Have To Have: Sweater Shaver

I was complaining to my husband the other day about the annoying lint balls that were surfacing all over our linen couch. Casually he said, "That's no big deal. We just need to shave them off." Certainly I wasn't going to shave them off and run the risk of putting a hole in the fabric so I waited for him to devise a plan. Two days later, an Amazon Prime box showed up with a Home-It Fabric Shaver. So we got to shaving. Within minutes, the fuzzies were gonzo. And my couch looked brand new again. 

We quickly whipped out all my sweaters that have gotten more wear in four months in Idaho than my eight years in Southern California and fought over who was going to get the satisfaction of de-pilling them first. No joke these sweaters were on the verge of being sent to the Goodwill because of the horrendous pills on the front. Five sweaters salvaged within 15 minutes and looking brand new.

So before you put away your winter sweaters for the season or before you toss them because they look old and worn, I encourage you to buy one of these Home-It Fabric Shavers and give new life to old sweaters, sweatshirts, and other home fabrics. 

BEFORE

AFTER

BEFORE

AFTER  

2nd bin of fuss

_________________________________________________________________

You can buy this item on Amazon for $39.99. Description on Amazon: Clothes Shaver safely and efficiently removes pills, lint and fuzz from clothing, upholstery, drapes, blankets, carpets and much more. This fabric shaver safely trims only the top fuzz and suctions it neatly into a detachable bin thereby eliminating pills, lint and fuzz from wool, cottons, knits and synthetics without damaging the fabric. The large 2.5 inch shaving surface makes it fast and easy to use. By using the power cord included with the shaver, you can continuously shave without the hassle of changing batteries. Think twice before discarding your old sweater! American deluxe fabric shaver will restore your clothing and upholstery to a fresh new look quickly and easily.

Tackle it Tuesday: Get ORGANIZED

Now that the hype of new years dieting and career resolutions has died down some, it's time to focus on our overflowing closets and disorganized cabinets. I know, I know there's never a good time to conquer the clutter but think about it this way -- Your mess is inefficient. It's causing you stress and anxiety. And this dysfunction signals to your your brain that your work is never done causing you to feel overwhelmed and unorganized not just at home but in all aspects of your life. Can this stress be prevented? Absolutely!! But you have to be willing to change some old habits and work at it. Just like anything in life. If you're needing some simple tips on how to conquer the chaos, keep reading...

|| 10 Commandments of Organizing || 

1. Keep like with like. To keep things sensical and logical, you should always put away items with like or similar things. If they’ve put something away in a random place, you're more likely to not remember where you put them which results in overbuying. The end result: you have several of the same things resulting in more clutter and more time needed to organize. Once you've figured out a logical home for them, be consistent in always putting them away where they belong.

2. Think before you buy. Impulse purchases are the death of any organizational system. Buy something? It needs a home. Go through the exercise of planning out every desired item. Where will this live? Do I have room? If the answers are "I don't know" and "No," give it a pass (plus, you'll save money).

3. Everything has a place. Keep it there. And save yourself the frustration by putting it back right after you use it. Save yourself the time moving it from here to there. Do it the first time.

4. Honor your memories - then throw them out. No, I'm not suggesting you toss your wedding dress. Some memories are too sacred, and deserve a place in your home forever. But movie stubs? Old train tickets? If you're amassing a stack of "memorable" paper, it might be time to rethink your saving strategy.

5. Put things away. Just do it. Hang, fold or launder your clothing at the end of each day. Sweep through the playroom and clean up all toys off the ground. This should actually be something you train your children to do every night. That is not your job. Clean the kitchen; don't leave a dish in the sink, clear off your counters. Heaping piles of clothes, toys and dishes is the downfall of many a clean home. I know you're tired at the end of the day but spending a few minutes every evening before sitting down to relax will make your life so much easier in the long run. And allow for a more productive start to the next day.

6. Reuse and repurpose. Being organized doesn't have to be expensive or pretty. You need to get over all the pretty Pinterest pictures that everything has to match. Instead of buying a whole new set of containers or bins, start reusing what you already have, like shoe boxes and toy bins.

7. Command everything. A command center has room for your keys, wallet, bag, and any other day-to-day necessities - and it's the secret behind a super-organized home. You'll never have to search if you get in the habit of leaving them in their resting place.

