Home Staging Secrets: Turn Your Fireplace Into a Major Selling Feature

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fireplace, home selling, Home Staging, Interior Design

While fireplaces are a popular, in-demand home feature, they can work against you if they’re not in tip-top shape. A dirty or outdated fireplace can make a home look unkempt, when it should be bringing warmth and appeal! If you have a fireplace, be sure to spruce it up before you put your home on the market.

First, make sure it’s squeaky clean. This will require some elbow grease as you’ll need to remove all debris and thoroughly scrub the inside and out with soap and water.

Once it’s pristine, polish the bricks or stone with a stone color enhancer to let it really shine. If you have a wooden mantlepiece, consider re-painting or staining the wood. Either way, make sure nothing looks worn or outdated.

Now, on to the screen! If you have a brass screen, make sure to remove all signs of dirt and grime. You could even consider installing glass doors — we love their polished, modern look!

We love these great fireplaces:

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Photo Source: Cathy Hobbs. Design by Cathy Hobbs Design Recipes

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Voila! Now that your fireplace is spic and span, it can be a great feature to help market your property. Happy selling!

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Project of The Week: Creating a Modern Studio from an Amish Shed — HOW-TO-VIDEO (Refinishing Reclaimed Barn Wood)

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Amish Shed, Cathy Hobbs, Design Recipes, free standing studio, Pre-fab house, reclaimed barn wood, refinishing reclaimed barn wood, scott yoder, tiny house, yoder precision carpentry

Last Monday, relating to my on-going project of the week, I revealed one of my favorite design success stories, covering structural plywood trusses with reclaimed barn wood in order to make a structure (that is actually an Amish Shed) — look like it was actually made with structural reclaimed wood beams.

My expert carpenter (aka a true craftsman and artist), Scott Yoder of Yoder Precision Carpentry in Freehold, NY has masterfully executed the build out.

Below is a special How-to-video .. on how he did it!!

 

For more inspiration, take a look at the Before and After photos below!

BEFORE

SCOTT YODER OF YODER PRECISION CARPENTRY HARD AT WORK!

SCOTT SANDING OFF THE ORIGINAL COATING ON THE RECLAIMED WOOD

THIS IS STARTING TO LOOK LIKE SOMETHING!

THE BEAMS, SANDED AND GORGEOUS WITH A COAT OF SATIN POLY!

I COULD NOT BE MORE PLEASED!

CAN YOU TELL THESE STUDIO WASN’T BUILT WITH THESE WOOD BEAMS?

UP CLOSE .. AND FABULOUS!

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Project of The Week! Creating a Modern Studio from an Amish Shed. UPDATE: RECLAIMED BEAMS!

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Amish Shed, Cathy Hobbs, Design Recipes, free standing office, pre-built studio, pre-fab home, pre-fab office, tiny house

OK People! It is is time to get super excited, as my modern studio is almost complete! Remember this all started with my concept of creating an affordable, office space from a traditional Amish shed. The inspiration came from my late grandmother, who had a 400 square foot shed on her property that she used for lawn equipment and storage. It had windows and doors, and I said to myself, raise the roof, add home like finishes and presto! So far, my theory has worked! GreenTree, an Amish shed builder in Lancaster, PA builT a custom shed and Scott Yoder of Yoder Precision Carpentry in Freehold, NY has masterfully executed the build out.

As this IS a shed, the support beams are made of plywood. My design concept, cover these plywood beams with reclaimed wood “veneers”. Take a look at the photos below.. FABULOUS!!

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Project of the Week: Transforming an Amish Shed into a Modern Studio UPDATE: HARDWOOD FLOORING INSTALLED!

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Amish Shed, Cathy Hobbs, Design Recipes, free standing office, free standing studio, Pre-fab house, Pre-fab studio

Happy Monday everyone! It has been a couple of weeks, and that is because sooo much work has been done on the Amish shed that I am transforming into a modern studio. It looks absolutely amazing!! Did I mention this is going to be a woman cave? LOL! The biggest development has been the installation of hardwood flooring. This is truly transforming this “shed”.  For those of you who have been following this blog, the inspiration for this studio began with an authentic Amish shed.

