Love is in the air and it is time to bring forth the mushiest side of your personality. How are you going to celebrate this Valentine’s Day? Why not give your bathroom a Valentine makeover and turn it into a spa- like retreat. Here are three easy steps to fulfill your relaxing spa fantasies right in the comfort of your home:

Valentine’s Day: Turn your Bathroom into a Spa

1. Prep it up

The first step to a spa-like feel is to prepare your bathroom well. Deep clean the bathroom and ensure that it sparkles. Scrub the bath tub and give it a good dose of disinfectants. Clean out the clutter from the bathroom counters, remove old magazines and dispose of the empty bottles. Place freshly laundered bath towels in a wicker basket and for the added effect, roll them up. Add a plush bathmat and hang a couple of matching bathrobes. Finish with a few potted plants or a bunch of fresh flowers.

Image via: Nicety Livejournal

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 2. Set the mood

Next, set the mood of your bathroom to match that of a spa. Switch off the overhead lights and use dimmers to turn down the intensity of the wall scones. If you do not have dimmers, replace the bulbs with lower wattage ones. Create soft lighting and add warmth with clusters of candles around the bathroom.

Image via: Pinterest

3. Add some love

Finally, tease your sense of smell with aromatherapy products like essential oils and reed diffusers. Make arrangement to play soft music in the bathroom. Pull in your bar cart and stock it up with still water, a bottle of champagne and flutes. Place a bath tub tray across your tub to hold the flutes. Add bath salts to the bath water and float rose petals for a romantic touch.

Image via: Home DIT

Your Valentine’s Day bathroom makeover will not take time to put together if prepared well. Indulge in luxurious natural oils, wooden bath accessories and beeswax candles to make your loved one feel special.

For more bathroom ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Today we continue Stagetecture’s feature ‘Olioboard Inspiration‘. Before you were inspired by – ‘Perfect Ideas to Bring the Holiday Hostess’ from Shelley Harcar. Today, I feature Adele Baumann Healey who is a member of the Facebook Olioboard Fan Room group and she helps you prepare your guest bathroom for holiday guests! See tips to ensure your guests feel welcomed and at home this holiday season.

If you’re interested in being featured see details here: How to be featured on Stagetecture’s Olioboard Inspiration‘ series.

To see all the past Stagetecture’s Olioboard Inspiration members on Pinterest click here.

Olioboard Inspiration #52

‘Inviting Holiday Guest Bathroom’ – Adele Baumann Healey

Not all homeowners are going to have a private en suite for overnight guests, and many visitors will be using the hall bath, or children’s bath, or sharing a master bath with the home owner.  Here are some suggestions to help your guests feel at home no matter which bathroom they will be using during their stay.

When thinking of what you need to have available for your guests when it comes to bath and personal hygiene, the best way to begin is to think of what YOU tend to forget when you travel.

Stock the bathroom with bath essentials

It’s always fun to go through the travel bins at pharmacies or grocery stores and see what travel size items are available.  Grab shampoos, mini-deodorants, body lotions, disposable razors, travel sized tooth paste and floss, inexpensive tooth brushes, and personal sized packets of cotton swabs or cotton balls and place all in a pretty basket or box.  Or, if you prefer, use glass jars and fill with cotton balls, cotton swabs, bath oil beads and other items to also use as decoration.  It might even be a good way to add a little holiday touch to the bathroom.  You can even go all out and offer loofah sponges or poufs to give a spa feel to the bath.  Be sure to announce upon showing your visitors the bath they will use, that all these things are available to them and for them to feel free to use anything they need.

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How to Create an Inviting Holiday Guest Bathroom

It’s a good idea to have different colored or patterned towels and wash cloths available.  That way, each person will know which towel belongs to who, and hopefully, the kids won’t be grabbing the guest’s towels.

If the bath is large enough, a small stool will always come in handy.  Your visitors can have a place to sit or balance themselves while dressing or applying lotions or creams.

Be sure to have plenty of space to hang damp towels.  Hooks are always good, because not only are they easy for someone to toss a towel on, but they are a great place for people to hang their robe or clothes and then those robes or clothes are handy to grab

Have an extra hair dryer handy.  Nothing worse than a guest with wet hair realizing she left her hair dryer at home!

Be sure while cleaning the bath in preparation for overnight guests, to not forget to wash any bath rugs, and replace the shower curtain if it is getting grungy. This would be a great time to change your bath décor a tiny bit and the shower curtain is a quick way to achieve a new look.

