Rockin’ Guy Retreats: HD Talks Man Cave Tips

Image: Remodelaholic

Teamwork makes the Dream Work!

Some call it a “home within the home” but for most, a man cave is a sanctuary – a space that gives them the freedom (no rules!) to express all the things they love. These guy retreats welcome entertaining on game day, spending time with friends, or just chilling solo to watch golf on a rainy Sunday afternoon. Settle into your recliners and follow through our step-by-step “plays” below to score a winning room for the guy in your house.

Find the Field

Ingenuity abounds when it comes to finding the right space for a man cave. While basements are the most popular location (but not in Southern Louisiana!), we’ve been inspired by converted garages and barns, bonus rooms, spare bedrooms and fantastic outdoor spaces. No space? No problem! Add-ons also work – how about building a new room just behind the garage? Thinking outside the box will help you GPS your way to that just right location in the home.

Game Plan Strategies For Winning Themes

This is where the fun begins! What’s your guy vibe?! We suggest starting with a masculine/minimalist beat as you layer in a solid theme to match personality, hobbies and interests. We’ve seen cool designs ranging from the very familiar sports and hunting, to mountain rustic, old town/western, and the more trending speakeasies, music, travel, industrial, and sleek/modern. We prefer simplicity – just one theme works best as you plan your custom guy retreat space. (Source: Sebring Design Build)

Image: The Morris Manor

No End Arounds For Colors & Finishes

Got your theme? Now it’s time to Build. The. Room . First up is selecting the wall color. We love darker, moody shades such as Sherwin-Williams Still Waters (SW 6223), a deep rustic teal. Also on our fav list is Behr Lakeside Pine (Behr PPU11-19), a strong neutral green. For those traditionalists, check out Sherwin Williams Urban Jungle (SW 9117) for a versatile medium brown. Don’t forget to match room finishes to the design vibe/room theme. Sturdy materials such as wood for the floors, stone for counter tops and feature walls, and lots of metal finishes speak guy retreat language without saying a word! Finish with a splash of natural lighting. (Source: The Spruce)

Running Interference – Gotta-Have Essentials

You know the basics are super essential, right?! We’re talking a bar & stools, beverage fridge, big-screen TV, lots and lots of leather, good lighting with dimmers, shelves to display collectibles or video games, and large wall art like movie or sports posters. Remember – this is a sanctuary that needs all the right ingredients. No man cave would be complete without checking the box on each of these essentials. (Source: DIG – Design Ideas Guide)

Don’t Move the Goal Post – Successful Finish Styling

Raise your hand if you love styling as much as we do! Styling a man cave?! Yep! That’s even more fun! This is the final step that pulls together your room’s theme & guy personality. The accessories and collectibles you add will speak volumes about your guy’s interests. Get creative displaying personally crafted items, sports memorabilia, unique collections like vinyl records, video games, bourbon bottles or motor car gadgets, a guitar wall, architectural artifacts, or even travel souvenirs. Find inspo from many great sources – including Pinterest to get great visual cues on how to layer in your unique conversation pieces. Remember – when it comes to styling and accessories - stick to your room’s theme!

Any Given Sunday Selling & Man Caves

Here’s a great question - do man caves help or hinder the selling process? Research says that very “well done” man caves with trending themes can actually help with sales and even increase a home’s value. Guy retreats continue to be popular and desirable spaces. Make sure it’s comfortable and inviting, not too busy and avoid sports themed rooms when on the market (no arm wrestling over favorite teams please!). Selling lifestyle is a big part of the buyer’s experience, so offering an inspired guy space will help potential buyers “see” themselves living in and enjoying the home. Instant replays of that amazing room and house, anyone?! (Source: First Premier International Properties)

Image: Around the House Furniture

Image: Rae Duncan

Image: Next Luxury

Sweet Sweet Summertime: Lazy Days. Swim Time. Family Fun.

“Everything good, everything magical happens between the months of June and August.” — Jenny Han

Summertime gatherings are BACK! A year of COVID entertaining “diet restrictions” has left all of us ready to fill up our tanks on bringing family and friends back together. Whether it’s cocktails on the front porch, Sunday brunch around the family dining table or a last-minute barbecue in the backyard, the House Dressings team is so ready to mix and mingle. This month we’re sharing some of our favorite inspirations for warm-weather entertaining trends – both indoors and out.