As far as hard wood flooring, I specifically selected engineered hardwood flooring in which actual hardwood is on a plywood substrate, this makes the wood more stable especially since the structure is free standing and will undergo fluctuations in weather.  I also selected hardwood flooring that was “hand scraped” which ties into the country theme I am looking to achieve.

One note, in a case like this in which weather could affect hardwood flooring, it was critical to have both heating and cooling installed in the studio, specifically heating controlled on a thermostat.

Take a look at this amazing transformation!!

Engineered hardwood flooring

A staple gun is all you need!!

Install plank by plank stapling as you go!

LOVE the hand scraped hardwood!

Finished Perfection!

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Cathy’s Tuesday Tip: Great Fall Centerpieces

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Cathy Hobbs, centerpieces, Design Recipes, fall, Floral Tips, flower arranging

Have you felt the crispness in the air, seen signs of the leaves beginning to change color? Yes, it is FALL, and if you are like me, then you know it is a wonderful time to entertain.  For this week’s Tuesday Tip, I am sharing ideas for great, affordable center pieces!!

Great Fall Centerpieces

• TALL VESSEL FILLED WITH FRUITS OR VEGETABLES – There is nothing more colorful and festive than incorporating fresh fruits or vegetables into your décor.  From large green, yellow or red peppers to artichokes, lemons and limes, jars filled with these colorful items can make a real statement! When it comes to lemons and limes, incorporate the fresh leaves of the stem, sprinkling them throughout the height of the jar, this also works when using apples.  When it comes to Fall, there is nothing quite as fitting as a tall vessel filled with apples or even colored gourds.
• SHORT FLOWERS IN SMALL PITCHERS OR VASES –big blooms such as hydrangeas or peonies look gorgeous when cut short and placed in a short vase, pitcher or apothecary jar.  Other ideas? Colored bottles, jelly or canning jars.  The look is both fresh and elegant.  The use of jelly or canning jars is especially creative for the Fall season as many people are looking to preserve all of those wonderful summer fruits!
• TALL VASE WITH STEMS – from a single stem in a tall slim vase to a handful of fresh cut flowers, flowers instantly say “welcome” to your guests and make simple yet elegant centerpieces.  My suggestion when considering what to use, consider seasonal flowers that are appropriate for Fall including branches.
• GLASS HURRICANE/CANDLE ON A BIRCH COIN—a simple birch coin can add an instant natural Fall element to your décor and with a simple candle and glass hurricane on top can be an elegant centerpiece for a coffee or dining table.   Other ways you can create this centerpiece include filling the hurricane with a layer of acorns and then placing a large candle on top!
• CARVED OUT APPLE OR ARTICHOKE WITH A TAPER CANDLE- whether it’s an artichoke or apple, carving out fruits and vegetables and inserting a tall taper candle can add instant appeal and really help you to celebrate “The Fruits of Fall” with your guests!
• SUCCULENTS IN MOSS AND SAND – Tiny succulents are hearty and simply look beautiful on a table.  They also come in wonderful warm Fall colors like green and burgundy.   Pair them with sand, moss or river rocks in a glass jar or vessel and you have a beautiful centerpiece.

I LOVE this simple centerpiece I need, placing succulents in tall vessels filled with sand.

• DRIED FLOWERS –– Especially if you have a country or more traditional décor, dried flowers can truly be the perfect centerpiece choice. .  Some modern takes on the use of dried flowers include use of cute, modern topiary as well as dried cotton plants, ideal for autumn.

Dried flowers, great for Fall.

• ADD DRAMATIC FOLIAGE TO YOUR FLORAL ARRANGEMENT–Foliage is something we typically associate with Fall.  What’s wonderful about foliage is how you can dramatically change the look and feel of the same arrangement simply by adding different foliage.  The reality is, there are a number of different types of foliage out there from aspidistra to ivy to lily grass and passion vine as well as elephant ear leaves and each can completely change the look and feel of your centerpiece arrangement.

