![]() Your home is more than just four walls and a roof; it's a reflection of your personality, your style, and the place where memories are made. However, as the years go by, even the most cherished homes can start to show signs of wear and tear. But fear not, because in this guest blog post, we have Tina Martin, a seasoned home improvement enthusiast, here to guide you through the process of reviving your home. Tina understands that a home makeover isn't just about aesthetics; it's an investment that can breathe new life into your space and add significant value to your property. Whether you're preparing to sell or simply want to create a more comfortable and enjoyable living environment, these tips will help you embark on a journey of transformation that will make your home feel brand new. So, without further ado, let's dive into Tina's expert advice, including some of my own personal tips too, on how to give your home a fresh start and a new lease on life. Reviving a home with a makeover is a fantastic way to breathe new life into your living space and increase its value. However, the process of renovating can be overwhelming, especially if you're unsure where to start. Here are some tips from Toscano Interiors on how to revive your home with a makeover. Select Value-Boosting Improvements for Property Before starting your home makeover, it's essential to consider future resale value. While it's important to create a living space that suits your needs, it's also crucial to choose improvements that will enhance your property's value. For example, modernizing your kitchen or bathroom can make a significant difference in how much your home is worth. Use a Home Maintenance App It’s a good idea to use a home maintenance and repair app if you need to make repairs to your home. The right app allows homeowners to quickly schedule service appointments, track the status of their repairs, and access important information about their home systems and major appliances like the refrigerator and washer and dryer. By using the Frontdoor application, you'll also be able to access service professionals, who can provide quotes for repairs or maintenance work. Create an Outdoor Space You Can Be Proud Of Creating an outdoor living space can be a worthwhile investment for homeowners seeking to improve their home's value and appearance. SuperMoney notes that hardscaping elements such as patios, walkways, and retaining walls can enhance the functionality and aesthetic appeal of your backyard. Replace Your Bathroom Tiles A bathroom is one area of the home that can become outdated quickly. A simple way to revive your bathroom's look is by re-tiling the walls or floors. Choose neutral colors and patterns that will stand the test of time. This will give your bathroom a fresh look and feel while also increasing your home's value. Thoroughly Clean Your Home Cleaning your home can be a powerful way to rejuvenate and transform it. A thorough deep clean, including vacuuming the right way, surface wiping, and carpet cleaning, can make a significant difference in the overall appearance and health of your home. With a sparkling clean environment, you can enjoy a more attractive and healthier living space. To get started, go online for tips and hacks from cleaning experts. Maximize Storage Space To create a welcoming and spacious living area, it's essential to eliminate clutter. One way to achieve this is by maximizing your storage space through the use of shelving, cabinets, or closet organizers. This will not only enhance the functionality of your home but also make it feel more inviting by creating a tidy and organized living environment. Declutter by Digitizing Paper Files By digitizing your paper records and converting them into PDFs, you can significantly reduce clutter in your home while also ensuring that all important documents are easily accessible. If you want to combine PDF files after scanning, there are various online tools available to help you do so (click here for more info). This practical solution will save you time and improve your overall organization. Unveil Fresh Art Pieces Anne Anderson Home points out that artwork can add color and personality to your home. Introduce new artwork into your living space that reflects your style and taste. This can be done through paintings, sculptures, or other decorative items. Artwork can also be an investment, and certain pieces may increase in value over time. Upgrade Lighting Fixtures Lighting is a crucial element that can significantly impact your home's ambiance. Replacing outdated light fixtures with modern, energy-efficient options can enhance the aesthetic appeal of your home while saving you money on your electricity bills. Don't underestimate the power of updated lighting fixtures to transform your home's atmosphere and improve your overall living experience. Revitalizing your living space through a home makeover and a good cleaning is a fantastic investment that not only enhances the aesthetic value but also boosts the overall worth of the property. By utilizing the tips provided, you can turn your house into an exquisite and practical living area that will significantly increase its market value. In conclusion, a home makeover is a worthwhile venture that adds charm and functionality to your dwelling while also providing a substantial return on investment. Ready to bring some fun, magic, authenticity, beauty and inspiration to your space? Call on Toscano Interiors today! 813.539.2085