8. Set a daily routine. And stick to it. Routines are the backbones of organization. If you're taking time every day to put things back where they belong, file your papers, and make your bed, your home will thank you. Ending the day with an organized home is a truly wonderful feeling.

9. Start small. If you're not already an organization master, start with the little things - sorting through papers, setting up a command station - before moving onto the big tasks, like revamping your entire closet organizational system. Enjoy the immediate sense of accomplishment, which will spur you on to bigger and greater future projects.

10. Don't get overwhelmed. Remember that you are in control of you, your stuff and your life. If you set your mind to staying organized, it will no longer feel like a chore. Feeling stressed? It's okay. You're allowed to take a nice, long break.

Design 101: Everything You Need to Decorate Your House

We are currently in the early phases of building a home and it's become all consuming. I don't know how anyone ever did this without the inspiration of Pinterest or the Internet. I came across this fun, informative decorating article in Architecture and Design that I thought was worth passing along. Some of the diagrams you could do without but some are fantastic. 

One of my favorites - How to Decorate a Mantel. But I also liked the one on how to style a bed, the rug size and placement diagram, and picking the right paint. I mean, c'mon how many times have you stood at the paint counter with glazed eyes when they ask if you want eggshell or semi-gloss? Thanks to this handy diagram, you'll look like a pro! 

Honey and Fitz

The simple “formula” to creating the perfect mantel vignette lies in creating a visual triangle. Steven and Chris show us the way with 5 easy steps.

#1:  Center a large piece (art or a mirror) on your mantel
#2:  Add something with movement to the left.  I struggle with understanding what “movement” means exactly but I think it means a pairing of items in varying height that cause your eye to bounce between them (hence movement).
#3:  Add something with visual weight on the right (to counterbalance the movement element on the left). See…a triangle is forming.
#4:  Layer in a couple of additional framed pieces in a cluster.
#5:  Balance that on the opposite side with a couple of accessories (books or decorative boxes) in a cluster of varying heights. 

How to Style a Bed

Matouk

Rug Size and Placement

Burlap and Lace

Choosing the Right Paint

Kirsten and Danielle

For the entire list, click HERE.

DIY: Chic Shelf Liners

 Looking for an inexpensive project that will add a touch of fun & a pop of color to your everyday? Attach trendy self-adhesive and repositionable liners inside drawers, on shelves, on the backside of a bookcase, or jazz up the bottom of a nightstand. Check out www.chicshelfpaper.com for the largest online selection of stylish liners. Starting at $2.50 per square foot.



Decorating by Numbers

 

Helllllloooooo!!! Gosh, it's been awhile. My plans to have a "low key" summer totally backfired on me. I'm sure I'm not the only one. But it was 100% intentional to not blog (or partake in much of any social media for that matter) during our month long trip. That -  I must say - was heavenly. I'm convinced I could write a book on the effects of social media and overall well being.

Totally different subject that I'm not in the mood to tackle at this time.

What I do want to share with you though is this super helpful guide to make arranging your abode as easy as 1,2,3 thanks to interior designer Sabrina Soto, host of HGTV/s The High/Low Project and author of the new book Sabrina Soto Home Design. Takes all the guess work out.

{3} Unless you're purposely using symmetry to create a calm, orderly environment, play around with odd numbers (3, 5, 7, etc) of vases, decorative objects or portraits on the wall. Soto states the "eye finds these groupings intriguing."

{4} Keep no more than this number of small kitchen appliances (preferably fewer in my book) in plain view. Counter tops are meant to be work areas that need to be left as clear & clean as possible.

{4-9 feet} Position the couch and armchair this far apart so guests can comfortably sit & talk.

{18 inches} Designate at least this much distance between a rug and the wall. The exceptions: small areas like an entryway.

{26 inches} A rug in the dining room should extend at least this far past the table on all sides - to prevent chair legs from getting caught on or under it.

{30 percent} Leave about this much of empty space on shelves. Do not jam pack.

{30-34 inches} Kitchen light fixtures should hang out this high above the table. A general rule is to add an inch for every additional foot of ceiling height past a standard 8 feet.

{55-60 inches} When hanging a single piece of art, make sure the center of the frame is at eye level - approximately this high up from the floor.

 

FYI; Sabrina's Home Design book is jam packed with 200 pages of fresh, budget-friendly how to's that will bring balance, color and organization to every room in your house. (Amazon, on sale right now for $12).

