temple.Fiberglass ColumnsWooden Columns* They can be shaped and painted to give any desired lookWhile the Ancient Greeks and Romans used columns first for support and second for aesthetics, today�s builders and designers have the luxury of using columns solely for the purpose of decoration. Modern construction materials can now support the weight of a roof without placing a column every six feet. Now you can have columns placed anywhere you please. If you want to give the illusion of a bigger space, the careful placement of interior architectural columns can achieve that look. Conversely you can divide a large room by having your designer create two separate spaces without closing off the room with a wall. This is a great idea if you want to divide your living areas but don�t want to break up the grandness of such a large living room.

To list your home with a broker committed to serving the GLBT community, visit www.GayRealEstate.com. To help your buyer get the loan they need, you can also check out www.GayMortgageLoans.com. Or just call toll free 1-888-420-MOVE (6683).

Author: Jeff Hammerberg

Home Building - Columns & Millwork

Whether you use columns as an aesthetic design element or give it a supporting role�your home will be greatly enhanced by fitting columns into your architectural plans. Since ancient times columns have graced private homes as both decorative and structural�supporting a wall or roof.

MoldingsCorbels* More impact resistant than wood.But before you despair, follow these tips offered by those with lots of experience marketing homes in bear markets:Wood columns should be made of only the finest woods like mahogany, poplar, cherry, pine, oak, maple, and redwood. Most wood column suppliers and manufacturers can carve both round and square columns in sizes consistent with classic proportions, as well as custom shaft diameters for special projects. Wood columns can also be smooth surfaced or fluted with ridges�whatever suits your artistic vision.If your home looks great from the curb, buyers will want to have a closer look. If it looks a bit shabby, they will just keep driving. Start with the entryway, which is what first attracts the eye, and make it look spectacular. Don�t invest a lot of money; just buy a new door or paint the one you already have and add some nice looking but inexpensive flowerbeds, potted plants, or border fencing to create a beautiful focal point leading into the home. Do-it-yourself landscaping involving some rich-looking mulch and colorful flowers can make a drab property pop like eye candy, and it doesn�t have to cost much to get dramatic results.Although the classical designs of ancient Greek and Roman columns are as popular today as ever, don't feel bound to build the expected, since manufacturers of pre-made interior and exterior columns offer homeowners many different shapes, styles and sizes to choose from. In addition to a plethora of off-the-shelf designs, you can have your columns custom made.CostThe preferred material by builders and architects for columns is fiberglass because it offers an attractive look that is more impact-resistant than wood. Like wood they are available in both a round and square shape with a choice of smooth or fluted surfaces. Today�s fiberglass columns are manufactured not only to aesthetically replicate the classic column forms but they are also strong enough to serve as structural, load-bearing columns.� Sweat the small stuff, but make sure you first take care of any �deal killers� that might be scaring away potential buyers:� Take an aggressive approach to showcasing your property:Broken doorbells and doorknobs, cracked window panes, and dingy carpet or countertops can make a property look worn out, so consider fixing these relatively small items to dress up your home and make it more appealing. But first evaluate your property with the help of a Realtor or building contractor, to find out if you have any �deal killers�. If the house needs a new roof and has stains on the ceiling from rain leaks, for instance, it could be driving away all potential buyers. The same goes for obvious problems like the presence of potentially hazardous mold or a defunct heating and air conditioning system. Unless you address these problems � either by taking care of them or by lowering your asking price to account for them � buyers will not want to get involved.The tradition of classic beauty in architecture is carried on today through pre-cast stone columns rather than natural stone columns. New technology allows builders to create pre-cast stone columns that have the look and strength of ancient Roman columns but without the drawbacks of using natural stone columns. The biggest difference between pre-cast stone columns and natural stone columns is cost. It is much cheaper to pour a stone column into a cast than it is to chisel it out of a giant stone slab.Architectural millwork is the easiest and most affordable way to give your home a unique look. Millwork is traditionally defined as woodwork, such as doors, window casings, and baseboards that are ready-made by a lumber mill. Today, millwork refers to many other prefabricated architectural products, particularly those made from polyurethane and fiberglass to create unique columns, balustrades, arbors, crown molding or any other design element you might want to create or recreate. Millwork allows you to duplicate a home from your favorite period - say Victorian, Greek Revival, Colonial or how about recreating a room from �Gone With the Wind.� Whatever you can imagine, you�ll be sure to find a millwork product on the market today that will turn your vision into a reality.* Insect and critter proof.