HD 2021 Summer Gathering Tips:

Casual gatherings have sure made a comeback in 2021. Set the scene with a centerpiece that takes less than 10 minutes to assemble. Snip flowers from your garden to style in vases down the center of your table. Use flowers with full blooms such as peonies, hydrangea, garden roses, or tulips that have already opened. Happy Summer!

– Jennifer Z., ASP Stager

I love the patriotic colors of Red, White & Blue, so I’m excited to see that blue and white china continues to be on the summer 2021 entertaining menu – with classic Blue Danube, Blue Willow and Blue Lomonosov as main courses! Include fresh red stems, gingham napkins, and cobalt blue-rimmed cocktail glasses to complete your summer brunch table.

– Molly K., business founder, owner and ASP stager

Simple Summer Style – my three favorite words for summer 2021 entertaining. Begin with earthy textures & colors, layer simple linens and use what's on hand/in season to decorate the table (be sure to mix in some fresh herbs!). The result is an easy-breezy vibe, perfect for relaxing with friends or enjoying an evening with family.

– Caitlin G., Design Director

My favorite trend for summer is definitely to take it outdoors! Try creating a cozy outdoor living space by bringing your indoor style to your patio. Start with comfortable furniture, an area rug, beautiful lighting, and plenty of flat surfaces -- side tables, a coffee table, and ottomans for guests to place their food and drinks for easy entertaining!

– Kaylin M., Social Media Coordinator

Who doesn’t love using a fun bar cart outside as a beverage station? It’s so easy -- just roll it out and place it next to the pool or outdoor patio. Add your favorite beverages (how about a Pineapple Mango Basil Sangria?!), ice bucket, fun drinking glasses and bright napkins and you are totally set for summer entertaining!

- Barbara G., ASP Stager

Have you been to the beach yet this summer?! My summer 2021 trend includes adding a nautical touch to your outdoor covered patio. Simple lanterns, garden stools, rattan chairs, and soft blue and orange pillows and accents will take you right back to Destin in no time!

- Rebecca B., Operations Coordinator

Image Sources | elliegillard.co.uk, @stonegable_blog, @camillestyles, @sarahknuth, @serenaandlily, @blesserhouse

Presenting a united “front” this spring – bringing it all together for front yards!

The grass is greening.  The birds are chirping.  The trees are budding.  And our sinuses are miserable.  It must be spring! Who doesn’t love the first signs of spring – especially homeowners ready to “plant” a for sale sign in their front yards?

The House Dressings team couldn’t be more excited about helping our spring sellers get their properties ready to list.  There’s no time to rest as the Acadiana market sizzles with great opportunities to list and sell.  In fact, a well-groomed and landscaped front yard can add 5 to 11 % to the perceived value of your home! (Source:  Mymove.com and Michigan State University study)

Where to start?  With curb appeal, of course!  House Dressings reached out to the local experts at The Flower Bed for great tips on how to up your game by creating an inviting front yard this spring.  Owners Johnny and Cindy Knickerbocker have provided Acadiana homes with flowers, plants and garden products for over 33 years so they sure know a thing or two about charming up front yards.

House Dressings recently caught up with The Flower Bed Manager Kelli Knickerbocker for a Q & A session on all things curb appeal:

1. Let’s start with beds and your top tips for preparing a flower bed for spring plantings? 

• Clean out weeds and any dead plants/root systems from the previous season 

• Remove or pull back old mulch and add fresh top soil/potting soil to regenerate the nutrients and minerals to the bed 

• Till the bed to mix in old dirt with new and loosen up soil. 

• Finally - don’t forget to FERTILIZE!!

2. Weed control is always an issue for sellers.  What do you use?

• No matter where you live weeds are always a nuisance. The best ways to keep them under control is by using a high-grade ground cover material around your permanent/evergreen plants, layer your mulch about 2” deep, and if possible create about a 2” gap between your grass and flowerbed edging.

3. We are all about the color.  What are a few of your favorite springtime long-lasting annuals for the front beds?

• The best part about spring-time is all the BEAUTIFUL colors. The color schemes and palettes you can put together are endless. Our top 3 favorite spring time sun plants are Whooper Begonias, Vinca, and Pentas. All three provide bright colors and are low maintenance. An added bonus is that Pentas attract butterflies! For a few other heat loving, colorful flowers try Angelonia, Coleus, and Pursalane.