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Quick Home Painting Tips
3/11/2022
*This post contains affiliate links
A new coat of paint can refresh and revitalize any room in your house. Paint is also a very cost effective way to change the look of a room. The best part about interior painting is that almost anyone can do it all you need is the right material and a little bit of knowledge. Painting Supplies Your supply needs will vary depending upon the room that you are painting and the type of paint that you are using, but here is a basic list to get you started: Paint After you choose a color, you will also need to choose a finish. The finish determines how shiny the paint will be. Choices include flat, eggshell, satin, semi-gloss, and gloss. Flat finish is hard to wipe clean and should only be used in low traffic areas that will not attract dirt. Satin, eggshell, and semi-gloss finishes are easy to wipe clean and can be used almost anywhere. Gloss finish is very shiny and is best reserved for small areas such as trim or molding. Paint Applicators Paint rollers and brushes are necessities. A good paint roller can paint an entire room. Choose one that has a fair amount of nap to it-- the thicker the better. When it comes to brushes, everyone has their own individual preference. A small angle brush works well for trim and corners. A three inch flat brush or a paint pad will work well for the places that a paint roller can not reach. Miscellaneous Supplies In addition to paint and paint applicators, you may also need drop cloths, cleaning rags, paint trays, spackle, sandpaper, and a putty knife (if your walls are damaged and need repair), and a ladder or stepladder. The ladder will need to be sturdy and stable to support your movements. Try choosing a ladder with a wide base or a flared bottom like on a Little Giant Ladder. Painting Tips When painting, the most important thing you can do is take your time. If you move too fast, things could get sloppy. Also important, is the prep work. Your painting project will go much smoother if you are properly prepared prior to painting. Here are some tips that can help: 1. Make sure that you have everything you need by organizing all of your supplies before you start painting. 2. Protect your furniture from paint splatters by moving it or covering it up. 3. Use low-tack masking tape to tape off baseboards and trim. Remove the tape before the paint dries. 4. Paint the walls before painting trim or woodwork. 5. Do not apply a second coat of paint until the first coat has dried. ![]() Whether you’re starting a business following the 2021 Great Resignation or your established business is outgrowing the spare bedroom, a garage can offer an attractive alternative in terms of size, existing infrastructure such as wiring, and with it being a stone’s throw away from your home location. Transforming it into the ideal home office, however, can be a task beyond the experience of the average homeowner. Just as you bill yourself an expert in your profession, this may be the time to call on an experienced contractor – or at least an avid DIYer – as well as an interior designer well-versed in melding practicality and personality, like Toscano Interiors. Setting the stage for renovation Depending on your discipline for shrewd organization and vehicle maintenance, it’s likely you have some decluttering and deep cleaning to do. After finding a new home for every item previously housed in the garage, you’ll want to remove the telltale signs of its former functionality, such as oil stains in the concrete, and hooks and nails that held everything from bicycles to water hoses. For this early stage, you won’t need a permit, but you may need one before you move on to more extensive renovations, so be sure to check with your local permitting office before you go any further. While you’re checking your permit requirements, talk to your business accountant or other qualified tax professional about whether your converted garage will qualify for a home office deduction on your tax return. This deduction allows you to deduct certain expenses from your business income that relate to running your business from your home and is in addition to any other legitimate business-related expenses that you claim on your tax return. Once you have your permits and other business tasks in order, gauge your current electrical wiring in the garage to see if it’s suitable for your office layout, particularly the number and location of outlets. If your garage is separate from the house, you may want to section off some space for a small bathroom, and perhaps a small kitchen area for a refrigerator and coffee maker. Regardless of climate, insulation is a must-have, if you don’t already have it in your garage. Your licensed contractor should add the necessary wiring and plumbing prior to putting in any additional insulation. In addition to tempering the outdoor weather effects, insulation quite literally helps to “insulate” you from outside noise. If you’ve never worked with insulation yourself and want to save some money for your more aesthetic improvements, consider taking classes at a nearby home improvement