Foliage can add so much to an arrangement!

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Project of the Week: Transforming an Amish Shed into a Modern Studio UPDATE: Painting is complete!

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amish construction, Amish Shed, amish structure, Cathy Hobbs, Design Recipes, free standing studio, modular studio, mythic paint, pre-fab home, scott yoder, yoder precision carpentry

Happy end of summer! We typically profile our Project of the week on Monday, but given yesterday was Labor Day, I decided to profile our on-going project today.  If you have been a loyal follower of this blog then you know that a couple of months ago, I set out to build an affordable free-standing studio/work space, in order words a “woman cave”.  There were three main goals; one was affordability, durability and aesthetics.  I wanted a space that was warm and inviting where I would enjoy working and a space that could also double as an extra living space.

Last week you may recall, master carpenter Scott Yoder of Yoder Precision Carpentry (Freehold, NY) had just finished all of the drywall with some assistance from a fellow carpenter.  Here were the steps:

• Drywall
• Tape
• Wait for the tape to dry
• Sand

All of these steps actually took about two weeks, now that it is all complete we have completed another milestone, the painting!

Because the drywall was brand new, the priming was critical. Three coats of primer were applied. The primer, from Mythic Paint, the world leader in sustainable paints, specializing in paints that are zero toxins, zero odor and zero voc.  As the exclusive brand ambassador for Mythic paint where I also have a signature paint line, I can tell you the richness and smoothness of the paint is superb, not to mention, the pleasantness of knowing you have selected a paint that won’t harm you or your family.

As far as color, I wanted to select a color that was neutral and felt warm, but I did not want to select a taupe or beige.  Instead, I opted for a gray/blue from my signature line with Mythic Paint. The color is called Cathy’s Bremen Gray (Color  141-3).

I love the way it looks so far!

Looking for the perfect paint color for your space, why not try Mythic Paint.

USE DISCOUNT CODE: CATHY – to enjoy 10-PERCENT OFF your purchase!

Cathy’s Bremen Gray — Color 141-3 available through MYTHIC PAINT

 

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Project of the week: Transforming an Amish Shed into a Modern Studio UPDATE! Drywall complete!

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Amish Shed, Cathy Hobbs, Design Recipes, design star, free standing office space, modern studio, modular house, office space, prefab house, prefab studio, tiny house

I have to admit installing drywall will probably be one of the most time consuming aspects of this project. It takes a lot of time, not to mention a skilled hand! Despite being a true pro, there was NO WAY my carpenter on this project, Scott Yoder of Yoder Precision Carpentry could have done this by himself.  Each morning for a little more than two weeks, Scott and an fellow carpenter were working the studio often into the night. TIP: it is critical to have heating in your space when it comes time to install the drywall, if not it will take forever for the joint compound used to hide the tape (to conceal the joints in the drywall) to dry.  A space heater could possibly work in an extremely small space, like 100 square feet, otherwise you will need some form of heat on a thermostat. In the case of the studio, a gas heater wall installed one week before the installation of the drywall began.

With all of the walls up, the next step will be sanding and then PAINT!!

A bit of comic relief. Hey! I guess you have to pass the time somehow!

Scott working into the night..please don’t kill me for snapping this one! LOL

The studio is coming along beautifully! Be sure to return each Monday for updates and of course to see how it all turns out! For more design tips you can also go to my website http://www.cathyhobbs.com.

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HOW-TO-VIDEO: How to make water change color for flower arrangements

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Cathy Hobbs, changing color of water, Design Recipes, design star, floral ideas, Floral Tips, flower tips, hgtv, how to make water change color for flower arrangements, Kenji Takenaka, master florist

HOW TO VIDEO:  How to make water change color for flower arrangements

WELCOME BACK TO FLOWER POWER FRIDAY!