A little air deodorant or potpourri will help keep the bathroom smelling fresh, while flowers can add a festive, welcoming flair.  Even a few pretty, scented soaps can add a subtle aroma to the room.

If everything is ready in the bath and bedroom before your guests arrive, you’ll be able to spend more time with your family or friends and less time racing around trying to make them comfortable.  And they will truly feel pampered.

About Adele

I am a mother of two and a grandmother of 4. Our family was a member of the military for 21 years and lived all over the U.S and in Europe, moving 13 times in 19 years. While residing in Germany, we travelled constantly (my little kids in tow in our old V.W. camper) and I absorbed, through osmosis, the many historical attributes of architecture and design. Even in the U.S. it was a learning experience to see how the many people I met decorated and used their creative skills, each influenced by the environment in which they were living. Simply put, when you move so much and live in so many types of residences it was always a challenge to achieve a homey place for your family to grow and be nurtured. What was my biggest challenge to make into a home? An old TB ward of an empty, Army hospital building! Follow Adele as Redadie on her Olioboard profile and find her on Facebook.

 Entry #3015, November 14, 2013

Enhancing the look of your bathroom doesn’t have to come at an exorbitant cost. With just a little planning and a few fresh ideas, you can transform and design your bathroom on a budget into a spectacular spot that appeals to all who see it. Here is how to get that enviable look for less.

How to Design Your Bathroom on a Budget

Image via: Houzz

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Paint your bathroom

A fresh coat of paint can update a bathroom in a way no other thing can. It only takes a coat or two to change the wall color and if you have paint equipment in the house the renovation cost becomes even less. For the ceiling and walls, invest in mold and mildew-proof undercoat and paint as they provide additional protection for bathrooms. Cover any discolored surfaces and update worn-out fixtures with paint. With the right paint, you can give your ceramic tile a new look, refinish a tub, and refresh a medicine cabinet.

Image by: Peggy Pardo

Incorporate New Plumbing Fixtures

If you want to reduce expenses as you renovate your bathroom, get white fixtures such as tubs, toilets, and sinks. They are less expensive than other fixtures and very easy to maintain. You can also save a lot by getting white tiles for the floors. If you are afraid that the room might look dull, splurge a little on a mosaic tile border and choose affordable accents like bright window shades, colorful towels, and bold artwork.

Image by: Browzer

Change the Lighting

One easy way you can transform your bathroom’s look is by changing the lighting. You can remove the fixtures and hang a chandelier over the vanity instead. Replace unappealing bulb strips around your bathroom mirror with stylish scones and create an instant update. You can also insert can lights that can be dimmed with a switch to create a calm and peaceful atmosphere.

Image by: Holly Scott

Buy Shiny Hardware

Bathrooms have a lot of hardware including towel bars, toilet flush handles, sink faucets, and cabinet knobs. Dedicate a portion of your budget to new shiny hardware and give your bathroom showroom-quality shine. Choose pieces with more style and personality and enhance the look, feel, and function of the fixtures.

Use these ideas to transform your bathroom without breaking the bank to do so!

For more kitchen & bath ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Purchasing a home that needs serious remodeling is no easy decision. Renovations are time consuming, expensive, and require commitment and determination to complete. If a house hunter is seriously considering buying a home to restore, they can follow these five practical guidelines to simplify a potentially overwhelming process.

Image via: Travis Knoop

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Get an Inspection

Finding a home inspector is one of the most important tasks for homebuyers looking to invest in a fixer-upper home. Be sure to read reviews and select an inspector who comes recommended by other homebuyers who have no bias toward the purchase or sale of the home. Another important step is to make sure the inspector has experience in evaluating older homes. If the inspector is only versed in newer construction, he or she may insist on excessive upgrades.

Determine Necessary Repairs

Cosmetic repairs usually require replacement of the drywall, lighting, shutters, windows and doors or refinishing of the floors, kitchens or bathrooms. The more demanding projects, however, involve structural damages in the foundation of the home. Foundation repairs are costly and may eat up a budget before interior updates are addressed. Further, mold is an issue that should not be taken lightly. Aside from the danger of inhaling toxins, surface mold is an indicator of more complicated problems in the home, such as flooding or leaks. If the house smells musty or has indications of water damage, it’s best to stay away.