Paper Pile-up Prevention

Between now and the holidays you might feel more inclined to save magazines to be inspired, discover new trends and find the latest fab products. But I have a better idea - download the no-fee Google Catalogs app to your iPad or Android tablet device and say goodbye to piles of clutter while making catalog shopping more engaging, social and creative.

The Google Catalogs app features digital versions of catalogs across many popular categories, including fashion and apparel, beauty, jewelry, home, kids and gifts. They’ve partnered with a variety of top brands including Anthropologie, Bare Escentuals, Bergdorf Goodman, Bloomingdale's, Crate and Barrel, L.L. Bean, Lands’ End, Macy’s, Neiman Marcus, Nordstrom, Pottery Barn, Saks Fifth Avenue, Sephora, Sundance Catalog, Tea Collection, Urban Outfitters and Williams-Sonoma, just to name a few of the over 400 catalogs.

In addition they have over 100 top brands including; Barneys, Tory Burch and Trina Turk (Fashion & Apparel); BeautyBar (Beauty); Blu Dot, FLOR, and Ballard Designs (Home); Hanna Andersson, CWDkids, and Serena & Lily (Kids); and Garnet Hill, Uncommon Goods, and Wine Enthusiast (Gifts).

Google Catalogs is an incredibly useful online shopping tool that lets you search through and mark favorite products, and gives you links to make purchases directly from retailers' sites. It also lets you create a collage of your favorite items from across many catalogs. You can even share your collages with friends and family - a visual way to show them what’s on your list for the holiday season!

Love it.

Visit the App Store to download the free Google Catalogs app.

A laundry system that works

If you do one thing before you get hit with the chaos of back to school, it's this - get a laundry system in place. Now.

All you need - a few white laundry baskets. The el cheapo kind. It always kills me when people spend ridiculous amounts of money on trendy organizational products. Let's be real - chevron print does not guarantee functional. I'll admit, I'm guilty. But I've learned my lesson - stick to the basics. The patterns are pretty but they usually lack the key components for ruthless efficiency. And seriously, does anyone really see them anyone?!?!

Phew obviously needed to get that off my chest.

Back to baskets. The key to organization is finding a place for everything and keeping everything in its place. It's always best to find a system that works best for you but here's what I propose - train all family members to put dirty clothing in baskets. Place a basket in each bedroom closet, and in each bath if space allows. Place four additional baskets in the laundry area -- one for dark clothes, light clothes, whites and towels. If you have massive amounts of team uniforms or athletic gear, you may consider a specific basket for those items as well.

If you do laundry on a particular day of the week, make it part of the bedtime routine the night before that you (or the kids preferably) take their basket from their bedroom to the laundry room to sort out their clothes into the appropriate color-coded baskets. Or even if do laundry throughout the week, pick a day (say Sunday) for the kids to sort all dirty clothes for you so they are ready when you are. And if they don't help or stick to the "throw your clothes in the basket, not on the floor" rule - you reprimand them. Take something away that they love. Limit play time on the Wii. No iPad for 3 days. They will learn very quickly that you mean business.

And as your children get older, make sure you assign laundry chores, such as folding socks and towels. And never put your children's clothes away for them. Chase, my now four year old, has helped me since he was two. It started with carrying (pushing) the basket back to it's spot, then throwing away dryer sheets. Now he's graduated to putting his shorts, undies and socks away. All things he can reach. We've been working on hanging his shirts but he hasn't quite mastered hanging them straight yet. Or color coded as I prefer. Kidding. Kind of.

The way I see it - the laundry might take a little longer to do now with the time spent training Chase but I'm convinced he'll be taking over my laundry duties before I know it.

Here are 15 more ways to make laundry day easier with the help of the experts at Better Homes & Garden.

And other laundry related blog posts written by muah:

How often should you wash your sheets: http://haileyshelpfulhints.blogspot.com/2011/01/question-how-often-should-i-wash-my.html

How often do you wash your towels: http://haileyshelpfulhints.blogspot.com/2010/11/how-often-do-you-wash-your-towels.html

Stain Removal Guide: http://haileyshelpfulhints.blogspot.com/2012/01/dirty-laundry.html

How I do laundry: http://haileyshelpfulhints.blogspot.com/2011/01/works-for-me-wednesday-all-things.html

Rave Review -  Clorox Bleach Pen: http://haileyshelpfulhints.blogspot.com/2010/10/rave-reviews-love-it-or-hate-it.html

Design on a dime: The art of the stack

Sick of looking at that messy set of shelves? Want to make them more of a decorative focal point rather than a hodge-podge of clutter? Fret no more - here is a design on a dime tip that will help you achieve storage and style all in one.

