Selling Your House this Year? Get it Clean.....Like Really Clean.

The weather is warming up and Spring is starting to show itself early. If you are selling your house this year(or anytime) one of the main things you can do to help yourself is get your home and property clean.....like really clean. A home and property that is clean is going to sell faster and for more. If that is your goal continue reading.

Everyone has a different standard of clean. When it comes to cleanliness and how you choose to live that is your choice. But how you live in your home and how you sell your home are two different things. You want to showcase your home the best you can from day one and that will take some planning and work. How clean should it be? Your goal should be to make it look like a hotel, AirBnB, or resort. You may be able to get your home ready with a few hard days of work, but for most people it will take longer. Plan on giving yourself multiple days over at least a few weeks.

1.    Set your goals, make a plan, and then get the work done.

2.    Your home should be clean visually AND SMELL CLEAN as well. A bad smelling home can immediately turn someone off. And don't mask it with strong air fresheners, people immediately notice and think you are hiding something. Get the cleaning done! Shampoo the carpets, scrub the floors, open the windows while cleaning, get the fresh air smell.

3.    It should be clean inside and out. The moment someone pulls up to your home, set the tone. Have that great curbside appeal. Then continue that right in to the home so you can have a great first impression. Fresh bark, mow the lawn, trim the trees.

4.    De-clutter. Your home looks and smells clean....but you might have too much stuff. Take some things away and box them up in the garage. You might even need a storage unit. It's going to make your home look and feel bigger with less stuff. Not sure what to box up? There are some great interior designers/stagers that can work with what you have to get a great look going for your home.

5.    Don't like cleaning or yard work or have the time? Hire someone. The return you will see in how fast you sell your home and for how much is well worth it.

You may have the thought, "Well this is my house and I'll do what I want and live how I want!" That is totally fine. It's your choice. Just know you are leaving money on the table and your home won't sell as fast. Help yourself. Get your home and property clean......like REALLY CLEAN.

Peel and Stick Wallpaper - Installing is Easy!

We gave you some awesome wallpaper ideas last week. If you missed it, click here for a quick read and some inspiration. 5 Awesome Wallpaper Design Ideas.

Now that you have some inspiration, don’t be afraid, make that idea come to life! Peel and stick wallpaper is a really easy way to get your project done. Stephanie and Renee just did an accent wall with this awesome birch tree wallpaper. Here are some tips!

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What I Learned About Peel and Stick Wallpaper with D. Marie Interiors

Stephanie Castillo

1. Choosing Your Paper

When choosing a wallpaper try to narrow it down to 3 choices. Pick a few that you love and give yourself one option that is out of your comfort zone. Hang up all three pieces on the wall you want to accent with a little piece of tape. Then stand back and take a look from few different spots. You will probably narrow it down to two very quick, and that is great. Which one makes you feel best? That is the one to go with. If you can’t decide, leave them up for 2-3 days and see how you feel about them. Go to D. Marie Interiors in Ellensburg and they will give you samples you can take home and try.

2. Prepare the Wall

The wall needs to be clean and smooth, ideally no texture. A simple wipe with a damp warm rag will remove any dust, dirt, and grime that will affect adhesion. Let the wall dry. Peel and stick is very forgiving but will not stick as well if it is to textured. Smooth, clean surfaces like wood stairs, built in book cases, and furniture pieces are great for peel and stick wallpaper projects as well.

3. Tools

  • Level. Any level will work. For larger areas a laser level is ideal.

  • Utility knife. Grab a fresh blade. This will give you nice clean cuts.

  • Wallpaper smoothing tool. This can be anything with a smooth edge, like an old credit card or gift card.

  • A friend. This can be done alone, but a little help from a friend is always easier and more FUN!

4. Grab a bottle of wine or a couple of cold beers and get to work!

We love Gard Vintners Winery. 2015 Pinot Gris Grand Klasse Reserve is my favorite!

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Remember, peel and stick is easy to use and forgiving. If your first piece goes on crooked, take it off and start over. This is an amazing product for anyone who rents or likes to change up the look of their space often. It’s also a great backdrop for photos.

Click here for a quick time lapsed video of our birch wall project and check out the photos below.

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For more information about Stephanie Castillo and Renee Fyall check out their bios under the resources tab or visit their sites below.

