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New Spring line of Jacobean Florals.

Bobby and Betty Bunntington

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"Beautiful selection of Mark Robert's collectibles" Special pricing!

Tips for creating a garden that sings!

Staging Your Home for Selling or Dwelling

 

1.  The approach to your home or “curb appeal” is hugely significant if you are considering selling your home. You get 15 seconds for a drive-by potential buyer to consider your home.  She will not even think of entering your home if the exterior doesn’t intrigue her. Besides the basics of cleaning up, pruning and weeding, be sure to add something of interest and color. The minimum would be a grouping of colorful pots planted up and placed at the front door. The front door should be a focal point; there should be no questions as to where the entrance to your home is located.

 

 

2.  First Impressions upon entering the home

can be deciding ones.  The prospective buyer should see sparkling clean floors, freshly painted walls, gleaming windows and lots of light. The entry or foyer is the introduction to your home.  You might want to purchase a fresh accent piece, mirror, clock or art work to give your home an up-to-date feel. Make it special.

 

Almost everyone needs more light- layered light:  ambient, task or accent light. 

Ambient light is overall, evenly distributed general illumination.   This can be natural light or diffused ceiling fixtures. Ambient light can also be achieved     with floor lamps and table lamps.

Task light is directed on a specific area, which includes a hanging light over a table, lamp by a reading chair or desk light.

Accent light draws attention to a particular area and adds sparkle and drama— such as picture lights or candlelight.  The prospective buyers must feel like they   have entered a model home.  Most Real Estate companies have people who can  help you achieve this feeling. Their advice is free. 

     

 

3.  De-Personalize and De-clutter every room, closet and drawer. “De-personalize” means to take down and store away anything that makes a home, your home! Family photos and portraits, trophies, collections, kid’s art work, posters, and vacation souvenirs.  This can be a heart-wrenching task for some and a refreshing assignment for others.

Before

“De-cluttering” means you’ll have to take out some furniture; anything that blocks the traffic flow. Most furniture pieces can be re-cycled throughout the home.

Also, you’ll have to ditch about 1/3 or more of all accessories. The flotsam and jetsam of daily life has a way of sneaking into every room. Managing clutter seems to be a challenge for everyone.   Use pretty containers or baskets to hide necessities such as remote controls, car keys, magazines and newspapers, shoes at the back door, and garden hoses.  

After

Start with a good purge and then concentrate on controlling clutter, by organizing, this will greatly improve the quality of your life as well as help you sell your home.

    

4.  The backdoor area is the last impression a potential buyer will remember.  Shoes and coats are a life-size distraction. Ditch most of them.  If you have hooks just hang one or two items there. More than that looks cluttered; like you ran out of storage space. 

Light the back porch and backyard. Accentuate a pretty view.  Turn on a garden fountain or light up a special tree or flowerbed.  End with a great impression!

 

 

 

Revamp, Redecorate or Renovate?

Maybe it’s just the “After Christmas Blaas”,  but suddenly you walk into your living room and you feel deflated, bored or maybe even a little depressed? 

Your home should be an uplifting place that reinvigorates you.  Maybe it’s time to revamp, redecorate or renovate.  Your budget probably defines what you should do to your room or home.  If you can revamp a room the cost will be minimal.  If you renovate, you should consult with a designer, architect or construction contractor.  Maybe the middle of the road is to redecorate.

The following tips might do the job for you- inexpensively.  But for sure these tips will help you create a new look that will make you smile!

Undecorate First:  Take down all of your holiday decorations, remove knickknacks and tschoskes, photos and artwork, plants and lamps- even throws and pillows have to go. (you may bring back some items, so don’t throw them too far)

Leave only the anchor pieces- sofa, tables and big shelves, pianos and such. You may, however trade furniture pieces with another room.) Your goal is to start with an empty box, a blank slate, tabula rasa.  Now you can create your work of art with stunning success -one room at a time!

