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curb appeal

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Guarantee a good first impression—and increase your home’s property value—with these simple tips for sprucing up your exterior

It is that time of year again, time to start working on the outside of your home… especially if you are getting ready to put it on the market. It is a truth universally acknowledged—by real-estate brokers and home improvement sites alike—that anyone looking to increase the property value of a home on the market need only renovate their kitchen or baths to see maximum results.

But the real truth is that, short of a major overhaul, there are lots of smaller, less time-consuming—not to mention more affordable—things you can do to guarantee your house makes an impact on potential buyers.

“Did you know that the front door and surrounding details can make or break a first impression?” says Annie Hoover, an associate broker at ERA Reardon Realty in Jackson, Michigan, who has seen firsthand what a difference a little paint can make. Architectural Digest asked her to share five easy fixes that will transform your home’s exterior without breaking the bank (or your back). Some of them will surprise you.




Consider the front door.
Yeah, I know, I have said this a million times, but here is what Ms. Hoover has to say, “If you’re on a budget, give doors a face-lift with a fresh coat of paint and a new or recently polished handle and door knocker from your local or online hardware store”. “Paint can be bought for less than $200 depending on the brand, and a really elegant door knocker or handle starts at $45.” Of course, you could replace the door altogether with something more dramatic. “An arched distinctive door with side lights will knock the socks off any buyer.”




Grab the gardening tools.
“If you have the room, anchor each side of the door with potted plants. Potted plants are an efficient, fragrant, and inexpensive way to add a pop of color, which is important to buyers. Also, avoid plastic containers and be sure to use ceramic or terra-cotta pots to add a touch of subtle opulence.”




Walk this way.
“Create an inviting walkway to your front door with beautiful blooms or shrubs,” she says. Among Hoover’s personal favorites: hydrangeas. “Depending on your preference, many can be found for under $30 and are easy to plant. If you have an area along a walkway leading up to your front door, go for bright blue and pink colors—they have a huge impact and are typically very low maintenance and cost efficient.”




Mask with mulch.
“A few bags or small truckload of mulch can turn dry or imperfect soil into a rich and striking border along walkways and around trees and foliage. Depending on how much you need, you can find it for as little as $3 to $10 per bag.”




Make it inviting.
“To add character and warmth to your exterior entryway, purchase a new (clean) welcome mat and hang an elegant outdoor wreath (these can be as low as $40),” says Hoover. “Nothing says ‘curb appeal’ like a welcoming and warm entryway.”



 Click here if you would like to have a little more advice on 
Creating Curb Appeal in a Day





church on sunday



Welcome to All in the Detail... I am so glad you are here!

Whether a church is
simple or ornate, large or small,
old or new, wooden or stone...
it is most likely always a beautiful sight to behold.





Today, I share this beautiful image of a church with you
in hopes that it will bring
a little peace, a little joy
and a lot of love.


Lord, as I walk through this World,
Let Your Grace Light my Path,
Your Mercy Shelter my Soul
and Your Love Heal my Heart.


enjoy your saturday

Welcome to All in the Detail... I am so glad you are here!



recipe friday


Welcome to All in the Detail... I am so glad you are here!




Pesto Sauce

Ingredients

1 ½ C Fresh Basil
2 cloves of garlic
¼ C pine nuts
¾ C Parmesan cheese
¾ C Olive Oil


Directions

Place above items in a food processor and grind well

Add cheese

Mix well.

Add Olive Oil and blend until consistency of creamed butter

Heat portion wanted and mix in serving of pasta



BONUS FEATURE:

Click a Gold Category on our RECIPE page
to view a selection of our Recipe Friday recipes.

&

Click here for great tips on organizing your recipes.



#recipefriday


how to style a bookcase


Welcome to All in the Detail... I am so glad you are here!






When styling a bookcase, you want to 'merchandise it', just like you would see a display in a store except remember, this is your house, so this is a much smaller scale.




To add interest and style to your bookcase, use ‘mixed media’. What do I mean by that? You want to merge several different and unique elements within your bookcase shelves including wood, iron, glass, and of course, books.




You want to be sure to add a color into the book case. For example, if your room has blues, be sure that about one third of the pieces in your bookcase has some kind of blue.




You also want to look at your bookcase as a small vignette, meaning each shelf needs to be individual and you want to create foundations to build on. Some items may be able to stand on their own but sometimes you may be able to use books as platforms for different ways to showcase different pieces.




You have to think about how the bookcase is being used.

Is the bookcase being used as a room divider?
If so, you want to be sure that you can see through the bookcase and that all items on the bookcase will be pretty on all sides because they will be viewed from all sides.




