Helping Kids Through a Move

 

Dear Homeowner,

 

     When moving your family to a new home, it's especially important to be aware of what your children are facing — new friends, new neighborhood, new schools — and help make the transition as smooth as possible.

 

Before you move:

·        Find out as much as you can about your new community. If possible, take your child with you on house-hunting trips.

·        Visit your child's new school. Ask if there is a dress code and see what kids are wearing.

·        Help your child plan a going-away party. Give guests stamped envelopes with your new address to encourage letter-writing.

·        Plan a family outing to say "goodbye" to some of your child's favorite places.

·        Pack a few of your child's belongings to take with you in the car or carry on the plane, in case there's a delay in moving your possessions into your home.

 

Once you're there:

·        Help arrange and decorate your child's room right away. When the kids are situated, work on the rest of the house will go much more smoothly.

·        Encourage your child to join extra-curricular activities. They're a great way to find new friends with common interests.

·        Get a map and help your child learn his or her way around. Find out where the nearest locations are for activities your child enjoys.

     

The best things you can do for your children are to present a positive attitude about the move, keep them informed and reassure them that you'll be there to help them face new challenges.

 

 

For more moving tips, call Val Ogletree (209) 559-5725 or email valo@ valogletree.com

 

 

Wicker Picker Uppers

 

 

Dear Homeowner,

  

     Once relegated to the porch, wicker is now a permanent fixture inside. Wicker mixes easily with other styles of furniture and readily assumes a new personality with a coat of paint or other embellishments.

 

On the fringe

Embellishing any wicker chair with a little frill is easy. All you need is a hot-glue gun and fringe hefty enough to be seen against the textural wicker.

·      Measure your chair from the end of one arm to the end of the other; add 2 inches. Measure around the bottom of the chair; add 2 inches. Purchase 5-inch-long fringe in these amounts.

·      Seal the fringe's cut ends with hot glue. Starting at one end of the chair and using a hot-glue gun, glue the fringe along the chair's arms and back. Glue the fringe along the bottom the same way.

·      Don't use a low temperature glue for this project. If the chair will be subjected to high heat or intense sun, use upholstery tacks or white glue instead of a glue gun.

 

Aged to perfection

To give a new wicker rocker an old look, create layers of colors that mock how coats of paint would be worn away.

·      Paint the chair with a dark base coat. When the paint is almost dry and slightly tacky, use rubbing alcohol and a lint-free cloth or steel wool to remove the paint and expose the wicker in areas of high wear (seat, back, arms and skirt). These areas should be uneven to appear naturally worn.

·      After this coat dries, add a lighter coat and remove some of it the same way. Dark paint and wicker should now show through.

 

 

For more home decorating tips, contact Val Ogletree at (209)559-5725 or email at valo@valogletree.com.

 

 

Decorating Tips

 

Dear Homeowner,

 

      It doesn't take an unlimited budget to make your home feel more expansive. Try these inexpensive decorating tricks to make your rooms live bigger.

 

• Paint walls and ceilings with soft whites, pastels and neutrals to reflect light, making the surfaces recede from view and seem larger.

 

• Paint woodwork, trim and doors the same hue as the walls. This makes them "disappear," which in turn makes the room seem unbroken and larger. Bolder colors can be used in furniture, artwork and accessories.
• Light rooms with recessed features that add brightness without dangling in view.

 

• Use the same floor, window and wall treatments in adjoining rooms to avoid breaking up the spaces.

 

• Keep furnishings in scale with the rooms. In small rooms, use slim rockers, open-back chairs or a simple sofa or love seat rather than overstuffed furnishings to avoid overpowering the space.

 

• Knickknacks should be sparse. Rotate between display shelves and storage.

 

• Use mirrors and metal surfaces. They bounce light deep into the room, making it appear larger.

 

• Use glass-front or mirrored cabinet doors to make spaces feel large and uncluttered.

 

• Tall plants, artwork, pedestals and vertical stripes emphasize height. You can also draw eyes up with a flower arrangement on top of an armoire or breakfront.

 

• Don't fill every bare spot. Let the space speak for itself.

     

 

For more home decorating ideas, call Val O (209) 559-5725 or email at valo@valogletree.com

 

 

What Makes a House a Home?

Dear Homeowner,

      Before building, buying or remodeling, ask yourself what it takes to get that "at home" feeling. It's not just how a house looks that's important, but how you feel living in it day to day. Here are some ideas on how to make your house more homey.

Bigger is not always better

Lofty ceilings can be dazzling, but daunting. It may be wiser to design flat ceilings at 9 or 10 feet high or tame a too-high cathedral ceiling by installing exposed, rafter-height beams of rough-hewn timber. Smaller rooms create feelings of intimacy, warmth and safety.

Furniture that fits people

One measurement of a homey room is comfortable furniture — especially sofas and chairs. Keep in mind that people do not just sit on them. They also sit in them, curl up in them and stretch out in them.

Material matters

Different interior materials evoke different emotional responses. It's not just the type of materials you use, but how much you use and in what combinations.

Telltale heart

What really makes a home special are heirlooms, collections and framed family photographs exhibited where they can be appreciated every day.

For more home decorating tips, call Val Ogletree (209) 559-5725 or email at valo@vaogletree.com.

Say it With Flowers

 

 

Dear Homeowner,

 

Garden flowers can do more than just brighten your landscape — they can also brighten your home.

 

• Arrangements of garden flowers don't have to be elaborate. The simple beauty of a single rose or peony blossom floating in a clear bowl can be an attractive centerpiece.

 

• When combining different species, look for variety in flower form, size and texture. This can be a mix of spike-flowers; round, daisy-like flowers and dainty fillers like baby's-breath.

 

• Arrange your garden flowers in clean containers or vases that will complement the flowers, without being overbearing. You do not want a container to compete with the flowers for attention.

