Make a Gallery Wall

Kathi's Basement

Create a Dynamic Porch

This was a empty room that lacked any function or design.  I added a dining room table and chairs to encourage eating and entertaining in this space.  The table was dressed with a decorative runner, candles, and a tray of wine glasses and bottle of wine.
A seperate seating area is against the wall which consists of two chairs and a round table for a more intimate area.  A little green always adds warmth, so the ficus tree was placed in the corner along with a floor lamp that throws light upward for mood lighting.  Finally, perched on the top of the sliding doors are four framed art pieces to draw the eye upward and add interest to this formerly empty space.

Transform your Wall

Create a dramatic impact using rich wall color and these inexpensive shelves.  Ikea carries gallery shelves for your wall that come in black, white, and woodtone.  They are easy to hang and take only minutes.  Add art and you have a stunning wall.  The artwork I have on display from upper left to right are framed greeting cards, a photo of my last home's stairway.  LL: VanGogh torn from a calendar. LR: I made star bursts using supplies purchased at a dollar store.  The sticks were colored by my Dad (before he passed away from cancer last year) using a black magic marker.  They along with  circle mirrors, were glued (with a glue gun) together to form a star burst.  I made the lower picture  using materials around the house, a bit of gold needlework thread, piece of flat wood, piece of copper, and black screening material.  I laid out a design and glued everything on to a matt back board.  All the frames were  purchased at either a dollar store, drug store, or Michaels.

CURB APPEAL tips from Kathi as featured in the Birmingham-Bloomfield Eagle

Paper: Birmingham-Bloomfield Eagle (MI)
Title: Increased curb appeal boosts neighborhood merit
Date: September 15, 2010

Curb appeal can go far beyond home maintenance, landscaping and design. It's also a crucial element to maintaining the value of a home and the surrounding neighborhood, especially with more and more foreclosed properties popping up, marring the aesthetics of neighborhoods across metro Detroit and making it more important than ever to stave off blight by keeping homes and lawns in tip-top shape.

Whether selling or staying put, maintaining a home and increasing its curb appeal not only helps maintain a home's value, but also enhances the surrounding neighborhood's allure, said Kathi Jones-Cutler, a Realtor with Max Broock in Birmingham and a staging expert.

"People want to live in a nice neighborhood, and they can tell at a glance if a home is well cared for.
Things like overgrown shrubbery, rust on railings, peeling paint, tired-looking lawns … all those things send out red flags that the home hasn't been well-maintained," Jones-Cutler said. "If a neighborhood has well-cared-for homes - no matter what size - people want to live in that neighborhood; they feel comfortable investing in a stable and desirable community." Not only are well-maintained homes more desirable, they also cost less in the long run: Many costly repairs can be avoided by taking on such projects as painting wood so it doesn't rot, and having the roof cleaned to increase its longevity, Jones-Cutler said.

Click here to read the entire article: Increased curb appeal boosts neighborhood merit

My book, Cashing in on Design, will be available at 1/2 price for a limited time!  Purchase a copy today for only $9.99 plus tax and shipping. 

Do you have any friends or family members that enjoy home design or real estate?  This book make a great gift ~ just in time for the holidays.  Please email me at kcutler@comcast.net with any questions or feedback about my book.

Sincerely,
Kathi

Save Your Roof Now !!!

I recently had my roof cleaned by Ugly Shingles.com and couldn't believe the difference.  I learned that the black streaks on my roof were actually eating my shingles.  I called uglyshingles.com and they came out right away, now my roof looks like new.  This is news worth passing on!

Elegant Foyer Transformation

Left is the "after" foyer of a client I recently did some work for.  The stairway received a new wood and wrought iron railing that adds a richness to the space.  New carpet in a shade that compliments the walls and wood floors was installed.  Accessories on the existing chest and mirror above offer a stunning first impression.

Before Photo

Introducing a New Division to our company!

Welcome back to a new and improved blogging experience by Kathi Jones-Cutler!  My team and I have been quite busy with our new division to our business: Turn Around Real Estate, LLC, designed to help distressed sellers with their real estate dilemmas.  My team and I can help you and can even negotiate a CASH offer on your home in as little as 24 hours!  Call us today to find out more: (248) 719-1888.

Recycled Wine Bottle Candleholder

Make a candleholder by inserting a taper candle into the opening on top. You can place the bottle on a candle plate and cover with polished pebbles. The candle, plate and pebbles can be found at local Dollar Stores.

Decorate for Dollars

Add some artistic detail to your room with inexpensive frames from the Dollar Store. I purchased three frames (same size) and framed two vertical tear sheets from magazines and the other with leaves from the yard.

Total cost $3.00

Total time 20 minutes

Easy, fast, and Cheap!

Healthy Meals from the Dollar Store

Stop at your neighborhood Dollar Store and look for groceries to make healthy delicious meals. The following is a recipe that my family, Mom and Dad, would like to share with you to warm your insides and fill your belly!

Salmon Soup

1 tablespoon of flour and butter

3 Cups of Milk

1 160z can of Salmon

1 tablespoon chopped parsley

In a saucepan melt butter, add flour to make a roux.

Over low heat, stir in milk until it thickens.

Add salt, pepper (to taste), parsley.

Optional: 2 drops Tabasco.

Simmer heated thoroughly.

Enjoy!