As we meet up with our puzzled homeowner again, he is considering two paint options – the left option on the fan is actually a very dark gold. You can see the color’s origin when you look at the lighter shades and they appear almost yellow.

His second choice is among selections one, two, or three on the other visible color row. He doesn’t want to use the darker choices because they would blend in too much with the fireplace opening and the black trim on the windows.

This is a good first step, but if he heads right to the paint store and orders one of these, he is almost guaranteed to be disappointed for two reasons. Paint chips are printed and the dyes on the paper don’t match the dyes that make up the paint. This means that the color you see on a chip will not exactly match the color of the paint you buy.

The second reason comes from how the light comes into your home. Everything from the direction of your windows to the shape of a room will affect how a paint color will look on a wall, and different walls will make the color look different – sometimes darker or lighter, but sometimes even a different color. To see this, look at a corner where two walls and the ceiling meet. It’s likely that you will see three different tones, even if everything was painted the same color.

So our guy has to go to the paint store and pick up samples of the colors he’s debating about – and maybe a couple of others that are similar, along with an inexpensive foam brush for each color. Then once home, he needs to paint each wall with at least a one foot by one foot square of each color – leaving some space between the colors so they don’t reflect on each other. (If this bothers you, paint some white poster boards and tape them on the walls.)

As a final step, he needs to live with his choices for a few days, looking at them in the morning, afternoon and evening, and with natural light as well as with the home’s evening lighting. Over a short period of time, he will know which one he will be happiest living with. Paint is a very personal choice. It’s worthwhile to take the time to select what will work best for you.

Redoing your kitchen? Have some questions? We’ve got some answers!

Do Kitchen appliances always come in standard sizes?

Answer: Yes, 98% of the time, but to ensure there are no surprises refer to manufacturer installation specifications for required openings and cutout sizes.

I want to be really green with my new kitchen, what are the most energy efficient appliances on the market?

Answer: Appliances, which have been labeled and endorsed as “Energy Star” products.

What type of paint is the best for kitchen walls?

Answer: Make sure to use good quality paint. If you foresee a need to scrub the walls, (and who doesn’t scrub their kitchen walls?), an eggshell paint should be used. Semi gloss paint can also be used, but it shows more imperfections in the walls than an eggshell paint. Eggshell will usually be sufficient for kitchen needs.

Is there a major difference in the material and the cost of solid surface countertops?

Answer: There are differences in the formulation of the materials and their compositions. Some solid surfaces are 100% man-made and some are blended with natural quartz and stones. Prices vary but are pretty consistent and typically include installation. Once you select the countertop material which complements the design and style of your kitchen, be sure to ask about maintenance and warranty of the product.

What is the most durable kitchen sink?

Answer: An 18 gauge stainless steel sink is going to be the most durable. Cast iron sinks that seem very sturdy can chip.

More questions? Just ask!

This store makes no bones about what it is about – high prices. It seems to present the “if you have to ask, you can’t afford it” attitude. This may draw some customers in, but most value-minded people would laugh and turn away.

Sometimes durable home purchases such as flooring, appliances and countertops may make you feel that there should be signs like this all over the store. But unlike clothing, these items are an investment in your home’s value, appearance, and comfort that lasts for years and never goes out of style.

Just as a silk blouse is more expensive than cotton, some materials cost more to produce and install. It’s up to you whether the look and feel of a silk blouse or a stone floor or countertop is worth the additional cost. Cotton can be beautiful in a different way, and tile or granite can make a room beautiful if stone is not in your budget.

One good way to make value decisions is to take the cost difference between two types of materials and divide the amount by the number of years you plan to live in your home. If you plan to be there for the next ten years, would you be willing to pay X additional dollars every year to have the more expensive product?

Every choice involves evaluating costs and benefits. Instead of thinking in terms of cost, look for value. Consider durability, resale value and how it will make your home look. When you balance cost against what you receive for your money, you can get past sticker shock and make the best choice for you and your home.

With the monsoon season upon us, we wanted to take a moment to go over a few helpful reminders to be prepared for the heavy rain and wind.

1. During a storm you will get water in your window tracks. So make sure your tracks are free of debris that might clog the weep holes.
2. Check the drain for the window well and make sure it is not covered or clogged with any debris or trash.
3. Is your sump pump operational? Be sure to check it periodically.
4. Check and see if anything with your landscape may interfere with the flow of water from your window well drain. You don’t want to redirect back into the wells.

Keep your home and your family safe!

When you decide to find the right home, the process can be fun and rewarding or frustrating. Planning ahead will reduce the headaches and eliminate many miscommunications. Here are a few suggestions as you begin.

1.     Figure out how much house you can afford. Visit with your bank, reputable mortgage broker or use our mortgage calculator on our website to see how far your income will go in the market. Don’t stop there, however. Look at your lifestyle choices and determine what amount will allow you to have a home with a mortgage that works for both of you. Once you determine that monthly amount, start saving the difference between what you plan to pay and you are currently paying. This will enable you to test run your mortgage and give you some extra money for the move.