Finally, if the layout of the home is undesirable, it is going to be difficult to change without completely gutting the home’s interior. Kitchens and bathrooms are problematic to move around due to limited access to pipes and plumbing. Not every wall can be torn down, either. Load bearing walls help to hold up the foundation, while curtain walls are simply room dividers. Keep these limitations in mind when imagining potential remodel layouts. It’s best to find a home that has a convenient and logical floor plan to avoid these pricey renovations.

Image via: Heydt Designs

Overestimate Costs

It’s difficult to determine exactly the type of repairs that a house needs without ripping down some walls and examining the groundwork. However, this is not an option during an inspection. Often times, a new homeowner conducting renovations might find issues during construction that weren’t evident upon inspection or in the seller’s disclosure. Some of these may be minor fixes, but can also be costly and require urgent repairs. It’s best to have extra funds set aside to cover such unforeseen problems.

Consider Living Arrangements

Is there a safe place to stay while the construction is taking place? A homebuyer may want to reconsider buying a fixer-upper if the plan is to move in immediately upon purchase. Not only is it dangerous to be inhaling dust throughout the night, but living in a disheveled house 24/7 can become emotionally draining. Staying in the home can be a constant reminder of the stress, costs and slow-moving processes of large remodels. If the home is going to become the buyer’s primary residence right away, consider remodeling in phases to establish a safe, stress-free living space.

Image via: J. Stephens Interiors

Calculate Profit

Even if the buyer plans to live in the house for a few years rather than just flipping it for a fiscal return, the money and time put into fixing the home should yield a high profit to be worth the hassle of the renovations. The initial cost of the home and the cost of repairs (materials and labor) should be less than the total resale value of the house. Make sure to deduct potential unforeseen costs from the final calculation. While it’s impossible to predict exactly what the house will eventually sell for, homeowners can determine market value by searching comparable properties in the neighborhood. If the market is strong and the home is the right price before renovations, then there is a high probability for substantial returns on the initial investment.

None of these steps should be taken lightly, since a home is likely the most expensive purchase made in an individual’s lifetime. Above all, a lack of experience in home improvement can delay the renovation process. Even with professional assistance, it’s best to clearly understand all of the repairs required, why they are necessary and the reasons behind their costs. The more knowledge of home improvements the new homeowners have, the smoother and more affordable the renovation process should be for them.

Written by:  Tali Wee of Zillow

For more home buying tips on Stagetecture, click here.

When holding an open house or inviting potential buyers in for a showing, the bathroom is one room that can easily make or break a sale. Easy to overlook during renovations and more prone to getting dirty than some of the other rooms, the bathroom can be enough to make a buyer look elsewhere. Luckily, it doesn’t take much to get your bathroom ready for open houses and private showings. Set aside some time one weekend and get everything done.

How to Stage your Bathroom for Buyer Appeal

Image via: Benjamin Benschneider

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Invest in Minor Remodeling

Swapping out a cracked or ugly sink and cupboard for an attractive, affordable bathroom vanity will make a huge difference in the room’s look without a complete floor-to-ceiling renovation. Think of other minor upgrades you can make quickly, and even on a limited budget, such as:

• A new cupboard
• A new toilet seat
• A new shower curtain
• New window curtains
• A new mirror
• A new toilet-paper holder
• A new soap dish

It doesn’t matter whether or not you’re taking the new addition with you — you’re probably not leaving a countertop soap dish behind, for example. What matters is that you “set the stage” for a beautiful bathroom, one that seems new and classy, and like it’d belong in a five-star hotel room.

Clean your Bathroom Thoroughly

The bathroom is one of the dirtiest rooms in the house. Your job is to clean it thoroughly, from top to bottom. Leave no bit of grout unscrubbed and bleach the white clean if you need to. Remove the fan cover and clean out accumulated dust. Take out the sink stopper and unclog the drain, in case the buyer turns it on and sees your drain back up. Disinfect every surface, and leave every part of the room sparkling.

Image via: Jeri Koegel

Banish Stained Walls

When you’re scrubbing, you may notice a few areas where soap, a sponge and power scrubbing just aren’t doing enough. Walls stained with mildew and mold are the most frequent culprit. If after years of using the bathroom that ugly black stuff has started accumulating, you need to banish it entirely. Mold is dangerous, and mildew looks like mold — you don’t want a potential buyer thinking there’s mold in your bathroom. Tear down any wallpaper, peel away paint and repaint or re-paper the walls.

