Orgainize & Declutter to Maximize your Makeover

WOOD FURNITURE

Beware! What may look like solid wood furniture may be something else. Ask questions and take a close look at materials. Aside from visual considerations, imitations can never compare to solid woods when it comes to holding nails and screws and withstanding the stresses, loads, shocks and scratches of our daily life. Solid wood furnishings always will remain genuine, natural and classic.— Ismail Khalil, QUEENS FURNITURE

LIGHTING

When selecting lighting for a new home or a remodeling project, homeowners should be aware of specific styles, finishes and functionality of the lighting fixture they are buying. For instance, a kitchen island fixture

needs to provide good downward task lighting whereas a breakfast room or formal dining room chandelier could be more of an esthetic purchase. The most renovated room in a home is the kitchen. And now that kitchens are becoming the heart of the home and the main gathering place, lighting fixtures can accentuate fine finishes such as granite, cabinetry and high-end appliances. Making the kitchen more of an entertaining place than a utilitarian space. Bathrooms are the second most renovated room in a home. From beautiful crystal chandeliers over a bathtub to functional bath sconces over the vanities, there are several finishes and styles that coordinate with today's plumbing hardware and new stone/granite surfaces. — Ann Morgan, THE LIGHTING GALLERY

CARPET CARE

It is very important to vacuum any carpet regularly. Grit that comes off the bottom of shoes from outside will abrade your carpet and cause it to soil. The catch is that the specific vacuum you use is terribly important and the correct choice can be counter intuitive. The Carpet & Rug Institute (CRI) publishes a list of pproved vacuum cleaners. Those with the strongest suction (like Dyson - that is not approved) actually erode your carpet's ability to resist staining and soiling and should never be used on your carpet. I recently met with a leading scientist that tests carpet in a laboratory for a living with all the biggest manufacturers as his clients, and he told me that there is nothing worse for your carpet than using a Dyson vacuum cleaner. I was hocked. He said that it is like cleaning your car with sand paper. — Sam Roberts, ROBERTS CARPET

PAINTING

Do you start your redecorating with the wall color and ?nish or the furniture? Choose color for your walls, ceiling and trim last. The easiest things to match are the walls to your furniture, not the other way around. Start with your favorite color, fabric or carpet. If building your design around a piece of furniture, let the furniture’s fabric colors be your starting point. Look at the fabric next to carpet, ?ooring, tile, granite, stone and ?xtures. Assemble all elements, and then choose colors for all interior surfaces. Color for walls need not be ?at paint. A sheen on walls can re?ect light in dark rooms, a painted design can add drama and a textured surface can add character. — Janie Ellis, ANYTHING BUT PLAIN DECORATIVE PAINTING AND PLASTER