2.     Decide whether you want a new home or a resale. If you want a new home, start by using our new home finder.

3.     If you want a resale home, start going to open houses. Every house has advantages and disadvantages. By attending open houses, you and your partner can discuss what you like and don’t like about each home. This will help you define what features are important to you. It’s also a good way to look at neighborhoods. This can also help you understand how much house your planned mortgage amount will buy.

4.     Find a realtor. Your visits to open houses give you a chance to meet a number of realtors and talk to them without worrying about a sales pitch. Although you can buy a home without one, a realtor can help screen homes and provide advice. Look for one who is familiar with the neighborhoods you’re interested in and the type of home you want.

In our last blog post (Making a successful move: Part 1) we talked about what you need to do before a move to avoid looking like this guy on moving day. Here are some suggestions to make it through the rest of your move.

During the move:

• Use drop cloths or old rugs to protect your beautiful floors during the move. Carpeting can get dirty from the back and forth of moving boxes and wood floors can get scratched from heavy furniture.
• Make sure that you can focus totally on the move. Have any children stay with friends or family, plan quick take-out for any meals. If possible, have one person stay at the old place and one at the new one to handle the transition from one to the other. Use your numbered box list to make sure every box makes it to the new place.

After the move:

• Completely check every piece of furniture for any scratches or dings. Be sure to call attention to them with the moving company immediately.
• Unpack only the critical boxes and set up the basics of your new home. Plan for take-out or dinner out the first night or two so you can focus on setting up the kitchen the way you want.
• Sit back and enjoy your new home as you unpack!

Moving to a new home is never easy, but you’re in charge of whether you have a smooth move or a traumatic one. Here are some suggestions for before a move.

Before:

• Take at least a few weeks to go through clothes and household items to get rid of anything you no longer need or want. Don’t move anything that you don’t want to keep. Get ready for a fresh start!
• Make a plan for your furniture placement. Use the extra sticky post-its to label each piece with the right room so there is no confusion on moving day.
• Start packing way before you think you need to. Begin with the least needed items and box up your kitchen and personal items last. Label each box by number and list critical things inside. Put the room the box belongs in on the outside. It seems simple, but it will really help!
• Highlight any boxes that need to be unpacked first. Have a special place in your new home to stack those.
• Choose a special cupboard or closet to put those things that are too precious or valuable to have movers handle so that you can move them yourself.
• Check regularly behind your local copier stores for terrific boxes that are strong and a good size for packing, stacking and lifting. You will need many more boxes than you think you will.

If you are moving into a home that is not new, either clean or have your new home cleaned before you move in. Check the floors to see if any carpet needs cleaning or if any other flooring should be sealed or protected. Line your kitchen shelves with shelf paper and do as much as you can to prepare your home for the move in.

Falls happen. Both the young and the old are prone to them, however the elderly have a tougher time recovering. If you have an older parent or relative who lives with you or visits often, then you’ll want to take special care making sure the floors in your home are slip resistant and safe.

In our homes, the bathroom can be the most accident-prone area. This is because almost every surface in the bathroom is smooth and glossy; and once wet it becomes a dangerous place. Slipping while getting out of the bath or shower can result in a broken hip or limbs.

So how can we make the bathroom a safer place for the elderly? Small things can be done first, like making sure you don’t fill the room with floor décor like plants and magazine stands.  Place hampers and trash cans out of the way, so they do not have to be navigated around. Take out rugs that do not have rubber backing and can be slipped on.

We hope these tips help!

The multi-level countertop is a simple idea but it can add a lot of functionality to your living space. In this photo, the granite camouflages the materials on the kitchen counter while adding an attractive design element to the rest of the room.

This approach is particularly valuable in an open living area. When entertaining, the raised counter hides food prep materials and the dirty dishes after dinner. If these are visible, they distract from the design of the rest of the space.

This countertop is narrow but a wider one provides even more advantages. With bar-level seating on the side opposite the kitchen, you have added a breakfast bar, a place for casual snacking or even homework when the cook needs to multi-task by helping children with school while finishing dinner.

From an entertainment standpoint, additional seating provides an extra conversation area, a place for appetizers or even a table for a buffet. It also gives guests as chance to perch and chat with the host or hosts as they prepare dinner.

Solid surface or granite options have enlarged our choices for countertop designs. Why not take advantage of the expanded flexibility and style of these materials to make your kitchen space as functional and attractive as possible? Ask us about about using multi-level counters in your home. This is available on some floor plans, but not all.

For many people, getting ready for the New Year involves setting up a calendar. Whether you use Outlook or another computer-based system, or prefer the classic print calendars, now is the time to prepare for next year by inserting key birthdays, anniversaries, and other personal holidays and events.

While planning your new year, how about including your house? Your home requires a number of annual maintenance events, and now is a great time to schedule them.

Do you have wood floors that need a new coat of wax or stone floors that need sealing? Are your granite countertops due for another coat of sealant this spring? When did you last have your heating and air conditioning system checked? How often do you have your carpets cleaned?

To make your life even easier, add in the phone numbers of any contacts you need for each project right in your calendar so you’re ready to make arrangements as each event comes up this next year.

Instead of counting on your memory or reminders from others, take a few extra minutes as you set up your calendar and plan your home’s care requirements for 2011. Then relax and have a happy New Year!