Fall Color Schemes

 
COLORS OF CHANGING LEAVES
This California living room showcases an autumn color palette — ranging from pale yellow, soft pumpkin orange, and deep crimson — much like the changing color of leaves. Designer Kathryn M. Ireland also used a variety of patterns and textures.
 
 
DEEP RED WALLS
In this "drinks room," the deep red upholstered door and walls are reminiscent of a juicy, ripe red apple.


A BRIGHT YELLOW ENTRYWAY
The brightness of this entry hall, designed by Lee Bierly and Christopher Drake, feels like a day in late September. The leaves have only begun to change, and the sun is still shining bright.


LIGHTENED SHADES OF PUMPKIN
Peachy shades of pumpkin set the mood in this cheerful breakfast room.
 
 
 
YELLOW ADDS WARMTH TO A KITCHEN
Smith had the kitchen cabinets painted a warm, mellow shade of yellow while the seating area is in orange, both shades reminiscent of yellow and butternut squash. The neutral wooden chairs and stools blend the breakfast room and the kitchen together.
 
 
MAPLE ORANGE-RED CARPET
This living room feels warm and cozy. The vintage carpet is the color of late-autumn maple leaves, orange-red.
 

 
ROMANTIC, SOFT GOLDEN ORANGE
Soft golden orange colors to provide romantic ambiance and warmth to this luxurious master bath.
 
(Thanks House Beautiful for photos)

1 Wedding & 2 Receptions Later--

This summer my son married the love of his life.  The wedding took place in Washington DC.




We celebrated in Utah...
A wonderful outdoor French inspired celebration
Celebrating in Baltimore, MD.  All the handsome groomsmen...
Washington DC Temple...Breathtaking!
I know I'm biased but this should be in a magazine!
Baltimore festivities...
What a night!

Batten Board Project: BEFORE & AFTER

Living Room- BEFORE



Dining Room- BEFORE


I know that you've seen it hundred's of time in Blog Land but I LOVE LOVE LOVE the look of Batten Board.  I had a really boring 1980's ranch living room/dining room combined.  Ugly faux paint on the walls, ugly carpeting, ugly everywhere you looked.

New wall paint and MDF  put up by my sons and myself. 

It was a Saturday project and went really quickly.  It is surprising how much light reflection the white brings into the space.  I was able to go with a dramatic color on the top; but the rooms still feel bright and light!

AFTER




(Sorry about the iPhone pictures.  My Hubbies had my camera on his bike ride and dropped it on the road.  Did I mention that it was my NEW Cannon Camera???)
The Batten Board in the dining room is  taller than the Batten Board in the living room.
I wanted there to be flow since the rooms are connected, but I wanted definition between the spaces as well.
The wall paint in the dining room is one shade darker than the living room.

The dining room window was replaced with a large patio door for more light as well as access to the back yard.  New hard wood floors installed by my sons.




What Your Houseguests Won't Tell You

If you haven't gone into the guest bedroom since you stored last season's clothes, it's time for a quick makeover. Here are room-decorating ideas that will fix any faux pas, just in time for summer visitors.



1. I hate the giant bouquet.


Don't overwhelm a tiny table with a large bouquet. Just a few buds will give guests enough room to place their essentials — and won't bring on an onslaught of allergies.






2. I worry about waking you up.


Guests won't fret about walking around on creaking floors or disturbing you every time they get up if you throw down a plush rug. It also helps to warm up the space.





3. I'm really cold at night, or I'm uncomfortably hot.


Here's the secret to a perfectly prepared bed: Start with great cotton sheets, add a cotton coverlet, then finish with a down duvet on top. That combination offers enough flexibility to deal with the most extreme temperature swings. Think a down comforter is pricey? Check Ikea for affordable ones.






4.  I can't find a place to charge my phone.


Guests shouldn't have to scramble down on all fours in order to find an outlet. Add a conveniently placed power strip or a docking station.




Foreclosures sell at 30% discount

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- Foreclosures accounted for a third of all sales -- and sold at a nearly 30% discount -- during the first three months of 2010.

According to a new report from RealtyTrac, the marketer of foreclosed properties, 31% of all sales were foreclosures. And homebuyers purchasing those properties paid a whopping 27% less, on average, compared to sales of non-distressed homes.


These foreclosure sales include properties sold in short sales or after a bank repossession, known as REOs in industry terms. It does not include transfers from borrowers to banks, as in a sheriff's auction.


REOs, those homes already taken back from borrowers, commanded lower prices than short sales and other pre-foreclosures. The average REO sold for 34% less than conventional sales while pre-foreclosures averaged only 15% less.

Part of the reason for the bigger price cut for REOs is that many of them come to the market in poor condition, their previous owners either unable to or unwilling to maintain them.

Beaten-down condos: 'Deals of lifetime'

Foreclosures have become a dominant feature of many real estate markets, finding willing buyers among young bargain hunters and savvy housing market veterans.


During 2009, more than 1.2 million property sales involved foreclosures. That grew 25% compared with the year before, and 2,500% from 2005.


"That number boggled my mind," said Rick Sharga, a spokesman for RealtyTrac. "A 2,500% increase over a four-year period surprised even us."


Foreclosure sales were highest, expectedly in the bubble states. In Nevada, for example, they represented nearly 64% of transactions. And that's actually an improvement over the 75% of all sales during the first three months of 2009.


Surprisingly, both Massachusetts and Rhode Island had higher incidences of foreclosure sales than did the bubble state of Florida, at 42% vs. 39%.


"Massachusetts and Rhode Island were two of the only Northeastern states that racked up unsustainable price increases during the boom," pointed out Sharga.


Managing foreclosure inventories

Lenders have been trying to manage their inventories of foreclosed homes to prevent them from flooding the market and dragging down prices.


"It will be interesting to watch how they will manage the inventory levels of distressed properties on the market in order to prevent more dramatic price deterioration," said Saccacio.


Sharga said the impact of foreclosure sales on the rest of the homes for sale can be very strong. He cited Nevada, where the price difference between foreclosed properties and conventional sales is very narrow, only 17%.


"That state had such a high incidence of foreclosure sales it managed to depreciate the entire inventory there," he said.


The Ledges, St. George, Utah


Previewed homes this weekend in St. George, Utah.



These sit around a golf course and Snow Canyon is the beautiful backdrop.










The homes are all built low profile as not to infringe on the natural beauty. 
The developers/architect did a fabulous job.  (No I don't work for The Ledges nor am I getting any compensation for this post..:)!!! )









Ahhhhhhhhhh..........

Garage Doors and Gates- St. George, Utah


Hubs and I spent the weekend in St. George previewing homes. 
We were intrigued by the lovely
garage doors,
gates,
and
exterior lights
made by the local Artisians.