store. Blending practicality with creativity You’ll likely want to hire someone to replace your traditional garage door, especially if you have a need to welcome clients and vendors. Since most garages don’t have a lot of windows, consider adding a few to let in some natural light and create a more open feel to what will be your new office. Now you’re ready to set the stage for your office décor. Start from the ground up, deep clean those concrete floors before putting down your choice of flooring; an easy route is to finish the concrete with an acid stain and will complement attractive rugs. If your space is relatively small, light colors for your walls can create a more open feel, especially if combined with mirrors. You can add pops of color with artwork, furniture, and accessories. Finally, your office furniture is important, so be sure you mix comfort and practicality with style – even the mouse and keyboard you select matter when it comes to physical comfort. Passion and productivity Many business owners spend a great deal of time in their offices, so it should surround you with inspiration as well as comfort. Hiring a professional isn’t just for knocking down walls and doing electrical work, so if you’re finding the design functions more challenging than you expected, reach out to Toscano Interiors for creating the workspace that fuels your passion and your productivity. Once you get the office of your dreams, you’re off to the races! Blog written exclusively for Toscano Interiors by guest blog contributor, Tina Martin with Ideaspired. Tina Martin is an author and successful Blogger. Find more of Tina's work at https://www.ideaspired.com/blog/www.ideaspired.com/blog/ Lara's Top Decor From Costco
2/23/2021
![]() Costco is known for selling bulk quantities of merchandise at discounted prices. Something many may not know is that this large retailer also offers a range of home-decor pieces and furniture. As an Interior Designer, I am here to recommend some must have pieces to include in your spaces throughout your home. Glenbrook Leather Sofa The Glenbrook sofa is a beautiful piece of furniture. I love this sofa for the timeless and elegance style it can bring to a space. The tufting over the back and arms creates a modern touch to such a classic design. This piece can also be used to various design styles from industrial, modern, classic, even rustic. For comfort this couch passes. Each cushion is double-wrapped and is removable. They rest on a no-sag spring platform which helps ensure support and comfort! This is a nice feature as we want aesthetically pleasing pieces while being comfortable. Tresanti 47" Adjustable Height Desk With still a majority of people working from home, the Tresanti Adjustable Height Desk is a must have for any home office! The simplicity of it makes it work with any design style while staying functional. You have the power to find the exact height that works best for you, whether you are standing or sitting. As most of us know by now, we should not be sitting in an office chair all the hours that we spend at work. For some standing will help alleviate back or neck pain, especially after sitting for so long. I had recently bought this at my local Costco for my mother, who has back issues. Sitting at her desk, even with a nicer ergonomic chair, her back would still hurt. She found that standing helped a lot with her back pain and suffered less. Chinchilla Faux Fur Pillow These Faux Fur Pillows can be used to add warmth and texture to a couch. There are three different colors; ivory, chinchilla, or black. This allows you to use these pillows with almost every design style. While the chinchilla is perfect for any rustic, industrial, or contemporary spaces, the Ivory is perfect for modern, industrial, rustic, contemporary, and bohemian. The black is perfect for any of those as well. I had bought a few of these for my couch currently in the basement to add some texture and to have the space feel cozy. These are perfect for that! Element Hand Finished Wall Art Beautiful paintings such as this wall art from Costco adds a beautiful focus and texture to a space. The painting itself is dimensional from the thickness of the paint and technique of painting which makes this perfect for a living room, bedroom, or dining room. Adding dimension and texture helps move the eye around the room and focus in on the details of the art. This piece ties perfectly for any modern, rustic, contemporary, and industrial style rooms. While this is a statement piece, it is not overbearing and will flow nicely with any space. Elements Metal Vase These striking decorative metal vases bring a nice touch to any coffee table, sofa table, or dining room table. The weathered blue and grey rustic finish make these decor pieces a suitable accent for any farmhouse, rustic, or contemporary styled rooms. The vases come in two sizes, paired together to add interest and scale variation. Perfect to display any faux or dried flowers, or simply just by themselves. All these items I recommend from professional views as an Interior Designer, but as well as personal views. I have experience and knowledge of each item and have been pleased with them all. Costco has wonderful decor pieces for the price and quality. Wanting to know the best places to shop for your home, where you'll get the most bang for your buck? Contact us today, and schedule a complimentary 30 minute phone consultation! -Lara Stover, Junior Designer at Toscano Interiors ![]() Are you using these 15 tips to bring the Christmas spirit into your home? 1. Tie your throw pillows with holiday ribbon to resemble a gift for Christmas decor. 