Helpful Tips to Save your Furniture.

Before you decide to get new furniture. Make sure that it cannot be repaired before you spend to have it hauled off and purchase new.

Leather and Vinyl:

There are many little tricks that can be done to repair and restore leather or vinyl furniture. If there are tears or holes in the leather or vinyl there are kits that can be purchased to do repairs. These kits can be pricey so purchase exactly what is needed to get the job done. There are glues available that will hold the seams. Its a quick repair and may not hold over time. A grain mold compound can be used that will take the exact shape of the grain of your sofa so that it will match perfectly. These compounds also go with a catalyst to cure the compound. These can only be used in low traffic or low flex areas of the sofa. There are touch up markers available in many shades to blend in with the rest of the sofa. These are used where your furniture had a lighter look and has ware. There are many cleaning products available that remove stains and resist water, oil, and alcohol products. If a child has marked on your furniture there are also products available especially for ink but try some hairspray to take the ink out first. Most of the time it will work.

Cloth:

For cloth there are kits available where you mix fibers until they match the sofa fabric. There is no heat required and you just allow it to dry. These kits are not made for major tears. They are just made for little patch jobs. But they are a lot cheaper than buying new or sending in a cushion to have it replaced by the original manufacturer. You can sew fabric with a hand needle if you are good enough for the sewing job not to be noticeable. Make sure you use the appropriate cleaner for the fabric. The best thing for alcohol stains is colorless dishwashing liquid and some warm water. If that doesn't work use 2/3 cup water and 1/3 cup white vinegar to remove the satin. Test on an area of the sofa that is not visible. Never let a stain sit. Try to get it as soon as possible. You can also just purchase a new slip cover to fit snug on it and you can pull it off and throw it in the wash as needed. Slipcovers are great for a budget friendly change in appearance. They allow the furniture to match any color of paint on the walls. There is always the option of upholstering the sofa and love seat yourself. But that would be a huge chore. Call the original manufacturer and order fabric from them and just replace the bad sections and not the whole thing.

Chairs are easy to change. Pull the cushion off and lay new fabric right over the old fabric pull tight and staple to the bottom of the seat. There are really nice buttons and tacks available to create a different look to any furniture. Find trim, gimp, chair braid or welt cord to make your own welt to add a decorative touch to your furniture. Create a headboard to match a bedroom. Use batting, fabric and ply wood. Dress up your old lamps with a real light weight fabric to match the rest of your space. If you decide to do these project use your left over fabric to create table runners for your coffee tables and night stands

Wood:

Everyone spends some major money on quality wood. Here are some small things to save your wood furniture. For water rings on your tables try using a mild abrasive toothpaste. Apply it with the grain of your wood. Rub it with a soft cloth till you see the stain disappear. Repeat till gone. You can also use a colored oil stains to camouflage scratches. There are also touch up markers that come in many wood shades and crayons that you can just rub into the scratches and dents to hide them. Buff and polish your wood regularly to protect it.

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Home Improvement Stocks are Rising

Buyers are taking advantage of the low interest rates and the $8,000 tax credit that will expire in December this year. Buyers are finding great deals on new homes and properties nationwide. The Mortgage Bankers association has a listing that shows a downfall in interest rates that are currently sitting at 5.15% for 30 year loans and 4.52% for 15 year loans.
Americans are working towards updating their homes to take advantage of this years economic crisis in the real estate slump. The trick is selling their existing homes. Sellers are doing quick fixes to help ensure that they retain the value of their home and generate a quick sale.
Lowe's home improvement stock is up 1.69% and is opening new stores in Pennsylvania, New York, Louisiana, North Carolina, and California. Home Depot currently has 2,200 stores in the United States and states that their stocks are up .29 (1.07%) as of 8/25/09. Sellers are looking for the proper selling strategies and updates to seal the deal.

• Having the proper curb appeal is a must.
• Have a clean yard with updated rock or flower beds.
  
• Power wash the patios and Windex the windows for a clean appearance.
• Welcome mats add an inviting feel to the main entrance.
• Slap a fresh coat of paint on all doors and shutters.
• Touch up the trim around the windows with some matching paint to brighten the appearance.
  

• Fix leaky faucets or replace old ones to update the bathroom or kitchen.
  

