Decal Details

We’re always looking for ways to bring unique interior design techniques into our homes. One of the most recent finds we’ve stumbled on via HGTV, is the use of decals. Here are a few application techniques we love.

Photo Cred: HGTV 

 

Cabinet Door Decoration

Remove the cabinet doors. If the glass panes are removable, take them out and lay them flat. Arrange the decals—these come in strips—on the front of the glass in a pattern you like, taping them down with painter’s tape. Apply the decals following the instructions on the packaging, removing the tape as you go. Cut away any excess around the glass edges with a crafts knife.

Fun Lampshades

Not all decals stick to fabric, so use a paper shade. Cut out the stars—these come on a sheet—and arrange them in a pattern, taping them down with masking tape. Apply each star following the instructions on the packaging, removing the tape as you go. Fold any excess over the top and bottom edges.

Storage, Cleaning and Decoration

Grab those dustpans, storage bins and plain vases. Find decals that coordinate with the spaces those items reside and stick them on! You’ll be surprised how such an inexpensive detail can liven up your living space.

Mirror Mirror on the Wall

Trim the decals—these come in strips—to fit the mirror’s four sides, and position them along the edges. For the corners, cut each strip at a 45-degree angle and line them up so the patterns fit together. Apply the decals following the instructions on the packaging.

Find decals on websites such as wallpops.com, Etsy, or empirecitygraphics.com, and inexpensive furniture at Akia, wayfair.com, overstock.com, or refurbish old furniture you’re not using anymore. Good luck, and share your final products with us on our Facebook page!

Quick Halloween Decorations

Is your front porch lacking in the Halloween department? It’s easy to lose track of time to decorate for the holiday, but you don’t want your house looking unattractive to trick-or-treaters, right? After all, the more trick-or-treaters you have, the less candy you’ll be left with (oh, darn) when the night is over—so recruit the kids and try some of these fun Halloween decorating ideas from HGTV.

Cat Pumpkins

This one is super easy. Grab some medium sized pumpkins, black paint, a white Sharpie, craft foam and a hot glue gun. Paint the pumpkins black, cut out black ears, pink nose and white whiskers out of foam, and glue them on. Spooky.

Cookie Cutter Pumpkin Carving

It’s as easy as it sounds. Dump the tarp, various blades, and impossibly difficult stencils. After you gut the pumpkin, grab your favorite cookie cutters like ghosts, cats, stars and moons, and use a rubber mallet to make your way through the pumpkin. Done!

Pumpkin Totem

Head to the store and grab the following: 3 faux pumpkins of the same(ish) size, black craft ribbon, black and white acrylic paint, a paint brush, and a glue gun. Take your first pumpkin and set it on the ground. Take the middle pumpkin and cut a hole in the bottom and place it over the first pumpkin’s stem (we’re stacking here – following?). Do the same for the third and glue the pumpkins together. Next, grab that ribbon and paint and create fun faces.

Trash Bag Spider Webs

Chances are, no shopping is needed for this easy decoration if you have black plastic bags, scissors, and Scotch Tape on hand. Making these involves quite a bit of folding a cutting, so here is the full set of directions.

Do you have any other fun and easy ideas to share?

Party Ready Kitchens

It’s where you cook meals and gather with family and friends. Especially in open-concept layouts like those you’ll find in every Faber Home, kitchens can be designed with entertainment in mind. So where do you start when designing the space?

  Islands and peninsulas not only create approachable areas for gathering, they also provide additional counter space and storage space. Toss a few bar stools on one side and you have a space perfect for simultaneous food prep and conversation. This allows you the space to cook and clean up while still entertaining your guests.

Tall cabinets offer lots of storage for entertaining. It’s a pain to walk to different areas of the house to retrieve platters, trays and other serving essentials. Ample cabinet space will keep everything within grasp, which is not only convenient for your party, but for cleanup afterwards.

Organizing the contents of your kitchen will also assist in hosting the perfect party. Designate areas each for food prep, cleaning and storage, and cooking. Having enough space between cabinets and tables/counter spaces will ensure easy traffic flow (because there’s nothing worse than people running into you when you’re pulling a hot pan out of the oven!).

The big game is on and you just can’t stand to miss it, yet the television is in the living room out of sight. Never fear: install a hanging television or a unit that pop up from underneath your countertop. Not only will this keep your mind at ease while everyone else gets to enjoy the occasion, but it will encourage company while you cook and dine.

If you don’t have a particularly large kitchen space, that’s still OK. Building “garages” for your appliances can free up much needed counter space. Have a clunky knife block? Why not install a drop-in knife block that becomes part of your counter. Not using your range or sink? Design countertops a couple inches higher so you can slide in a custom-fit chopping block. Workspaces can be created anywhere. Turn long drawers into pull-out counter surfaces that are perfect for buffets.

Have a unique need for your kitchen? Just ask our experienced design professionals in the Claridge Design Centre. Faber Homes will work with you to design your perfect kitchen space and get you ready to entertain.

Choosing the Right Carpet

Chances are, you’ll likely have to select carpet in your new home. It might seem like an easy task, but choosing carpet is very important. Carpeting provides a soft, plush spot for children to play and even a slip-free surface for animals in your home. There are different textures to take into account, varying colors, and designs – so where do you start?

With these top five tips on choosing carpet, we hope to help you select the best option for your family’s needs.