2. Hang up a string and clothespin your greeting cards along the line all month long. 3. Pile artificial snow on a silver platter, or mirrored tray with vintage glass ornaments and votives in to create a dramatic effect. 4. Place a bunch of candy canes in a clear vase for a cute and easy decoration. 5. Have any neat branches outside? Pick them and spray paint them silver and gold for elegant and vintage reminiscent decor. 6. Don’t have Christmas stockings? Buy some large sized holiday socks to hang from the mantel! 7. Fill a vase with cranberries and water for an elegant centerpiece. 8. Use wrapping paper as holiday art in simple frames. 9. Take a bunch of old wine bottle and spray paint them in holiday colors and fill them with twigs for a stunning mantel display. 10. Fill clear vases with water you tint with food coloring in holiday colors and float a votive! Great centerpiece! 11. Wrap your front door to look like a Christmas present! 12. For your dining table centerpiece, try a runner with round glass ornaments spread down the length. Quick & Easy! 13. Instead of name tags for guests at the table, create cookies and write their names in icing to place at their setting! 14. Add garland to your staircase with lights and ornaments! 15. Use candelabras and place decorative round ball ornaments on top in a cluster for a great centerpiece Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!! Love, The Toscano Family ![]() *This post contains affiliate links Recently I was given the opportunity to design a small apartment at a local assisted/independent living facility. This little apartment is going to be used a model/virtual tour for future retirees. I was so honored to take the project because several months ago I staged one of the independent cottages affiliated with the same company, for a Realtor who was referred by another Realtor...talk about a long list of referrals!!! That was what made it such an honor and so exciting! Anyhow, this cute one-bedroom apartment was so much fun to design, but there was just one issue...it was small. So how do I make the space look functional for future resident's? That was my biggest challenge going into this project. Starting with the living and dining area, these two rooms share the space; that there wasn't a lot of. I wanted to use a regular sized sofa and oversized accent chair, but what about the small dining area? Well the good news is there is a restaurant inside the facility for it's residents- so the dining area wasn't something I really wanted to play up. I used these fun gold barstools and a small bistro table and chairs set, allowing for at least 4 guests to sit comfortably in the dining area. Without having to sacrifice the living area, I added the ottoman that functions as a coffee table and storage- because yes, the top comes off! This piece serves 3 functions! SMALL SPACE PRO DESIGN TIP- Adding texture to the room helps create dimension in a small space That oversized wall art above the sofa- one wouldn't think incorporating something really big in a small space would be right. Wrong! Texture gives the eye something to investigate, something to sink its teeth into, something that makes the whole space feel a lot bigger. I think texture is something most people forget when designing a small space. They focus more on storage solutions, often it’s intentionally overlooked for fear of cluttering up an already small space. You can add some small extra home décor pieces to add textures to your space. Focus on the finishes of your existing furniture pieces too. Like the faux fur rug I draped over the ottoman, the gold side table and gold hammered lamp. It could even be a simple fabric couch with wooden arms and legs. The key to achieving visual balance and to keep visual clutter at bay is to have one or two pieces of furniture in similar textures. The faux rug on the ottoman ties into a larger faux rug under the dining table. Another way to work in texture in small spaces is through adding texture to walls. Textures on walls make a big impact and they don’t take up any floor space. You can do so through a variety of ways including wallpaper, textured paint like Dulux’s Ambiance Paints (the paints can offer up anything from a rustic linen feel to a luxurious marble finish), wall cladding or wall moulding. In the living room I added a hanging ladder to a decorative hook then folded some textured throw blankets. An easy and unique way to not only store extra blankets, but also adds texture!
FINAL SMALL SPACE PRO DESIGN TIP: When adding textures to your space, use juxtapositions e.g. metallic vs matte, weathered vs smooth, see-through vs opaque. Keep in mind that textures don’t have to be felt to be sensed; they can also be visual to make an impact |
Designer, Life Coach, + Realtor® - Candance Toscano"You can design the life of your dreams and acquire that luxurious, fulfilled and empowered lifestyle you know you have always wanted." Archives
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