The art of the stack:

1) Start with a few chunky books. Three or four is usually enough. If you don't already have a library of books, you can always hit up Goodwill or a secondhand bookstore to find some books with character.

2) Put the biggest books on the bottom, then stack the others like a pyramid, getting smaller at the top.

3) You have two options for positioning; lay them even with the binds flush with each other, or place them slightly askew - but never at purposeful diagonals, which looks too forced.

4) Top off your pile with an object that has a rounded shape, like a sculpture or a footed bowl. Make sure it fills enough space on the top book so it doesn't look dinky.

5) Fill the unused space on the shelf with vases, picture frames, collectibles and/or decorative pieces that have meaning to you. Adding dimension to your shelves with different heights and textures. Thrift stores, flea markets and clearance sections of retail stores  are great places to find inexpensive treasures that you can prime and re-paint (if need be) for decorative bookends, etc.

Want to add a splash of color to your shelves? Try this fun tip from Better Homes and Garden:

Remove the jackets, then group books by color, standing some upright and stacking others. Shelves will seem more organized and have an artistic, color-blocked look.

Want to take your shelves to the next level? Start in the back. Simple inexpensive bookcases become stunners when their backs are dressed up with paint, fabric or wallpaper. Eddie’s Billy Bookcase was brought to life with a pattern that accentuates the balanced display of books and collectibles. 

If you do one thing this week...

FIX IT TOGETHER.

Ok ok, I know I'm a little late on the post. If you're an avid HHH follower, I usually post this on Monday but I had guests in town since last Wed, my son's first birthday, Easter and then I got terribly sick. Enough said.

What do I mean by fix it together? If you have somehousehold minor repairs say a leaky faucet, a furnace filter that needs to be replaced, a fence that needs to be painted, a tire that needs to be changed around the house, I suggest you never do it without your kids. Home improvements are a great way to spend time with them while teaching them about tools and life at the same time. The attic, basement and crawl spaces are wonderful classrooms for learning how things work and how to safely fix things. Hand them a flashlight and talk them through the job you are doing.

As they get older, moments will be seen as bonus chances for time with your kids amongst their busy schedules. An added bonus - they will know how to do things and fix a problem on their own. I feel the whole "work hard and figure it out yourself" mentality is lost. It's too easy to hire someone else or find shortcuts nowadays. It's our job as parents to set a good example while mentoring them about the everday things in life. These same children are going to be mothers and fathers one day so it's our job to teach them good work ethic and habits in the day to day things.

Don't have a child old enough to help? That's ok - sit them in the exersaucer or highchair and talk to them while you work. Babies are sponges. They need stimulation and love new sights and sounds. My husband did this last week while washing the car. When I got home my husband informed me that "Lance (my one year old) and him spend some good quality man-time together washing the car."

So if you do one thing this week(end), I encourage you to engage your children in little projects. And it doesn't have to be just something that needs fixing. Household chores such as folding laundry, vaccuming and dusting are wonderful ways to include your children.

While it might take a little longer, it's time well spent.

DECORATE: BIG statement, LITTLE effort

Whenever the holidays roll around and I know we have family coming into town, I put this crazy stupid pressure on myself to want to change up the decor in my house. Above and beyond the festive cornucopia table centerpiece and gourds on the mantle. As if they remember what it looked like in the first place or even care for that matter. Regardless I lay in bed and think about what I can do differently to 'spice' up my predictable Pottery Barn'esk interior. You know - white couches, brown walls, floral area rugs, red accent pieces.

If you find yourself in the same mental predicament but don't have a lot of time or money to be making drastic changes, here are a few ideas that make a big statement with little effort:

1) Change out your pillows: Mix in a wild or bold print - possibly zebra or yellow - to add some contrast to a simple couch and inject some personality. For $20, you can transform a boring, drab room with a few decorative pillows from TJ Maxx or Marshalls. Tip: Toss a few large throw pillows onto your couch rather than a jumble of smaller ones for a cleaner design.