Use Neutral Colors

When painting or even when decorating, choose neutral colors like beige, yellow and white. The bathroom shouldn’t stand out too much to the potential buyer. Bolder colors are more likely to turn off people. If they want bolder colors, they can change the room once they’ve purchased the home.

If you’re not painting, hang neutral-color shower curtains (if you have them) and neutral color towels. Banish the cartoon-character beach towels and the rubber-ducky shower curtains, at least when you’re showing. These are simple enough changes that can be easily undone when the house is not on display.

Image via: Ellinor Ellefson, Elle Interiors

Add a Fragrant Vase of Flowers

Even the most gorgeous of bathrooms may smell off-putting. Loading the room up with manufactured air fresheners is a start, but it could seem like you’re covering up something you don’t want buyers to smell. Instead, put a fragrant bouquet of flowers in a vase and place it on the sink or atop the toilet each time you have a showing. It’s an elegant and effective touch. If a bouquet is too big in an otherwise small and cramped space, a single large flower like a lilac or a rose will do.

The bathroom is one of the more difficult rooms to stage for a showing because there are so few furnishings to rearrange; however, the lack of furnishings is also what makes it one of the easier rooms to prepare. Just don’t ignore the room because it’s small and doesn’t seem to need as much attention. Remember: Potential buyers want to see clean, functional bathrooms.

About the Author: Kevin Lunn is a real estate agent with over two decades of experience.

For more bedroom & living ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

Guest Blogger +1K, Entry #2646, July 12, 2013

Home designs are constantly changing. In order to keep up a stylish home both inside and out, it’s important to stay on top of the latest home designing trends. Check out the following popular design ideas for 2013.

1. Brass Decor

Brass decor helps spice up any space, no matter if you’re going for a traditional or a modern look. It delivers a warm feeling to each room, giving homeowners a simple solution for making their home feel a bit more homey. To stick with this year’s trend, search for antique bronze pieces.

Image via: by Mirage Floors

2. Natural Wood Decor

Along with antique furniture and neutral shades, people are bringing natural wood into the home. From hardwood floors to natural wood furniture, this material makes for beautiful decor. Couple wood pieces with neutral colors for a calm-feel in your home.

3. Screened Porches

Screened porches are climbing their way to the top of the home trends’ list. They offer the outdoor feel without having to live with the bugs and wildlife. You can relax in the sun, cook over a fireplace, and dine in your screened porch while enjoying the splendor of the outdoors from the comforts of your porch.

Image via: Flickr by jdn

4. Stripes

Most people don’t want to live in a boring atmosphere, and a dully designed home is just that. Instead, people are looking for more dynamic home decor, and they’re turning to stripes to help get the job done. Whether it’s striped walls, artwork, or furniture, stripes are quickly becoming a favorite design trend.

5. Antique Furniture

People are turning to antique furniture because it’s cheap, stylish, and artistic. Homeowners love the more personalized, homey-feel of this furniture and are picking up antique dressers, tables, and chairs at auctions across the country. Plus, many people enjoy restoring antique furniture, making their home decor more personalized while engaging in a fun hobby.

6. Bright Walls

With HD TVs and high-definition computers, our eyes are constantly being exposed to bright colors. And, our eyes want more of it. This year, countless people will turn to home improvement stores and pick up the brightest colors in the aisle to spice up their home and bring in more bright, happy colors.

Image via Flickr: by Little Greene Paint Company

 

7. Vintage Exterior

Vintage homes have always been a beautiful home decor choice, and they still are. Designers and homeowners alike love the look of a vintage home. Real estate brokers like Nostalgic Homes in Denver can help you find a neighborhood and a home with a vintage exterior.

8. DIY Artwork

Houses are more than just a living space. People want their house to become a home, a place that shows their personality and helps them relax in comfort. With do-it-yourself projects, people are finding that you can easily display your personality with the work you put into your home. Homeowners create artwork for their walls, build their own furniture, repurpose objects, and take on various other projects to make their home their own.

9. Neutral Shades

Didn’t I just tell you that bright colors were the new “in” thing to do? Yes, but neutrals are quickly making their way into the home as well. Both are popular trends now. For a timeless look that you could probably live with forever, neutrals are the way to go this year. Stick with white, brown, black, or gray shades.

