Reclaimed wood wall

I did this wall at our camp in the 1000 Islands after seeing something similar in a magazine several years ago. Yes, imitation IS the sincerest form of flattery. And I am hooked on finding new uses for old objects. The items on the wall come from salvage yards, an old barn on Oak Island on the St. Lawrence, shutters from my mother-in-law's home, a Chicago flea market, and gifts from friends.

Stage that home to sell!

A picture is worth 1000 words, especially when selling your home. Make sure your home is staged before listing and that you have great photos for the MLS. We offer not only home staging, but a photography service as well. Just bartered getting my toes done in exchange for professional photography for the mls :-)

Household Tip of the Week

Flexible vacuum

To get something out of a heat register or under the fridge add an empty paper towel roll or empty gift wrap roll to your vacuum. It can be bent or flattened to get in narrow openings.

Green Tip of the Week

In my never ending quest to find new uses for old items, I came across a multitude of creative ways to repurpose today's worn out nylon pantyhose

• Tie up tomato vines and other plants to keep them off the ground.
• Fill a tube with old soap slivers to use every last bit of lather.
• Corral bath salts the next time you soak in the tub.
• Store wrapping paper. Use one roll per leg and hang them in a closet. The edges won't fray and they will stay organized.
• Cover your rolling pin with a tube of pantyhose to prevent wet flour from sticking.
• Next time you lose something small and valuable, wrap a piece of pantyhose over the nozzle of your vacuum cleaner. Sweep it over the floor and your lost item should stick to your new pantyhose filter.
• Crumple up a pair and use as a pot or dish scrubber.
• Fill a leg with lavender or cedar chips and hang in your closet.
• When repotting houseplants place a circle of pantyhose in the bottom of the pot to prevent soil erosion.

sources: green planet, daily green

Lisa Ryan is owner of Smart Move Design, a home staging and redesign company serving Syracuse, central, and northern NY.

The Rules of Lighting

To improve the look of your home, its best to know the types of lighting and how to use them. The first is ambient lighting. The purpose is to create evenly distributed light in a room. These can be ceiling lights, recessed lights, and lamps.

The next is accent lighting. These are secondary lights in a room. They help visually separate a room or highlight an architectural feature or art. They must be 3 to 5 times brighter than the ambient lighting. Examples of this type of lighting are spotlights, a sconce, or even candlelight.

The next is task lighting which is used for just that, performing a task. It needs to be 6 to 10 times brighter than the ambient light.

The next is natural light, which we spoke about in the previous blog post, and the last is outdoor lighting. Outdoor lighting is important as it provides security and gives your exterior a nice look.

Try layering all types of lighting in a room for an impressive look.

Source: http://tlc.howstuffworks.com/home/5-ways-to-light-up-your-home5.htm

Letting Light In

A big difference can be made in the appearance of your home with the use of natural lighting, and also has proven health benefits. Having more light in the home increases productivity and makes you feel better! Having skylights is a great way to utilize day lighting, but if your home doesn't have them there are still ways to use natural light. Get rid of heavy draperies. Use curtains that are more transparent to let more light in. Opt for no curtains or a valance. Consider adding transom windows above your current windows. It is also a good idea to utilize large windows, or any window in the home as a focal point. Bringing more natural light into the home is like bringing the outdoors in! When staging your home to sell, potential buyers love a home that is light and bright!