Buyers create a mental note of all the small things that have to be fixed as they walk through. Anything that creaks or sticks is directly added to that buyers mental list.

• Remove all clutter and unnecessary or mismatching accessories.
  
• Find things that compliment the space. Remove bulky furniture for space.
  
• Smell is number one. Remove any signs or smells of pets. Empty the trash before a showing.
  

Dutch Boy has just released a new paint called Refresh. This new paint takes the smell out of almost any wall. Having neutral colors on the wall is best and this is a good chance to whack out both issues with one shot.

• Having everything clean is a must. No one wants to buy someone left dirt.
  
• Pay attention to the appearance of the floors, counter top in the kitchen and the overall appearance of the bathroom.
  
• Counter tops are a great investment. This is just to give an updated appearance. Quartz counter top replicates granite and is a third of the cost.
• If the cabinets are outdated a coat of paint and new knobs will really help out. The kitchen is a key point in any home. It can make or break a sale.
  

More contractors are bidding out jobs just to stay open and not to draw a big profit. It is more affordable to have home improvements done if the seller does not wish to do the work themselves.

• Adding a new fridge will increase value dramatically. Stainless steel gives the appearance that the other appliances are updated also. This is an investment that sellers get in return upon sell.
  

This may seem like a big time consuming list but when the property sells it all pays off in the end. As the weather starts to get cold buyers and sellers are less likely to make a move. If the tax credit ends in December time is running short. As America rises from its down turn interest rates will flare. Property value will sky rocket. Taking advantage now if possible can be a great investment and ensure a lower payment in the future.

For other great tips visit sshdesignvisions.com

Tin Backsplash is a great new product that gives the appearance of tin but is actually plastic. This is a very affordable way to update the backsplash in any kitchen. The panels are thermoplastic and come in 18 X 24' pieces. There is a variety of colors and patterns that are available on the market. These great panels come in Silver, Bronze, Copper, and Smoked Pewter. They range around $20.00 a sheet but it does not take much to apply them. They work behind the stove as long as there is a four inch range between the tile and the heat source.

A tin backsplash can be applied right over old wallpaper and ceramic tile and only takes a few hours to accomplish. They can also with stand repeated washings as long as a harsh abrasive is not used. Dish washing liquid should do the trick.

• Clean the surface and remove all grease.
• Remove all outlet covers
• Cover your countertops to protect them.
• Measure the space that you are aiming to cover.
• Use a carpenters square and a marker to keep your lines straight.
• Mark off your measurements on the back side of the backsplash.
• A utility knife or a good pair of scissors can be used to cut this product.
• Determine the space where your outlets will be and cut the hole using the utility knife.
• Apply a generous amount of construction adhesive about two inches away from the sides of your sheet. You can go to the top under your cabinets. Make a square box with an X in the middle with the construction glue and apply your piece.
• Keep good pressure on your piece to allow a good bond.
• You can by sheets that stick right to your light cover that you can cut so that your light covers will match.
• There is edge trim and inside corner trim that applies to the edges to get a nice finished look.

Instead of adhesive you can also use double sided sticky tape if you are a person who likes to make changes often. This alternative solution will save your wall from all the glue and allow you to easily remove the tiles at any time. But if you want it to last over along period of time I suggest the glue.

This is a quick reference on how to install these tin sheets but you will be amazed by how easy they are.

Visit www.sshdesignvisions.com for more decorating tips.
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Curb Appeal

The Best Ways to Give your Home Curb Appeal.

#1. Apply a fresh coat of paint to your front and side doors to brighten up or change the look of your home. Adding a new door handle to compliment your new style is great. You can also sand down and paint your old shutters or outdoor window fixtures to match. This easy project will make a dramatic difference.

#2 Replace old lighting on the outside of your house. If you shop around you can really find some good deals so that this won't cost you as much as you think. I have seen nice outdoor lighting at my local hardware store for as cheap as $25 a set or you can search online.

#3.Take the time to resurface any old concrete walkways or patios. You can purchase products that will spread right over your remaining concrete and set nicely as long as you do a good cleaning of dirt and yard wastes before application. This will help bring a new look back to your older home.

#4. Change your address numbers on the front of your house with a new stylish set. There are many decorative plagues that you can find to arrange your new numbers on. They have oval, rectangle, gold, silver or just about anything that you want and they create a real decorative touch.