* Usually come with a lifetime warranty�check with your manufacturer.Moldings are one of the details that can really add to the exterior and interior look of your home. The majority of moldings are made from either polyurethane synthetics or simple wood. Most home designers are choosing polyurethane over wood because it is almost impossible to differentiate between polyurethane millwork molding from painted wood molding. The long term benefits of using this material is that it won�t split, rot or peel like wood will. When it comes to base moldings, it is very durable and can handle daily wear and tear. Despite all the benefits of polyurethane, many people still hold their aesthetic allegiance to wood over synthetics and will take on the added burden of maintaining wood moldings. If you�re a wood purist, be sure that you use high quality wood and have it treated to help prevent rot and insect damage especially on your exterior. When it comes to size and shape there is no limit to the amount of choices available in molding. A good rule of thumb when choosing crown molding, base molding, or window casing is to stay with a pattern, no matter how tempting other selections may be, that matches the architectural style of your home. If you find yourself overwhelmed by all your options, call up your designer for guidance.You might find that implementation of a simple and cost effective idea or two from this list might give you the advantage necessary to turn a lifeless listing into a successful sale. And that could be cause to celebrate before the last �hoorah� of summer arrives and qualified buyers begin to hibernate for winter.� Paint is the best makeup in the world for cosmetic enhancement of a home:Especially if you live in a cold climate, consider the financial impact of keeping your house warm through the coming winter months. Fuel oil prices are likely to rise, and the expense of heating a home across a severe winter can add thousands of dollars to your overhead. If that is the case, you might want rebate a portion of that projected cost to your buyer, as an incentive to take the property off your hands while the weather is still warm. Don�t tell them that�s what you�re doing; just discount the price or add extra money to their side of the transaction by offering to pay some of their closing costs.The benefits of fiberglass columns are:� Calculate your heating costs going forward:Precast Stone ColumnsPaint is the most cost-effective tool for adding value to your home. Avoid expensive paints and designer hues in favor of contractor grade paint in neutral colors. Avoid dead white, because creamy shades are warmer and more inviting, and use complimentary semi-gloss colors to highlight window and door frames. A primer coat will help to cover stains and blemishes, and caulk is cheap so use it liberally to get your money�s worth from the project. For a really top-notch look, three coats of paint works miracles, and in small spaces like bathrooms this can be done without going overboard on your budget.* They are weatherproof.Ceiling MedallionsTo list your home with a broker committed to serving the GLBT community, visit www.GayRealEstate.com. To help your buyer get the loan they need, you can also check out www.GayMortgageLoans.com. Or just call toll free 1-888-420-MOVE (6683).* Impervious to moisture, which is great if you live in an area that experiences high humidity.Interior Architectural Columns* Lightweight and require very little maintenance.If you use hollow wooden columns, they must be vented to prevent built-up moisture from condensing on the inside and rotting the wood. Proper ventilation requires an opening at both top and bottom. To determine the amount of ventilation you will need, divide the column's diameter (or width) in half and convert to square inches. For example, a 10-inch-diameter column needs five square inches of vent opening at the base and another five square inches at the capital. To keep insects and small critters from making a home, your vents should be blocked with copper screens.Although it can be difficult and inconvenient, strategically redecorating your home could lure buyers and close a sale, making it well worth the effort. Don�t do a huge makeover; just concentrate on tactical �staging� of each room. Study the way that builders decorate their model homes for professional insight into how the process works to help market property. Remove all excess furniture and clutter � storing it off premises if possible � to make the rooms look larger and more spacious. You can hire professional real estate staging companies to do this, or consult an experienced Realtor for tips on how to make each room like its very best. Empty closets to show off their storage capacity, keep the property immaculately clean and neat for each and every showing to buyers, and use flattering lighting to highlight each room.Ceiling medallions are a popular way to add class and sophistication to any formal room. Unlike ceiling domes, which are larger and recessed, a medallion is smaller and usually edged with intricate patters that resemble moldings and capitals. Medallions are available in fiberglass, plaster or wood, however fiberglass is fast becoming the preferred material because it easily mimics the look of wood or plaster, but without the worry about it cracking or splitting. Because it is lightweight it doesn�t require extra reinforcement in your ceiling structure like wood and plaster may. While you may love the grand look of a medallion, be sure your home can handle such an extravagant piece.

Moldings are one of the details that can really add to the exterior and interior look of your home. The majority of moldings are made from either polyurethane synthetics or simple wood. Most home designers are choosing polyurethane over wood because it is almost impossible to differentiate between polyurethane millwork molding from painted wood molding. The long term benefits of using this material is that it won�t split, rot or peel like wood will. When it comes to base moldings, it is very durable and can handle daily wear and tear. Despite all the benefits of polyurethane, many people still hold their aesthetic allegiance to wood over synthetics and will take on the added burden of maintaining wood moldings. If you�re a wood purist, be sure that you use high quality wood and have it treated to help prevent rot and insect damage especially on your exterior. When it comes to size and shape there is no limit to the amount of choices available in molding. A good rule of thumb when choosing crown molding, base molding, or window casing is to stay with a pattern, no matter how tempting other selections may be, that matches the architectural style of your home. If you find yourself overwhelmed by all your options, call up your designer for guidance.

Author: Tammy Crosby