Important steps to take before remodeling and redecorating

Decorating has never been more popular. The plethora of magazines, television programmes and websites dedicated to DIY stand testament to that.

Visit your local hardware store any day of the week and you will see people browsing the aisles and seeking inspiration for that big decorating project. But before you go ahead and pick up that paintbrush, just give a little extra thought and consideration to what you are going to do and how you are going to do it. Planning is probably the most important part of the job. This is also involves planning against anything that could go wrong and cost you extra money.

Avoiding Problems
There are perhaps two reasons for choosing to undertake your own decorating job. You derive great pleasure from something which is all your own work or you simply cannot afford to employ a professional to do it for you. My boyfriend and I personally LOVE building and creating things for our home. We take a lot of pride in it, but it does tend to take us awhile to finish it up. 

This is also where your forward planning is important. Before you start to consider decorating your home yourself, check that your home insurance is up to date and that your buildings and contents insurance cover you adequately. This means that you have a policy that will pay for rebuilding your home and for the replacement of all your clothing, furniture, white goods, trinkets and treasures. In short, your home and everything you have in it. Failure to do this could result in your being seriously out of pocket, so it is of paramount importance to check the figures. We never take on projects of that scope, as we just rent right now, but if you are planning on taking your kitchen down to the studs, for example, you really want to make sure you are protected should something go wrong.

Of course, if you do choose to hire a professional, they will be covered by public liability insurance, so if anything goes wrong you and your home are covered. But to avoid having to make a claim after redecorating, ensure that you are careful and remove all items of value which could get broken or damaged. Cover carpets and furniture which cannot be moved with thick dustsheets. Plastic-backed ones are a good choice as any spillages do not go through them. I am guilty of using only an old sheet to cover things when painting, but I've learned the hard way that paint goes right through a sheet.

Be particularly careful about using blowtorches to burn off paint from wood, especially in confined spaces. Keep a wet rag and bucket of water near to hand to cool down any hotspots. Smouldering wood can ignite and, ultimately, your house could burn down. If you are working in the bathroom or anywhere where there is water present take great care in using electrical appliances. Water and electricity definitely do not mix! Aside from blowing every fuse in the house, your life could be at risk, so keep them apart.

Your insurance company is there to help and advise you. Check the paperwork and ensure you are covered so that any disasters are paid for. If you follow these simple tips you can enjoy giving your home a stunning makeover. Just a little planning can avert financial disaster should the worst happen.

 Below is some inspiration if you need a little nudge to start planning that redecorating/remodeling project...

Decorative trim, moldings, and a sophisticated paint job can make a huge impact.

via BHG 

If remodeling makes you nervous, start small.  Some easy to install shelves can make greatly improve a space in much need of storage.

via BHG

Outdoor improvement projects include just as much planning, thought, and  protection as indoor projects.

via BHG

Built-ins can be a worthwhile investment when carefully planned out.

via BHG

A custom kitchen is probably the most rewarding home improvement project you can undertake.

via Traditional Home


 *disclosure: This post is brought to you in partnership with Churchill 

Tour an amazing Georgian Revival home...

This home in Somerset Co., NJ is the home of John Dransfield and Geoffrey Ross. The gorgeous Georgian Revival is full of interesting furniture, history, and top-notch style.

You can tell the home is full of character just from the outside.

The first of two grand foyers.  "The home was designed in 1929 by prominent NY architect A. Musgrave Hyde as a shared residence for two sisters." - Lonny Mag

I don't think that bed would look bad anywhere.

I love the faux Persian rug in the master bath.  It's water resistant canvas by Dransfield and Ross.  If you're talented with a brush, it could be a rewarding DIY project using a canvas dropcloth.

Does anyone know what that plant is?

 The guest bedroom is bohemian and elegant

Another foyer

What do you think?

Read and see more in the June/July 2012 Lonny Mag.

My tiny balcony, in honor of the first day of summer!

I love hot, hot heat, which is one of the many reasons I love summer. Summer came in with a bang today here in Maryland, at a therapeutic 96 degrees. Whether you love heat or not, having a beautiful outdoor space is a great way to spend more time outside. A great way to make it more inviting is through items you'd usually only use indoors, such as pillows, curtains, and rugs.

My little balcony is nothing too special, at only 13 x 5 ft, and with some cheap plastic furnishing. However, we have dressed it up with some handmade flower boxes containing geraniums and sweet potato vines, and several succulents.

I was also lucky enough to receive a pair of gorgeous indoor/outdoor pillows to review. The pillows are from Pillow Perfect, and I was pleasantly surprised at how comfortable the outdoor fabric was. I was expecting it to be stiff and rough, but you can't tell that they are any different than indoor pillows.

My balcony and the pillows are seen below

This set are the pillows I have.  The colors of the photograph above, which is from the Pillow Perfect website, are much more accurate than my photos.  I am in dire need of a new camera, as mine makes the pillows look more green than they really are.


Other than INCREDIBLE prices, Pillow Perfect offers pillows and cushions in some of the best, on-trend designer fabrics, such as Thomas Paul.

If your outdoor space is in need of some beautifying, Pillow Perfect has a great selection as really good prices.

 How have you made your outdoor space a beautiful, comfortable extension of your home?

 disclosure*: I received pillows from Pillow Perfect as a sample