Re Arrange the Furniture:  If your sofas are flanking the fireplace, maybe you’d like to change the focal point and look out the window?  Or if your focal point is the TV, maybe it’s time to deemphasize that and re arrange so your room will work as multi functional- a place to check your email or a place for the kids to do homework? Whatever it is that you need to change,  the living room needs to look inviting, less formal and generally updated.

New Art Work:  Replace dated family photos with new images. Reflect on the current season, the approaching season, or a new mood that you are feeling. Try a new theme with artwork, spice things up with a new accent color. You might try your hand at oil or acrylic painting on canvas- try an abstract with bright splashy colors. Go a brand new direction  – its risky but what are you out? If you are not ready to replace old artwork or photos, try a new arrangement on your wall or place the collection on a different wall.

 

 

New Lighting:   Many overlook the aspect of lighting in the home.  We often think of the functional feature of lighting rather than the aesthetics or décor for a room.  To make a dramatic change in a room, get new lamps.  Be brave, change your style with a pair of  new table lamps or perhaps a buffet lamp on the sofa table. Try them in different locations. You may want to add a light to shine on some artwork or back-light your book shelves or other furniture.  Light makes a great difference.

 

Add Storage:  Trays on tables, placemats under lamps or trays, baskets for remotes or magazines, a chest instead of coffee table, small desk or perhaps a console or up right chest.

Make it a "Designer" Christmas Tree!

You know the designer in you would like a change in your Christmas tree this year! Why not incorporate your favorite collected ornaments into a fresh new look? Use what you have and add a zing or bling or two.

What is a “Designer Tree”, anyway?

A coordinated color scheme, oversized ornaments, exaggerated tree toppers and “much is more” are the secrets to designer trees. Keep reading for more precise details on each of these elements.

Things You’ll Need:

A 7 to 7 1/2 foot tree- fresh or everlasting

Lights 450 to thousands! 3 strands of 150, 25 sets of 70

Extension cord

Sturdy step ladder

Plug-in strip with off/on switch

Ornament hooks and/or thin gauge wire

Ornaments- old and new

Solid color glass balls in 3 sizes

Silk flowers, leaves, sprays, branches, glittered, metallic, beaded

Wired ribbon, rolls of sinamay, mesh, beads, pearls or fabric yardage

Tree skirt

1. Choosing a Tree: If using a fresh tree, make it the tallest one you can for your ceiling height, but not too bushy. Short needled trees are easier to decorate, such as Fraser or Noble Fir. Remember to supply the tree with a good reservoir of water. To prolong the life of the tree, you can spray it with a concoction of 1 qt water, 1/2C light corn syrup and 1 tsp of liquid bleach.

If using an everlasting, pre-lit tree- Bring it out, check the lights, fluff up the branches and you are ready to begin decorating. If you need a new tree, check out the very real looking new models that have silk needles inside and PVC needles on the tips of the branches.

If you need to freshen an old tree, consider spray-on- flock or spray paint such as a soft gold or silver color.

2. Lighting the Tree: If you string the lights, do it without anyone else in the room. If someone else strings the lights, put on some lovely Christmas music and leave the room. Only check back if you are bearing refreshments for your “Light-Stringer”. You may hear some words you don’t want to hear. This is the part of decorating a tree that everyone hates!

Here are the directions for lighting a tree: Check the light strand before un- packing the lights. I like to keep them plugged in as I string them, making sure that they stay lit. Sometimes it is easier to wind the strand around your hand and use your hand to go around each limb or branch. Start at the base of the tree. Wind the strand of lights around the trunk, then around and along each limb as you move upward. Wrap the lights around the small limbs as well as the large ones and then work your way back to the trunk. Continue this process until you have covered the entire tree. Remember to only plug 3 strands of 100 bulbs or 6 of 50’s, together. Use a multi-plug adaptor somewhere in the middle of the tree trunk to accommodate the strands.

3. Choosing a Theme: If you are just starting out or want your tree to compliment your home’s décor, you’ll find that if you start with a specific color scheme, all of your decorating decisions will be easier.

