Don't Apologize, Change it Up!

How many times have you prepped, planned and primped for guests?  You've chosen a menu, shopped for groceries and table decor, cleaned the house to within an inch of it's life, and threatened your children with bodily harm if they touch anything, in preparation for a dinner party?  Then, the candles are lit, the wine is decanted, the appetizers are hot and the first thing you say to your company is, "please, don't look in my office, it's not finished" as you walk past the doorway.  Or, "don't mind the kids' toys, we don't have enough storage yet." What I'm saying is that the first thing you do, is point out what you consider to be the flaws of your home.  We all do it.

I would like you to stop doing it, though.

We all have sorry areas of our homes that we either haven't had time to address or we simply don't have the money to fix right now.  That's kind of the point, we all have them.  How many people do you know who live in a model home or have a kitchen out of a decor magazine photo spread?  If only....

Now that the calendar has ticked over to a new year, and we've already broken our resolutions, add a new resolution to your list. Resolve to improve, even in a small way, the parts of your home you apologize for.  If your kids toys are taking over what should be an adult space, buy some covered storage ottomans ($12.99 right now at HomeSense) and put a lid on the toys.  If your office hasn't been decorated yet, either close the door when guests come over or buy colourful boxes and hide your un-filed bills and statements until you have a chance to look at them.  Even better, buy a gallon of paint and for about $50 you can put a new, fresh colour on the walls and make that office space a feature instead of a flaw.

The orange boxes on top of these filing cabinets contain credit card statements and receipts from 2008, the last time I was organized, but I still think the office looks guest-worthy!

I know houses are expensive and decorating them even more so, but like everything else in life, take small bites and accept what you can't change right now.  And, try your best be proud of your home.  It's by far your biggest investment, so make the most of it and if you can't, call me!

Pretty and Functional Kitchen Displays

I think it's pretty common knowledge that kitchens are the hub of the home and play a fairly big role in the overall impression your home gives. Almost any guest that comes to your home, will probably spend at least a little time in your kitchen. It doesn't really matter what style of kitchen you have, it would be a shame to have one of the show pieces of your home cluttered up with items that aren't very attractive.  I am talking, of course, about the dreaded cereal boxes, spice racks, and dog food bags that are necessary parts of everyday life.

My advice would be to invest in some inexpensive, but really attractive storage canisters.  Even if you find large glass jars, available at most dollar stores, you can keep cereal right on the counter without looking at Mr. Miniwheat every morning. Another plus to glass storage containers is that you will be able to see when you are running out of certain items. If you're a baker, large glass jars are ideal for storing bags of flour or sugar.  It's simple and beautiful. A series of three pieces in the same colour is very pleasing visually as well.

You can also use colourful vases to corral spatulas, wooden spoons, and other cooking implements.   You can keep the vase right next to your stove and keep your tools close at hand.  If you get a vase in a trendy colour, you've given your kitchen an instant update for a few dollars.

A final thought are more whimsical items.  Think about cookie jars in a favourite character or a container with dogs on it to house your dog treats, for instance.

The whole idea is that everybody's kitchen is full of stuff but it can be contained and it can be attractive.  Spend a little bit of time thinking about what you need to store and if you need to regularly and easily access these items.  If so, take this knowledge with you to your local Wal-Mart or HomesSense and have a look for canisters, jars, or containers you think are attractive and would 'go' with your current kitchen decor.  Look at items that are intended for other uses and you might surprise yourself.