1. Skimping on carpet padding. This may seem like a trivial tip, but you’d be surprised how another quarter-inch of padding can transform the feeling of your carpet. According to the Carpet and Rug Institute, the cushion not only helps to buffer sound, but also provides increased insulation. As a general rule, select a cushion with no more than 7/16-inch thickness, and no less than ¼ inch thickness.
2. Keep maintenance in mind. Homeowners with dogs, cats, and kids should always avoid shag carpets, as they can harbor hair, dust and dirt, and they’re also much more difficult to keep clean. If family members routinely wear shoes indoors, lighter colored carpets probably aren’t the best choice.
3. Texture. In high-traffic areas, selecting carpet (and rugs) that are darker and have patterns will help to conceal tracks. In those high-traffic areas, it’s best to stick with level loop or high-density loop carpets, while multilevel loop carpets are best in medium-traffic and low-traffic areas.
4. Don’t forget about the staircase. Your staircase will get a lot of wear as perhaps one of the highest-trekked places in your home. Choosing a thinner carpet may mean you’ll see the unsightly backing when the carpet finally does wear in and curl over the step. The best choice for staircase carpet is one that is a woven wool, as it is the most durable.
5. Dust mites and allergies. If you or someone in your family is overly-prone to allergies, both indoor and outdoor, carpet may not be for you. Depending on where the allergy-affected individuals spend the most time, vinyl, tile or even laminate flooring can provide a sanctuary. Bedrooms can be a good place to replace carpeting with another option.

Bring your concerns and design ideas to your Claridge Design Centre meeting and our experts will make sure to accommodate all of your flooring needs.

Selling Your Home

You’re ready to build a home but there’s one thing standing in your way: your current home. It’s sellable, yes, but could some upgrades help you get it on and off the market quickly? Don’t worry, there are ways to increase the value of your home without breaking the bank.

Some of the best upgrades you can make to your home are undoubtedly the kitchen and bathrooms. Unfortunately, these are often the most expensive rooms to upgrade. A full-blown kitchen upgrade can cost upwards of $40,000, and a bathroom remodel can cost more than $10,000.

Replacing a sink and/or bathtub can be a very expensive endeavor. Instead, these items can be resurfaced for a fraction of the cost. In the same vein, cabinets do not have to be replaced. With a fresh coat of stain or paint, cabinets can take on a whole new personality.

Another way to save is with tile counters, walls, and backsplashes. These surfaces often just need a good deep clean, followed by a re-grout. You’d be surprised how much the appearance will change and improve—and for a much lower price tag to boot.

Don’t forget about the exterior. Curb appeal can make or break first impressions. Rent a power washer or even hire a professional cleaning service to clean the exterior of your home. If the weather permits, a fresh coat of paint can greatly reduce your investment dollars and can really improve the appearance of your home.

Some other smaller tips that help to sell your home quickly include:

• Clear out cluttered rooms and remove as much furniture as possible. This will help the prospective homeowner visualize how their environment will look. This goes for closet space, too.
• Steam clean carpets and furniture and wash walls. You may think your home smells fresh and clean, but you also live in the home and are used to its odors. Often times, people with pets or who smoke do not realize how their home smells.
• Bright rooms are inviting. If you’re able to put up a fresh coat of paint in dark rooms—do it. Learn to love white walls for a little while. Also, open blinds and let the natural light in.

Making the Most of Your Claridge Decorating Centre Trip

It can all seem a little overwhelming: cabinet colors, cabinet height and arrangement, countertop options, flooring, hardware… The options are endless! So how can you make the most of your trip to the Claridge Decorating Centre? Faber Homes is here to help.

When working with Faber Homes to create your dream home, keep in mind that you must pick each and every odd and end in your home. Before heading to Claridge, know where your furniture will be placed and where your outlets are, so when you plan your kitchen and bathrooms, you know where you’ll need to plug everything in.

Here are few quick and easy steps to take before heading to your meeting:

Know what Claridge offers. Once you enter the Claridge Decorating Centre, you’ll notice a plethora of choices right off the bat, and the room seems to never end. It’s likely we’ve got it all, but if you’d like to come in and see our selection – please schedule a time with your sales representative.

Have a “top three” of the following:

·         Kitchen cabinets (color and style)

·         Kitchen countertops

·         Flooring (you’ll pick for your kitchen, bathrooms, laundry room and all carpeted areas)

You’ll be presented with fabulous builder’s standard options, sure to fit any family’s needs, and a wide range of upgrade. Know your upgrade budget, and which items would constitute as an upgrade to your base floor plan such as:

·         Adding another bathroom sink

·         Raising the height of your countertops

·         Adding six inches to the height of your cabinets, or adding crown molding

·         Laminate or hardwood flooring

Always remember – you are building your home for your family’s needs. Certain types of flooring and cabinets might not be the best fit if you have kids or pets, so talk to your sales representative or anyone at Claridge about your wants and needs. They’ll help you find a balance.

Do a little research. Remember, Faber Homes’ floor plans are created to be open, so while you may have different themes for each room, make sure to have an idea of how the designs will transition. Websites like Houzz, HGTV, and DIY can help you get inspired and build your perfect rooms. Bring in photos and printouts of what you you’re dreaming up, and even some photos of your furniture to help tie it all together.

Most importantly – have fun! This is the most creative part of your home building process – so enjoy it!