Focus on the colors you have in your home year ‘round and then consider complimentary colors that bring out the seasonal feelings. Do you have a luscious fabric on sofa, drapes or table scarf? You might want to use all of the jewel tones and bring out your luminous beaded fruits. Do you love the rustic earthy tones? Greens, browns and gold’s go on forever and ever. It’s easy to add many of the red shades which compliment the earth tones so nicely.

You may have happy memories from Christmas Past that you’d like to enhance. If you loved the baking and cooking of this cheerful season- think of candy canes and cupcakes- choose a color scheme that brings all of those colors to mind.

Do you have a sentimental collectible Christmas decoration? Do you have some wrapping paper that you love…that could give you a theme.

Stop in at Tuscan Garden Works and look over our many tree themes and take home a hard copy of one that you like.

4. Decorating the Tree: This is the fun part. Knowing your Color palette and theme, spread out all of your bulbs and ornaments and any theme pieces you might want to use such as trains, fairies, ribbons, fabrics etc.

Your ribbons, garlands and fabrics are the first to go on after the tree is all lighted up. The ribbon gives a nice flow of movement in and around the tree. It should add color and texture to the over all design. Start the ribbon (or garland) at the top of the tree, poking it in and around the branches at an angle. Weave it in and out, moving down the tree. Don’t just wrap the tree…make the ribbon flow, soft and natural. In some areas poof the ribbon, other areas twist it. You may want to cut the ribbon into 3 yard lengths for easier handling. You don’t have to put it on the back if the tree is up against a wall.

Add the foliage- branches, flower bunches, sprays, glittery sprigs, poking them in adding color and texture. Use them sparingly and just have their tips pop out.

Now it is time for the Main Attraction, the ornaments and bulbs. Place large bulbs 6” to 8” in the center of the tree for radiating color. The large size gives a nice variation to the smaller ornaments on the ends of the branches. So tuck the larger sizes in a bit. Also, place ornaments where they will be highlighted by the lights so give a glow and show off colors. Place some ornaments half way along the branches. Always step back and make sure you are placing the ornaments in a way that the tree looks balanced.

Small limbs will hold smaller ornaments and the longer branches at the bottom of the tree will hold the larger heavier ornaments. Check often to find gaps that need an ornament or two. Other items might be necessary to pull off your theme, such as, baskets, pinecones, wreaths, fish, or little red wagons…who knows, your imagination is the limiting factor.


5. Add the Crowning Glory: Every traditional tree is topped with a star or an angel. If you have a family heirloom, use it even if it doesn’t match your theme. Traditions are an important part of Christmas and what more suitable place than on the tip of your Christmas tree? Be sure to wire it securely to the top of the tree.

If you would rather, make a topper more outrageous- accentuate with long feathers, a cluster of ornaments or bulbs, stars on wire, glitter sticks or netting and ribbon. Your choice is unlimited. Have fun with this! The rule here is “More is Better!”

6. The Tree Skirt: If you have a skirt that works with your theme or color scheme use it. If not, think outside of the box. Shower curtains, quilts, fur blanket, a length of yardage, any of these can be tucked in under your tree covering the stand and cords.

7. The Finishing Touch: Remember to wrap your gifts in coordinating wrapping paper to match the colors on your tree.

8. Move on to decorate the rest of the house – You can add small trees in any or all other rooms. Changing themes or color schemes to match each room. Or you can continue the same scheme throughout the house. Use Candles, pillows, vases with ornaments and again include the wrapping paper.

9. Don’t forget the Entry, both inside and out. This sends the statement that your friends and neighbors are “Welcome”.

Put it All Together, Expertly!

There is something about the way the sun hits the house at a slant that makes you want to come inside and decorate the house. Is it the crisp air or the way the nights come on faster, that lets you know it’s that time of year again? We, here at Tuscan Garden Works are anxious to help you with the task of transforming your home for the holidays. We can help you along the way to be creative, inspired or just plain excited or we can do it for you. Read on for some quick design rules to help you be successful easily.