#5. If your gutters are still functional and they are just a little drab. Make a warm bucket of water and cleaning solution and wipe them down. Get out your spare white outdoor spray paint and don't be scared to touch them up.

#6. if you want a change in your front yard but kill every plant you touch create a maintenance free rock garden. Once you place it in you don't have to touch them again. Pick up some brick edgers and lay out the brick in the design that you want. Use landscaping cloth to lay underneath your rocks to prevent weeds and grass from growing through. You can replace old dead flower gardens, along your walkway or down the side of the driveway. Keep in mind that you do not have to keep a straight pattern. Use your imagination and be creative. Curve it around the base of your side walk or make a large curve to add a statue or big boulder. Place them in a circle around the base of a tree. After you lay the edgers. Fill the beds with any type of matching rock you like. You can get it by the bag but it can be significantly cheaper if you can find a place that sells it by the truck load.

#7 Remove any dead plantation or evasive trees that just look sloppy and take over. This will really help clean up your yard.

For more home ideas and tips visit sshdesignvisions.com

197 Ways to Improve the Curb Appeal of Any Home

Increase the value of your property and get the unexpected profit from the sale of your property. Make the most of your homes appearance by following this easy-to-do tips in this guide

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Quick summary for HGTV Showdown.

HGTV has a great show called HGTV Showdown. I found this great quick summary at HGTV.com under the HGTV Showdown page. They just summed it up perfectly.
The pressure is on for HGTV's hottest designers and carpenters who pair up to compete in the most intense design competition yet! In each episode of HGTV Showdown, two design teams battle side-by-side on stage as they make over the same room for a couple whose decorating styles differ. Starting with staged replicas of the couple's lackluster room, the design teams are given access to a dream design center, providing them with everything they need to completely transform the room — except time! With only four hours to work their magic under the scrutinizing eyes of the homeowners, the showdown is on to see which team will come up with the best plan for meeting the needs of both husband and wife, while transforming the room into an amazing space. Check out this new show for great decorating ideas.
Their contestants have created some amayzing designs. If they can transform a room in just four hours then so can you. Its not as easy when they have a design center that provides them with everything they need. We all wish we could just walk in somewhere and get what we need without spending our savings but unfortunatley for us it is not that easy. We have to scope out and compare for the best deal. If you are looking for some great budget friendly ideas that you can do with almost everything you need already laying around your house you can visit sshdesignvisions.com and start a showdown of your own on the space you want to transform.
You can also find great decorating and deisign books to get fresh ideas and accessories to add your personal touch to any room.

Don't lose the equity in your home.

As we watch the stock market rise and fall. Some of the largest home improvement stores seem to be doing just fine.

Between the new $8,000 tax credit available for eligible buyers, the ability to grab a low fixed interest rate and dropping appraisal values on homes has persuaded buyers to jump out and take advantage of the market while they still have a chance.

The biggest issue that is holding buyers back is the selling of their old property. People are anxious to make quick and stylish upgrades before placing their property on the market to make a quick sale and keep their asking price. A quick cost efficient bathroom, kitchen or landscaping idea can really spruce up the appearance and add to value of any property.

There are many low cost ideas you can use to bring out the appeal to any buyer. Start with your curb appeal. Change out any old mulch and look for ideas on laying new brick in the front yard for a new bed or around a bare tree. River Rock is a nice no maintenance look that adds character to any home.

The bathroom and kitchen are key when selling any home. You are not selling your home you are selling your kitchen. They can also be the most expensive to replace. Recycle and reuse your old vanities and kitchen cabinets by adding a fresh coat of paint and new knobs. Think about your flooring and counter tops too.
There are many thing you should do while having your property on the market and generate ways to stand out from the crowd. There are certain things buyers keep in mind while they are searching for a new home. Please read my section on great tips for a quick sell on your home.

Find easy renovation tips and get helpful books and guides that can inspire ideas on low cost projects to get you motivated no matter if you are planning on keeping or selling your home. An informational site to search for these guides and also some helpful hints and tips is sshdesignvision.com. If you are in the market to catch these low interest rates, cheap mortgage prices, tax credits, or just want to hold the value to your home in a declining market. Pick a project and get started.