Stephanie Castillo - RumbleInteriors.com
Renee Fyall - D-Marie-Interiors.com

Are you looking to buy a home so you can design a space that brings you joy? I would love to help! Check out all of the useful information in the resources tab on our site. Even better, give me a call so we can make a plan to achieve your home or real estate goals.

Randy Crimp
Remax Community Realty
(509)859-2044

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5 Awesome Wallpaper Design Ideas

Home. It’s your place. Thats what’s awesome about it. You get to design, decorate, and create a space to bring you joy. Where to start or how to execute your thoughts may not come easy. Need some help channeling your inner Joanna Gaines? Below are 5 awesome tips from local designer Renee Fyall on how to use wallpaper in amazing ways.

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It's time to re-think wallpaper! 5 ways you will fall in love and get creative!

Renee Fyall

Wallpaper is making a huge comeback and it's not what you're thinking. We are no longer papering the whole room and then crying huge tears when we want to remove it because it comes off in pieces the size of a quarter. Wallpaper nowadays is all strippable, meaning it's super easy to remove when you get tired of it. Believe me, a few years ago when I thought of wallpaper it made me cringe, but it's seriously changed. How we are using it in design has made installing wallpaper very appealing. The patterns are better than ever, and the creativity of the places to install it have been blowing my mind! Don't be scared, you'll love these ideas!

1. Bring Big style to a kids room with an accent wall

2. Have a little Fun with your Stairway

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3. Frame it and make Art!

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4. Re-Vamp a Vintage Piece

5. Use as a Backsplash - It's washable! 

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Love these ideas? Need more advice on designing a space? Click here to learn more about Renee and her services on her bio page.

To purchase some of the wallpapers used above, just click the picture below of the style you like to be taken to its page on D. Marie Interiors. Or click here to be taken to their homepage and start browsing for that perfect print!

Are you looking to buy a home so you can design a space that brings you joy? I would love to help! Check out all of the useful information in the resources tab on our site. Even better, give me a call so we can make a plan to achieve your home or real estate goals.

Randy Crimp
Remax Community Realty
(509)859-2044

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Spring Freshen Up - Get Started!

I’m tired of the cold and snow! Please Spring….lets get started. I grabbed coffee with Stephanie Castillo from Rumble Interiors a few days ago, and one of the things I asked her for were some quick ideas for a spring freshen up. Here you go!

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Stephanie Castillo
Rumble Interiors

If you live in Eastern Washington, you might be ready for spring. With tiny glimpses of the sun and it being March, it’s time to get a jump on things and bring some light into your space!

5 ways to liven up any space quick and easy.

1. Tulips in a vase can liven up any room fast. Pick your favorite color and enjoy :)

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2. Bring in more light. Open your blinds and curtains and give the windows a wash.

3. Stop burning the Christmas candles and spiced cider candles, it’s time for Fresh cut grass smell. These candles from Etsy are perfect.

4. Buy Lemons! Not only are they a great decor item in a bowl, it’s a good time of the year to start your morning with hot ginger lemon water. Refreshing, delicious, and a great reset for your stomach.

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5. Repot your indoor plants. Plants need love too and there is just something about getting your hands in the soil that can make you feel alive.

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For more information about Stephanie and her services please check out her bio page here.

Fixing Things Up. One Weekend at a Time!

One of the most satisfying things about home ownership is getting to see the progress being made on your home when you do improvement projects. Some things you do yourself, others you hire out to a more experienced professional.

Brian was referred to me through a friend and we were able to find him a great project home that he could ad value to and enjoy. This home needed mostly cosmetic work minus needing a new roof put on. A roofing company was hired for this and the rest of the projects he is planning out and doing himself. He is tackling this mostly on the weekends as he is back at CWU full time taking classes to change careers. Check out the progress he has made over the fall and winter in the pictures below. It’s looking way nicer than from the first time we walked into it!

Are you thinking about taking on a project home? What is your level of fixer upper expertise? Give me a call if you have questions or need some resources. I would love to help! Below are a few resources to get you started.

Build-Rite Construction - A local builder for projects of all sizes. Learn more about them in their profile here.

Need design help and ideas? Contact Renee Fyall, owner of D. Marie Interiors. She is an amazing interior designer located in Ellensburg, and can help you through all steps of the design and build process.

Renee Fyall
renee@dmarieinteriors.com
(509) 306-0643
www.d-marie-interiors.com
Instagram • d.marieinteriors