Hi everyone, as the owner of the NYC based interior design firm, Cathy Hobbs Design Recipes each Friday,  Kenji Takenaka Floral artist and Master Designer at Noir Hanna International and I come together for what we call FRIDAY FLOWER POWER! Each week we not only provide step by step instructions for creating dynamic floral arrangements we also provide a corresponding How To Video!

This Weeks’ Topic:

How to make water change color for flower arrangements

When it comes to floral arrangements changing the color of the water in your arrangement is one way to not only make it stand out but to also make it more customized to your own taste and décor.  But what is the best way to achieve this look?

Yes.. this can be as simple as adding food coloring but another method is to use watercolor..

 STEP  1: Begin with several clear glass vases filled with water. We use Dr. Ph. Martin’s water color, which you can find at any art supply store.  Be sure to get the “radiant” concentrated water color.  We like it because it’s very vibrant, and there are hundreds of colors, so you can pick the one you like best.

STEP 2: Add 2-3 drops into the water and stir.  

STEP 3: Make a bouquet that matches the color of the water.

STEP 4: And finally, add a satin ribbon in the same color to create a vibrant, colorful and unique arrangement.

The result …a creative touch that you can add to any floral arrangement to create a colorful and unique bouquet!

The completed floral arrangements highlighted by the creative touch of colored water

Gorgeous!

The “secret” ingredient! Vibrant Dr. Martin’s Watercolor

CLICK HERE TO BUY!

http://www.docmartins.com/

contact info:

interior designer cathy hobbs

Cathy Hobbs Design recipes http://www.cathyhobbs.com

master florist kenji takenaka

noir hanna international http://www.noirhanna.com

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Cathy’s Spring Flowers and their Vases

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Cathy Hobbs, Floral Tips, Flower design, flower ideas

April showers bring May flowers! Well Spring is already in full bloom, and I can’t wait to see what May brings! I wanted to do a quick feature on some inspiring pictures I’ve seen this week. Displaying flowers is one of the easiest and quickest ways to decorate. There will always be color, life, and freshness in your room if you have freshly cut blooms!

The two images of vases I chose to highlight were from Ikea and Jonathan Adler. I love both of them and they have great unique functions. I love the Ikea ones because they are affordable, adaptable, and simple. They can be kept in groups of three or used alone like the image to the right featuring pale pink peonies.

The Jonathan Adler vase is a little bit more of a display piece. Keep the flowers simple and minimal with a vase like this. A few tall stems will really accentuate the vase and bring the focus point together.

New York City is blooming with life right now! Have you taken some fabulous pictures yourself? I’d love to see them! Tag me @cathyhobbs and @designrecipes on Twitter or find me on Instagram at @designrecipes!

What are your favorite flowers? What is your favorite way of displaying them?

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Cathy’s Tuesday Tip: Wooden Accents

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Cathy Hobbs, designing with wood, ideas with wood, teak, walnut, wood ideas

I’m back with another Tuesday Tip!

One of my favorite things about nature is the beauty of trees and wood. Incorporating wooden accents into your home can make it feel cozy, natural, and rustic. Wood can fit into any environment so take these tips and see how you can liven up your living areas!

Be creative! Using this wooden ladder to display guest towels is a beautiful way to bring in nature. Not only is it practical it’s also sleek enough to fit into any mood or atmosphere.

Side tables… No matter whether your house is modern or classic, using side tables like these add more character to your home and will definitely set you apart from your neighbors. It is sleek enough to be modern, but looks so beautiful and like it was taken right from a forest!

Click here to purchase it!

Lamps… Having a lamp with a wooden structure really impacts the way the light brightens up your room. Because lamps often become a focal point it’s great to pull in fascinating features to highlight that piece even more. Check out this beautiful light fixtures that works in all types of homes-it is from West Elm! Lovely!

I hope you’ve thoroughly enjoyed this Tuesday Tip! Stay tuned for tomorrow’s Home Staging Secret! Tell me – How do you incorporate wood into your home?

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