Image via: Coco+kelley

 

10. Green Accents

We’re not sure exactly what it is about the color green — perhaps it’s the natural feel of the color found so commonly outdoors — but everyone seems to want green accents this year. Pantone named emerald-green the color of the year, for everything from fashion to home decor, so don’t be afraid to spice up your home with green accent walls, pillows, or artwork.

11. Downsizing

The last top trend that people are starting to love are smaller homes. People are quickly realizing that they don’t need a huge home to stay comfortable, and designers are creating smaller homes for these people. Along with this, people are starting to downsize their furniture and buy items that serve a dual function, such as coffee tables that convert into dining room tables.

Now that you have some excellent home designing ideas, start decorating! What are is your favorite home decor trend?

For more home organization ideas on Stagetecture, click here.

You’ve just purchased a brand new home and are looking for some decorating inspiration to turn your house into your dream home. We have some of the latest decorating tips from the experts as to what’s hot and what’s not in 2013.

The Colours for This Year

Bright and bold seems to be the calling for 2013 when it comes to hot home decorating colours. Vibrant blues and bright greens are what the top decorators are tending towards. Vibrant blue hues work well in any room and go together great with bold and graphic symmetrical patterns, another favourite for 2013. And don’t worry; blue is set to stay as the colour for 2014 as well. But if blue really isn’t for you then try bright shades of green. You can use it on the walls, for window treatments or even for floor coverings.

If you don’t feel as bold as to commit to too much colour, then simply accent your rooms with these great colours. Vases, artwork, cushions or ornaments can introduce the hot colours for 2013 into your new home with ease and elegance.

Image via: Imagine Living

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Bring Back 1920s Art Deco

One of the most loved and classic styles of the 20^th century, art deco is all about beautiful lines, symmetry, simplicity and elegant opulence. Who doesn’t want their new home decorated in this way? Choose one or two simple pieces for each room, such as a large wall mirror, side cabinet, centrepiece light fitting, large lamp or piece of artwork to introduce art deco into your home. Remember that with art deco style, less is more, so be sure not to overdo it. The right pieces carefully selected simply won’t date and will bring elegance and sophistication to any room in your home.

Go for Raw and Natural

A homey, lived-in look is what you want for 2013 — not cluttered or shabby, but raw and natural. Natural stone, wood and slate complement the warm earthy metals that are all the rage for this year. Kitchens and bathrooms are a great place to introduce these natural elements into your new home. And being natural, they aren’t going to date any time soon. You can easily mix the raw, natural look into your personal decorating style, whether that is modern minimalism, country chic, lived-in bohemian or super neutral.

Don’t Be Afraid of Metals

Tying in with the 1920s art-deco theme, metals are all the talk for 2013. But forget silver and chrome; instead, warm, earthy metallic tones such as brass and gold are what you need to consider this year. Shiny brass against a lacquered background is what the top decorators are looking to create. Large brass lamps, gold picture frames and metallic patterned fabrics complement the rest of what is hot in home decor in 2013.

Image via: Tendances Concept

It’s Good to Go Graphic

Vivid graphic patterns can be used on the walls, floors, on furniture, for window treatments, as artwork or as room accents. You can choose to go symmetrical with your patterns or choose something slightly more feminine and graceful. If you don’t want to over-commit yourself on the graphics with walls or floors, then window treatments may be a great option for you. You might find you’re prepared to be a little more adventurous if you choose drapes in a bold and graphic pattern. The benefit of patterned drapes is that, when opened, the patterned softens significantly so not to overpower the room.

Don’t Feel the Need to Buy New

Decorating your new home isn’t about getting rid of what you’ve already got and getting something new. Instead, it’s about reworking what you already have. You can re-frame or re-matt your wall prints, replace the lamp shade on your bedside or living room lamps, and pull out those old vases you had packed into the top shelf of the cupboard.

Image via: J. Grant Design Studio

Try Going Gloss

Glossy, shiny, lacquered surfaces are in for 2013. This can include wall paints, floor coverings, furniture or big ornamental pieces. Whatever you choose to go glossy on, remember that ultra-high shine is was the home decorating experts are aiming for.

This article was written by Sara-Jane Myers, an interior designer and decorator based in central Melbourne. She is often involved in decorating display homes for a number of top class developments, including the MandalayBeveridge.com.au.

For more home decor ideas on Stagetecture, click here.