Page 14 - Palm Beach Vol 6 No 2
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Real Estate
Valentine’s Day Tips to Fall in Love With Your Home
By Laurie Dubow
When I was asked to be the keynote speaker at the American Society of In- terior Designer’s (ASID)
South Florida Chapter’s Membership Ap- preciation Night this January, I wondered what I could share that would be meaning- ful to some of South Florida’s most presti- gious interior designers. Although I geared my presentation toward the importance of balancing the emotional, psychological and  nancial issues of homeowners, and build- ing strategic alliances between interior designers and other professionals, I spent quite a bit of time thinking about the role that interior design plays in our homes. Af- ter all, our homes are one of the most per- sonal expressions of who we are.
Many of us spend a great deal of time and money trying to project an image of ourselves to the outside world. We spend countless hours at the gym, watch what we eat, diet to lose weight, and spend money on clothes, jewelry and fancy cars. We strive to make ourselves look younger, and make decisions daily about what to wear, what to drive, and where to live, in order to feel more comfortable and con dent about our personal appearance.
Yet many of us go months, if not years, without thinking about doing even basic preventative maintenance on our homes, let alone making updates or cosmetic im- provements. Sometimes the most basic changes can make all the di erence in how we feel about the place that we call home.
As a Realtor, I cannot tell you how of- ten I get a phone call from someone who is contemplating selling their house asking me to come over to advise them what to  x or spruce up, in order to make their home more appealing for the potential buyer.
I wonder how long they have been star- ing at the same old torn screen, cracked  oor tiles, and cabinet door that is o  the hinge. When was the last time that the paint was touched up or the carpet cleaned? Do we really need to move in order to get rid of furniture that we don’t like or personal items that we don’t need?  ese are ques-
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tions I ask myself all the time, when I visit the homes of a potential new client. I have to admit, by the time I get home to my own house, amnesia takes over! For myself, days turn into weeks, months and years. You would think that I should know better!
With Valentine’s chocolates half-eaten
and hearts and  owers on our minds, we are reminded to show appreciation for the spe- cial people in our lives.  is year, in addi- tion to doing something nice for the people I love, I will give some love and attention to my home. If you choose to do the same, here are some tips to help you get started:
NO. 1 – Clean Up Your A !
Walk around your house with a notepad. Write down everything you see that is either broken, worn or in disrepair. Once you have that list, you can priori- tize what you want to  x or replace.
NO. 2 –Accentuate  e Positive!
Go from room to room, and think about how you feel. What furniture, knickknacks and personal items appeal to you and make you feel good, and which ones do not. Look at the paint colors, window treatments, and decor as if you were walking into someone else’s home for the  rst time.
NO. 3 –Size Does Ma er!
Furniture can be too big or too small for a room. Your furniture should cre-
ate a space that is both inviting and functional.  ere needs to be movement and  ow, and should not feel cramped or too empty.
NO. 4 – L  There Be Light!
Lighting is a key element to how we feel about a space. Try not to block nat- ural light with overbearing curtains or furniture. Don’t skimp on adding plenty of well-placed lamps and light  xtures. Dimmers, di erent types of lamps, and bulb wattage can help to create mood and atmosphere.
NO. 5 –People in Gla  Houses!
Dirty windows and glass doors make a house look dingy. Getting the win-
dows professionally cleaned, inside and outside, can make a huge di erence.
NO. 6 – Mirror, Mirror on  e Wall! Strategically placed mirrors can add depth, can make a room look larger, can
enhance certain features in the room or bring the outside in.
NO. 7 – Stop and Smell  e Roses!
If you have pets, ask a very good friend (or your Realtor!) to come to your house and give it the sni  test. Some  xes for pet odors include getting an air puri er, opening windows and doors more o en, vacuuming pet hair, and pro- fessionally cleaning carpets and upholstery.


































































































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