2) Bring in flowers: Perk up a room (inexpensively) with a bouquet of vibrant flowers set in an equally vibrant vase. If you're like me and can't seem to keep anything alive longer than a few days, find a Michael's 50% off coupon and go buy a bundle of fake flowers. Nobody knows if you don't tell.

3) Paint a wall: Introduce color on the walls to add a pop of liveliness and warmth. A blue like this is as versatile as a neutral, such as beige or gray. Pick a wall or two and have some fun with an unexpected color. For $15, this will change your room from drab to fab!

4) Use mirrors as art: Have a bare wall and can't afford expensive artwork? No worries. Target has pages of fantastic inexpensive large mirrors online that will fill the space and actually make a room appear brighter and larger by positioning a mirror to reflect light and a view. Find a big, cool clock you like? That works too!

5) Hang a gallery of photos: Mine your albums for your best shots (pick a theme: weddings, birthday parties, vacations) and put them in identical frames. Hang in a tight grid or a long line - you can’t go wrong if you stick to a geometric arrangement. Best spot in town to find simple, super inexpensive frames to achieve this look - IKEA. The Ribba series frames range from $2.99-$24.99.

6) Bring in shades of color: Colored lamp shades can make a bold statement. Limit the colors to one per room, and select other lamp shades in neutral tones, such as parchment and white. If you're super crafty, you can pick out a fabric of your choice and re-cover an existing lamp shade yourself.


7) And for no money at all - Re-arrange your furniture: My favorite. Just a quick shift of the furniture and it will feel like an entirely new, inviting space.

GET ORGANIZED: Color Coding

If a picture is worth a thousand words, a single color is worth a choice few. Just as red, yellow, and green rule the roadway, a home color-coding system can bring order to your living space wordlessly, providing information at a glance without a miscellany of labels. Put hues to work, whether you are organizing papers, preparing food, or outfitting your entryway. With these bright additions, your living space will be far from drab - and far easier to manage.

Below are just a few places in your home where you could really benefit from a color coding system:

~Welcome Center~
Keeping clutter at bay starts the moment you walk through the door. A coordinated sorting station, with one color assigned to each family member, anchors household activities and the entryway's decor. Squares of Homasote fiberboard become vibrant pin boards when covered with linen fabric, which is secured with staples at the back. Personalized bins, made with linen-wrapped fiberboard that is slipped inside acrylic magazine files, help organize mail and paperwork.

~Spice Labels~
Categorize the array of seasonings in your cupboard into two groups with colored stickers. Spices typically used for sweet recipes, such as cinnamon, are indicated by orange tags; savory flavorings, such as cayenne, are dressed in yellow. Download Martha Stewart's templates here and print onto self-adhesive paper. Attach to matching tins or jars.

~Cutting Boards~
Minimize the risk of cross-contaminating kitchen work surfaces by designating a plastic cutting board in a specific color to a particular type of food: blue for seafood, green for vegetables and fruit, yellow for poultry, and red for other meats.

~Wine Tags~
Handmade labels let you survey your wine collection at a glance, quickly finding just the right bottle. Choose an organizing system, such as the type of wine or the country of origin, and assign a color to each category. Use a tag-shaped craft punch to create the label and a circle punch to cut a hole in its center, or download Marth's wine tag template. Snip a few small slits around the circle. Write the proper vintage, vineyard, and varietal on the tag. Spare labels can double as gift tags.

~Recipe Cards~
An overstuffed recipe box, brimming with generations of family favorites as well as recent additions from friends, can be made far more navigable with stickers affixed to a corner of each card. (This also works on newspaper and magazine clippings.) Select a color to represent a type of dish or a course, perhaps green for vegetable sides and yellow for dessert.

~Keys~
To minimize fumbling at the front door, paint the tops of frequently confused keys with distinctive shades of nail polish. Apply a different color to each key, letting it dry before flipping it to coat the other side. A single layer should suffice - no topcoat required.

~File Folders~
Exchange your manila folders for colored ones, assigning a hue to each category such as red for medical information and light blue for mortgages - so the next time you're hunting for a document, all you'll have to do is scan for the appropriate shade.

~Recycling Bins~
Think beyond green: Coordinated plastic buckets take the hassle out of sorting recyclables. Give each material - plastic, newsprint, glass, and any others your community accepts - a colored destination, and keep it consistent from week to week.

~Bath/Kitchen/CleaningTowels~
Designate a certain color towel to each bathroom or for each family member. That way when the kids are doing their chores and putting away the laundry, they know exactly where to put specific towels.