 

• Select a container that's in proportion to the size of the flowers, their stem length and the size of the arrangement you plan to make. For low containers, arrangements should be 1 to 1 1/2 times as tall as the container's width. For tall containers, arrangements should be 1 1/4 to 2 times the container's height.

 

• When you're ready to arrange your flowers, re-cut the stems under water to the desired length. A flower preservative, available from florists and garden centers, added to the vase water, will help to keep the flowers fresh-looking longer.

 

• Always use clean water for arrangements. If flowers are displayed in vases, it's a good idea to change the water daily to prevent early wilting and browning.

 

• Display your vases or arrangements of garden flowers in a cool location and out of direct sunlight and drafts.

 

 

 

For more home decorating ideas and tips, call Val Ogletree at Sugar Pine Realty #(209) 559-5725 or email at valo@valogletree.com

 

 

What Makes a House a Home?

Dear Homeowner,

 

      Before building, buying or remodeling, ask yourself what it takes to get that "at home" feeling. It's not just how a house looks that's important, but how you feel living in it day to day. Here are some ideas on how to make your house more homey.

 

Bigger is not always better

Lofty ceilings can be dazzling, but daunting. It may be wiser to design flat ceilings at 9 or 10 feet high or tame a too-high cathedral ceiling by installing exposed, rafter-height beams of rough-hewn timber. Smaller rooms create feelings of intimacy, warmth and safety.

 

Furniture that fits people

One measurement of a homey room is comfortable furniture — especially sofas and chairs. Keep in mind that people do not just sit on them. They also sit in them, curl up in them and stretch out in them.

 

Material matters

Different interior materials evoke different emotional responses. It's not just the type of materials you use, but how much you use and in what combinations.

 

Telltale heart

What really makes a home special are heirlooms, collections and framed family photographs exhibited where they can be appreciated every day.

 

 

For more home decorating tips, call Val Ogletree at (209) 559-5725 or email at valo@valogletree.com

 

For more home decorating tips, call Val Ogletree # (209) 559-5725, email at valo@valogletree.com

 

Home Away From Home

Dear Homeowner,

     Before purchasing or building a vacation home, make sure you do your homework. Finding a picture-perfect setting for future getaways is possible, but it takes a lot of planning and research.

      As you're evaluating vacation property, use these four tests:

1. Does the community have the amenities, climate, recreational and cultural activities you enjoy?
2. Does it promise years of enjoyable living without unexpected changes in the character of the community or neighborhood?
3. Are there physical or legal restrictions to stop construction of the home?
4. Does it have a special character that will make you want to spend your valuable vacation time in the same place each year?

      If you're building, assess what it will take to put a house on the site and what regulations you'll have to abide by. Ask the local planning office about zoning, building restrictions and any environmental permits required. Also, look for private restrictions attached to the property deed.

      Consult professionals to find out about drainage, water sources, soil conditions, utilities, road access, floods, geological hazards, and fire and police protection.

      Visit many locations in different seasons. Explore the area — check out medical facilities and talk to neighbors. You may even want to have different areas' local newspapers mailed to your home.

      You'll also want to evaluate the economic future of the area and how its growth rate and tax structure will affect you into the future.

For more information on choosing a vacation home, contact Val Ogletree at (209) 559-5725 or valo@valogeltree.com

Decorating for Living Large

 

 

Dear Homeowner,

 

      It doesn't take an unlimited budget to make your home feel more expansive. Try these inexpensive decorating tricks to make your rooms live bigger.

 

• Paint walls and ceilings with soft whites, pastels and neutrals to reflect light, making the surfaces recede from view and seem larger.

 

• Paint woodwork, trim and doors the same hue as the walls. This makes them "disappear," which in turn makes the room seem unbroken and larger. Bolder colors can be used in furniture, artwork and accessories.
• Light rooms with recessed features that add brightness without dangling in view.

 

• Use the same floor, window and wall treatments in adjoining rooms to avoid breaking up the spaces.

 

• Keep furnishings in scale with the rooms. In small rooms, use slim rockers, open-back chairs or a simple sofa or love seat rather than overstuffed furnishings to avoid overpowering the space.

 

• Knickknacks should be sparse. Rotate between display shelves and storage.

 

• Use mirrors and metal surfaces. They bounce light deep into the room, making it appear larger.

 

• Use glass-front or mirrored cabinet doors to make spaces feel large and uncluttered.

 

• Tall plants, artwork, pedestals and vertical stripes emphasize height. You can also draw eyes up with a flower arrangement on top of an armoire or breakfront.

 

• Don't fill every bare spot. Let the space speak for itself.

     

 

For more home decorating ideas, call Val Ogletree at (209) 559-5725

 

 

A Child-Proof Home

 

Dear Homeowner,

 

            Lots of perils that can injure children are lurking in our homes. Here are some tips to help make your home safer.

 

• Put safety stops on all cabinet doors and drawers. Knobs should be too large for children to swallow.

 

• Store chemicals, cleaners, medicines and liquor in upper cabinets — locked and out of sight.

 

• Provide safe storage for sharp objects such as knives and scissors.

 

• Cover sharp corners on counters, tables and hearths.

 

• Place all electrical outlets, especially those near water, on a ground fault circuit interrupter (it instantly shuts off electricity if there’s any leakage of current).

 

• Keep cords for draperies and mini-blinds out of reach.

 

• Buy hardware that limits how far windows can be opened.

 

• Set water temperature at no more than 120˚.

 

• Install hardware on the bathroom door that can be unlocked from either side.

 

• Install windows and mirrors with protective film that prevents shards from flying when broken.

 

For more home and family information, call Val Ogletree at Real Living Sugar Pine Realty (209) 559-5725

 

 

Prospector