Staging Your Home

Choosing Interior Colors? Read This Advice from Designer Ellen Maranca

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Are you choosing new interior colors? Read our Q&A for some pro tips from interior designer Ellen Maranca of EZM Interiors, Lambertville, NJ! Ms. Maranca’s designs are showcased in the accompanying photos, which includes painting by our team at Greenleaf Painters!

Home office painted in a light blue by Greenleaf Painters

What do you like most about your design work?
What I like best about being an interior designer is working with different people. Each person comes to the table with interesting ideas, lifestyles, needs and desires. My job is to mesh all the family members’ wants in a cohesive and interesting way. It’s a puzzle that needs to fit together.

Choosing wall colors is a big decision. Any tips for choosing wall color to go with existing furniture and flooring?
Wall colors change dramatically in a space from day to night and with different colors that surround them. It’s one of the most challenging pieces in my business to get it right. It takes time and energy to “see” each color in the environment. Looking at painting samples is a must.

Greenleaf painted this bedroom in a soothing brown.

Accent walls are becoming popular. What are your thoughts on these?
Accent walls should be the focal point of the room.

What interior wall colors do you find popular right now in our area for living rooms, dining rooms and kitchens?
Popular wall colors change depending on the location. Clients in Florida want “cool” colors, Northeast clients want “warmer” colors, but in general most clients want light muted colors.

White cabinets paired with soothing earth colors make this kitchen inviting.

Do you have any favorite uses of color to share?
Paint is a game changer in so many ways. Example: my client purchased a home with a huge chandelier that they really disliked, wanted to replace BUT didn’t have the budget.

I convinced them to paint it a vibrant color. They LOVE this piece. We saved thousands of dollars; it’s a showstopper now.

Any other favorite design tips?
Advice: hire an interior designer; they save you money, explain where to spend, and where to cut back to get the home that reflects your unique personality and needs.

What got you into the interior design business?
Friends, wanting interior design advice after seeing my home. In the early part of my work career I was a display director for large department stores. Great training ground for spatial relationships.

To read more about Ellen Maranca’s work, please visit: www.EZM-Interiors.com.

Dining room painted by Greenleaf

Three Ways to Make Your Home an Oasis of Color

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The 2019 Colors Trends Say “Relax”!

Color can affect your mood, and how you use color in your home can shape how cozy your living space feels. Use these tips for lassoing the colors that please you to create a cozier, happier home.

The colors for 2019 are relaxing shades of lilac, rose, peach, leafy green and daisy yellow. Do any of those colors call to you? Here are tips for how to easily play with these or other colors you love:

Tip #1: Go for pleasing accents

Switch out your throw pillows, stack a few indoor gardening books. A sheep skin, pastel throw or lightly-patterned area rug can give a room a new, soothing look.

Nature is associated with relaxation. Bring some of it indoors with you! We always love coming home with a small potted flower from the local greenhouse. Avoiding pollen? A set of empty vases can work wonders with color.

Tip #2: What colors make you feel happy?

Identify your personal favorite “happy colors” and splash them around using tip #1. This round-up of suggestions is gathered from Southern Living Magazine:

Blue and green are associated with peaceful feelings. Lighter shades of blue and pastel greens are trending — they are especially nice for offices, libraries or bedrooms.

Orange. This warm and energizing color is great for entry ways, accent walls, a child’s room or kitchens. Why not try a softer shade that leans toward peach?

Yellow is often thought of as a sunny color — for obvious reasons — bringing optimism. This energetic color is also great for kitchens or a child’s room.

White makes small rooms look more open. It’s a clean-feeling color, and white kitchens are very “in” right now. If white is too stark for you, try a light shade of gray or cream.

Kitchen cabinets painted white

Tip #3: Trends come and go, so make it your own
Play with color and have fun! Ask a friend whose home you admire to come and “play” with you!If you need design assistance, we recommend these designers who we have had the pleasure of working with over the years: Linda Principe Interiors, Linda Madani Interiors and Ellen Maranca, of EZM Interiors.

And finally, if you want to re-paint some room colors, or do a full interior, this is the time to get on our schedule! We paint through the holiday season and all year round. We’d love to come and talk color with you.

 

Colors that will sell your home (or make you want to stay)

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Color can make a difference for a buyer who is “on the fence.” We excerpted (below) a great magazine article about this.
Even if you’re not selling in the near future, here are some trending color choices for you to consider:
The Power of Color
Sue Wadden, director of color marketing at Sherwin-Williams, is intimately aware of the power of color.
 
Wadden says the definition of neutral is changing, and “drawing inspiration from the earth and sky with deep, rich tones like putty, clay, shell, sun and water. Bright golds are optimistic, yet the shift in beige moves away from warmer, yellow-based tones to brown-based grays.  These natural influences feel fresh and modern, while remaining neutral and functional throughout the seasons.”
Jessamy Tsoris, a Milwaukee-based color consultant and owner of Color Zen, equates dressing a home for sale much like you would prepare for an important job interview. “You should always wear a color that’s powerful, flattering, and typically classic,” Tsoris said.
“For your home, it’s less about selecting the neutral everyone is blogging about and more about what truly complements the home’s unique lighting and surfaces, especially wood tones. Generally, light, bright and airy neutrals leaning gray and/or coastal are popular at the moment. You want the home to look as modern as possible.”

 

“White trim–that’s a big one,” she said.  “Many people are painting unfavorable wood and ceilings white.  It’s instant happiness.  Other colors that are popular–shades of blue, from powder to green/blue/gray to navy.  Taupe as well.  Taupe weaves through all of the grays and I think we will see it a lot in the next several years in a very soft, organic way.
To get more great insights about color — click below:

InPaint Color Article with Highlights

Used with permission from Inpaintmag.com.

DIY Staging Your Home for the Spring Market

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accent wall 6

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Make Your House a Realtor’s Dream By Following These Low-Cost DIY Tips!

First impressions are everything when it comes to selling your home. Do these minor repairs and improvements and make a world of difference!

1.  Paint your front door and trim for a great first impression. An accent color can make a big splash!
2.  Paint one accent wall in a room that needs some personality.
3.  Caulk and grout your bathroom where needed.
4.  Replace any rusted or worn light fixtures or fans.

5.  Upgrade light switch plates, doorknobs or other hardware that shows wear.

Green tip: re-using is recycling! Donate your household items. The Vietnam Veterans of American offer curb-side pick-up. Call 1-800-775-VETS or visit scheduleapickup.com

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Add space and beauty simply by following these three rules:spring flowers 2
1.  Declutter by putting mail in an attractive basket. Minimize your knick-nacks.
2.  Put a tall vase of flowers on the kitchen table. Height creates a feeling of elevation. Yellow is a luminous spring color and is associated with happiness and optimism!
3.  Lighten a dark room with a neutral or light-tint paint. Add personality and splashes of bright color using a fun set of pillows, vases of flowers, or a new accent rug.