~Holiday Storage~
Whether your bins of decorations are stacked high in the basement or hidden behind bicycles and boxes in the garage, you'll be able to locate them in seconds with the help of bands of colored duct tape (and, perhaps, a flashlight). Wrap each container in shades that match the festive decorations stored inside: red and green for Christmas, black and orange for Halloween.

FANCY FRIDAY

Gosh it feels like forever ago that I did a Fancy Friday post. Sorry. I know it's one of your favorite posts but I've been really trying to focus more on my family and being "present" with my kids. This entails not being glued to my computer. The result; less blogs but less stress. To refresh your memory; this post is about something that tickled my fancy (aka; to enjoy, adore or be satisfied by ) during the week.

Something this week that tickled my decor senses was Urban Outfitters online home catalog. Most of you know Urban Outfitters as a funky, trendy clothing store. What you might not know is they carry an extensive line of home decor products ranging from kitchen and bath accessories to bedding and furniture. Just like their clothing, Urban Outfitters offers a home line that is a collaboration of vintage, bohemian, retro, and hipster. Curious what that all means? Check out their website under 'Apartment' and the items will speak for themselves. You will be pleasantly surprised at all the eclectic pieces. They offer free returns and free shipping on orders over $50 everyday.

Some of my particular favorites:


Zig Zag Printed Rug $39-69 depending on size


Vintage Wood Calendar Chalkboard $49.00


Industrial Stencil Letter $8.00


Big Garden Printed Rug $34.00


Ziggy Chair $279 (comes in 6 different colors)

Remodeling projects that PAY OFF

In my previous life, I was a Real Estate Agent. Consultant. Realtor. Whatever you want to call it. I honestly miss it. Will I ever go back? Possibly. But for now, I like to stay up to speed on the housing trends. Interest rates. The current inventory. Tips and tricks to get the most bang for your buck.

A majority of Homeowner's, due to our unfortunate current economic crisis, are choosing to stay in their homes and do small home improvement projects with any spare cash. The problem is; most homeowners don't have the slightest clue on where to spend their money wisely. Here are some remodeling projects that will increase your home's resale value, improving chances for a speedy, attractive offer when you decide (or have) to sell. Do them now and enjoy the fruits of your labor while you're still in the home. Kitchen Improvements: As the hub of the house -- and its hardest working room -- the kitchen deserves special attention. New appliances and refinished or refaced cabinets can pay off handsomely.
Fresh Paint: Few other fix-ups can give you so much improvement for so little money and effort. Use a unified color scheme of neutral shades.
Simple Landscaping: Flowerbeds, foundation plantings, paths, and borders can make a huge difference in your home's appeal. If you buy small plantings and let them grow into their role, you get a particularly high value per investment.
Spruced-Up Front Door: Adding a new front door -- or simply painting an existing door and installing new hardware -- makes a great first impression and increases your home's curb appeal.

Additions and Outdoor Living Spaces: Additions that suit your home's style, scale, and traffic flow generally add value -- as do well-designed outdoor living areas such as porches and decks.
Added or Upgraded Bathrooms: Generally, adding a bath to a home that has only 1 or 1 1/2 baths will pay off at resale. Elements that prove most popular include ample storage, natural light, and ceramic tile on the floor and tub and shower surrounds.Updated Faucets and Fixtures: Add allure to baths and kitchens with good quality, stylish fixtures and faucets. These changes are relatively easy and inexpensive.
New Knobs, Pulls, and Light Fixtures: As with new faucets, these easily installed off-the-shelf items boost style and have a big impact with relatively little cost and time.
Renewed Surfaces: Worn flooring and chipped, scarred countertops turn off buyers; refinishing or replacing these surfaces with good quality upgrades provides instant appeal.

Wondering what projects DON'T pay off?

Not every remodeling project will increase your home's value. Some, in fact, can really turn off potential buyers. Value-reducers include:

~A built-in pool that takes up most of the yard.

~A super large garage.

~Strange room layouts, such as a bedroom that can only be accessed through another bedroom.

~A poorly designed addition that looks "tacked on."

~Too much white marble.

~Any upgrade that prices a house significantly above those in the neighborhood. Ask yourself; "Does this neighborhood warrant this type of upgrade?" A potential buyer isn't going to pay more if you feel you've over-done it for the neighborhood.