Whether you choose to deck your halls, a porch or a table, you’ll want to create a beautiful, interesting and exciting vignette or floral arrangement. Your success will depend on your abiding by a rule or two. Follow these simple design rules for placement of pieces that make a well balanced whole. For easy remembering, I usually call the rules: “Thriller”, “Filler” and “Spiller” but for this season I’ll refer to them as “Bones”, “Tendons” and “Flesh”!

Consider, as you are about to jazz up your front porch with a Halloween vignette or create a harvest table piece, the following design rules. They work for most any creation. You need “bones”, “tendons” and “flesh” - these terms seem appropriate for the up- coming season!

1. The “bones” will be your largest, most colorful item, the piece that stands out the most, creating a focal point. You may have more than one focal point in an arrangement.

2. The “tendons” will be the additives that support your focal point - a secondary item, maybe a pair of items that connects to the focal point. "Tendons" also connect the arrangement to the base. The base is the table it sits on, the mantel or porch or where ever it is placed. For a smaller arrangement, the base might be the planter or vase it is arranged in. This could be as simple as scattered leaves, or straw or it could be a trailing floral piece.

3. The “flesh” will be the final touches, the parts that fill in but don’t detract from the main focal point, perhaps a softer color, a less busy texture, or a smaller supporting piece or two.

Follow these design rules and you’ll produce a porch vignette so perfect, it’s scary!

Word of Warning: If you gather your own floral and grasses, leaves or pods, don’t keep them in the house very long or you’ll have a real mess to clean up. The fine seed heads can spill all over the place! They get into heater ducts, in your food and carpets. Does that sound like I’ve been there, done that? Using fresh fruit is really lovely, until the fruit flies attack it. They take about one day to multiply into hundreds!

Most all natural twigs, grasses and leaves and fruit have a permanent botanical counterpart that will be “everlasting”!

Check out our beautiful foliages, branches and berries.

Many are 50%-70% off.

Decorating Your Christmas Tree

Stop into Tuscan Garden Works' showroom and pick up a free printed copy of a themed Christmas tree...with pizzazz! We have over 20 styles of Christmas tree ideas. You can see how to re-arrange your existing decorations, add a few new blings, or just add filler floral material and make a powerful decorator statement, a real piece of art!

Holiday Recipe Idea:

A delightfully different dessert for the Holiday times!

PUMPKIN CAKE

1box yellow cake mix
¾ cup (1 ½ stick of butter)
3 eggs
¾ cup brown sugar
¼ cup flour
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 large can of canned pumpkin
2/3 cup (small can) evaporated milk
2 ½ tsp. pumpkin spice
Dash (small) salt, ground cloves, ginger & nutmeg.

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees
Grease a 13 x 9 cake pan

We will need 3 bowls: SMALL, MEDIUM & LARGE

In the MEDIUM bowl will be the crust: Mix the yellow cake mix with 1 egg (slightly beaten), ½ cup (1stick) melted and cooled butter. With a spoon, press it into the cake pan, including up the sides. (Set aside 1 cup of cake mix for the small bowl!)

In the SMALL bowl will be the topping: Take 1 cup of dry cake mix, ¼ cup of flour, ¼ cup of brown sugar, 1 tsp. of cinnamon and ¼ cup (1/2 stick) of melted and cooled butter. Mix all together and refrigerate until needed.

In the LARGE bowl will be filling: Take 1 large can of canned pumpkin, ½ cup of brown sugar, 2 eggs, 2/3 cup of evaporated milk, 1 tsp. cinnamon, 2 ½ tsp. pumpkin spice and a small dash each of salt, ground cloves, ginger & nutmeg. Mix all very well and place into the crust lined pan. Sprinkle the topping over the filling. Bake 40-50 minutes or until knife inserted in middle comes out clean. Cool. Serve with whipped cream. Refrigerate left-overs…if any!