A Different Way to Enjoy a Christmas Tree!
November 28, 2011
I love having fresh evergreens during the holidays for my urns and garlands. I also love having it throughout the house but if you don’t have a supply of evergreens in your backyard to snip it can get very pricey! You can buy little bundles at the stores for about $10 and there’s hardly enough in the bundle to do anything with. You can also buy pre-arranged containers that are very nice but they are usually around $50 each.
This is my solution – Buy a tree now while they are still in abundance and cheaper than later on. It really doesn’t matter the shape or size of the tree. I bought this tree today for $20 at the Super C grocery store.
Buy the tree now before it's frozen or covered in snow so it's easier to work with.
With my hedge trimmer I removed every single branch right to the trunk. I have to admit I got a few strange looks from people walking their dogs as I was destroying this tree. I didn’t want to waste any of the branches. A little twig can go a long way when decorating 
Now This is a Real Charlie Brown Christmas Tree!
I Have a Whole Lot of Useful Branches to Work With - Let the Fun Begin
I always decorate a few urns at the front of the house for colour during the day and then all white lights for the evening. I think there is more impact when you do at least two urns. I hardly had to use any of the branches since I also fill the urns with topiaries, ornaments and berries. The final touch is wrapping the urns with some beautiful durable outdoor ribbon that I use year after year.
The best part is I now have three additional large boxes of branches that are cut and ready to use all season. Every time I want some fresh evergreens in the house I can just go to the garage and grab a handful. The key is to keep them in a cold place so they stay fresh.
Blending Country with Contemporary Styles with Accessories
November 23, 2011
When I first walked into this house I was confused with the conflicting styles. The kitchen cupboards were very country but the furniture was all contemporary and the fireplace was ultra modern with the smoked glass and the white metal. I had to instantly decide which direction to go. The simplest way to bring everything together is a quick shopping spree for accessories or renting Styled & Staged Inventory.
The homeowner had just painted the walls white at the suggestion of his painter. Tip #1 – Most painters are not interior designers! Painting all the walls white does not make it look bigger and brighter – it just makes it look cold and boring!
With a limited budget and tight timeline Styled & Staged had to quickly pull the room together for an exciting and cohesive look. Staging is all about prioritizing the budget to give the ‘wow’ factor for the photos in order to attract more potential buyers.
Before
Removing all the country spindal details above the cupboards instantly took the ‘country’ look out of them. Showcasing the eating counter also adds valuable space and function to the kitchen.
Before
Exchanging the ceiling fan to a chandelier and adding some attractive colourful table lines also defines the dining area and makes it more inviting.
Before
All the surfaces were hard – wood floors, leather couches, marble coffee table, bare glass windows, smoked mirror and metal on fireplace.
Adding an area rug gives instant warmth. Hanging artwork with the same brick/orange and wood tones as the cupboards really help blend the two styles. Adding textured soft pillows breaks up all the white walls and white furniture. Dark brown drapes in both the dining and the living room anchor the rooms and gives the two rooms the continuity. Lower table lamps also give warmer lighting and another pop of colour.
The fireplace is a feature that stays with the house so we had to make it look it’s best. Before the fireplace was out of proportion to the room. Hanging artwork above adds height and warmth to the smokey mirror. The homeowner also painted the white metal with a fire retardant tan textured paint. Adding trees and greenery also give life and warmth to the room. Adding wooden blinds on the front door as well as the door going out to the garage also adds texture, warmth and privacy.
‘After’ pictures were taken by: www.ontariovisualhomes.com