Is the bookcase against a wall?
If so, then it should be a focal point and you should have fun with it. Use larger items, use mixed media, make the bookcase items really stand out.




Is the bookcase going to be used in the room to hide things?
If so, you have to think about that when you are styling. Do you have files, pencils, crayons, movies, etc that are going to be hidden in the bookcase?




These points are a great beginning to styling any bookcase.

And remember, everything is more pleasing to the eye if they are grouped in odd numbers, 3… 5… 7… etc.




Now, here are three good hints to help in styling your bookcase:

1. Less is More.
Bookshelves definitely start to look cluttered when there is too much going on. Avoid jam-packing the thing to the brim and purge unnecessary items. Ask yourself, "Do I really need this book I've been meaning to read for 3 years?'




2. Consider A Different Bookshelf.
I've been in that position where we had a home full of hand-me-downs and they honestly just didn't fit the space properly. Before you say, "But I don't have the money to buy something new!" Wait! If that's the case, don't stress about it. If you are able to sell what you currently own and buy a new or used bookshelf that fits your home and needs better, go for it!



3. Shop Your Home.
You'd be surprised what can make a bookshelf finally "work". Look around your home for decor items that can be pulled together to create a functional bookshelf that is also your kind of style.






opportunity is knocking


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As some of you may already be aware of, I am in the (lonnnng) process of replacing my front door.  You know the old adage: the proverbial children of the shoemaker who go without shoes? Well, in my house lives a contractor so we go without the repairs (or at least, they go longer than normal).

Anyway, I am still in the process of reviewing and deciding on the details of my front door replacement, including lighting, doorbell, color, trim work, etc. Yeah, there is a lot to it when you get into the ‘details’ of a front door replacement.

So, while doing my diligence, I just ran across these beautiful images of front door styles in Southern Living Magazine and thought I would share with you. They are beautiful and they get me even more excited about the completion (one day) of my front door repair.

Here you go: Opportunity is knocking!





Peaches and Cream
Let a cheerful paint color loosen up a formal facade. This coral shade peps up a Palladian transom, traditional pediment, and regal door knocker. Break from an otherwise symmetrical look with a single carriage lantern.

Specs:
Paint Color: Pink Mimosa (P180-3); homedepot.com
Light: ELK Lighting Grande Isle Sconce, $818; farreys.com
Door Knocker: Lion Door Knocker, $118; wayfair.com
Container: Acadia Urn, $299; frontgate.com
Accent Piece: Hand-Welded House Number, $30; anthropologie.com




Classic French Door Entry
French doors with a fresh Chippendale spin complement the Colonial home’s English roots. The curved muntins and spherical finials on the parapet play off the founded boxwoods lining the front of the home.




Play the Blues
Strike a high note on an otherwise toned-down entry with a pop of color. This home has classic craftsmanship, such as fluted pilasters and a starburst transom, but what really shines—other than a cute pup—is the deep blue paneled door with shiny brass accessories.

Specs:
Paint Color: Gentleman's Gray (2062-20); benjaminmoore.com
Light: Beacon Hill, $308; 1800lighting.com for retailers
Door Knocker: Solid Brass "S" Style Door Knocker, $35.29; houseofantiquehardware.com
Container: Cauldron Pot in Blue, $220, available through Charlie Thigpen's Garden Gallery; 205/328-1000
Accent Piece: Brass Mail Slot, $16.99; amazon.com




Solar Flair
Amp up a traditional home with unexpected sunset hues. Here, fiery red paint energizes an entryway, which exudes elegance with its ornate transom, dentil molding, filigreed pendant light, and wrought iron railing.

Specs:
Paint Color: Tomato Red (2010-10); benjaminmoore.com
Light: Square Hanging Pendant Light, from $375; bevolo.com for retailers
Doorbell: "Please Ring" Doorbell Button, $18; rejuvenation.com
Container: Fiberstone Box, from $215; jaysonhome.com
Accent Piece: Heavy Duty Brass Traditional Mail Slot, $99.90; houseofantiquehardware.com




Green to Envy
Give guests a warm welcome with friendly tones of green, gray, and blue. This grand double-door entry is balanced by its easygoing, leafy hue and simple carving. The weathered patina of the pendant lantern suggests a home that's mellowed over time.

Specs:
Paint Color: Tradd Street Green (DCR090); duron.com
Light: Federal Hanging Lantern, $459; shadesoflight.com
Door Knob: Estate Knob (5041), from $100; baldwinhardware.com for retailers
Container: Blue Ceramic Planter, from $480; scenariohome.com
Accent Piece: 4 Inch Solid Brass Number, $2.97; homedepot.com


Would you like to see more about the Front Door?


Here is a great post regarding the First Impression your home can make.