4. We encourage sellers to keep shrubs lower than the window sills and trees neatly trimmed so buyers can see the architectural details of the home.  Do you have any easy hints for pruning shrubs and small trees?

• An important factor to keep in mind when pruning shrubs is the variety. The best time to prune your non-blooming shrubs is as soon as you see new growth, trimming back about 6-8” shorter the your desired height (unless it’s Knockout roses, then give her a GOOD cut!). For blooming shrubs, you want to wait until after their bloom cycle has finished. Again, the only except are the roses because they bloom longer than any other shrub.

5. What low maintenance potted annuals work best for semi-sunny areas like front porches that also provide lots of seasonal color?  How about hanging plants?

• Potted plants for part sun are so fun to work with! Different shapes, colors, and textures provide so much personality! Our top three favorite hands down are Caladiums, Coleus, and ANY type of Begonia! Coleus and caladiums give color the whole season without waiting on blooms.  And the shade begonia family has tons of different blooms colors and foliage textures.  All three are also extremely low maintenance, which for our Louisiana summers is always a plus.

6. Finally, do you have any tips for “hiding” unsightly utility boxes or the neighbor’s cluttered carport with landscaping?

• For camouflaging “the ugly” around the yard we definitely suggest a neutral option. The last thing you want to do is draw more attention to it. First, make sure you check the location of any underground wires or pipes. Then, depending on the height of what you are covering, we would use Agapanthus, Flax Lily, or Foxtail Ferns to hide shorter utility boxes. To hide taller objects, try Holly Bushes, Indian Hawthorns, Knockout Roses, or Bottle Brush bushes for a quick evergreen fix.
  
  

February is . . . Baby Love

Nurseries That Nurture and Sell 

If the mere thought of a baby’s nursery gives you the warm and fuzzies, join the crowd!  Nurseries are one of House Dressings favorite spaces in a home and are super easy to sell!  Parents with newborns spend huge amounts of time with their sweet bundles of joy in the nurseries.  Potential buyers – whether they already have children or plan to one day – can quickly sense the emotional significance of a well-styled nursery and the role it plays in a family home.  

 We’re sharing the love in February – Baby Love and offering helpful tips to sellers for this sweet and special space.  We’ve recruited some of HD’s own moms, family members & friends (thank you Lizzie, Fallon and Liz!!) to give us best hints from their own experience while also giving us a glimpse inside their nurseries: 

1. Make them swoon! Favorite nurseries are well-styled and totally adorable. Imagine the room photographed, find inspiration from Pinterest (or HD’s look book for sellers!) and dip your toe in to create a space that will make buyers truly fall in love with your home.

2. Keep it simple. Top nursery ingredients include a crib, small wall-mounted shelving, changing/console table (keep the diapers and wipes out of view!), rocking chair, neutral rug, and a few fun accessories. Remember – you’re moving soon so no need to overdo the furniture to sell this space.

3. Calming colors soothe both baby and buyers. Neutral easy-on-the eyes hues work better than bright colors, especially for potential buyers without children. If your nursery is decorated with gender-specific colors, try toning it down by putting away any bright colored rugs, bedding or accessories (hiding them in the closet is fine, as long as it stays neat and organized!).

4. Make the most of the space and sell square footage. Nurseries typically occupy the smaller bedrooms, so we suggest using a few simple techniques to make the room look bigger. Keep those draperies/window panels pushed to the sides and let that light shine through! Remove unnecessary items from the floor - we sure don’t want potential buyers tripping over toys! Additional lighting also helps this space feel lighter and more spacious - turn on a lamp, use white light bulbs in fixtures, and even consider removing blinds. And finally, what about the walls? Too much art and vertical distractions makes the room feel tight.

5. Organization is absolutely the key! Maximize space and reduce clutter by using furniture with drawers, wall hooks, organizational crates and baskets, baskets, baskets (great for toys, shoes, clothing, diapers, wipes, lotions, etc.). Don’t forget the closet – having a good closet system will help you declutter for last-minute showings.

6. It’s okay to get personal - but not too personal! Adding sweet baby clothes hanging from a shelf, books on a wall rack, and a fewtoys (we don’t want to clutter the room!) can help potential buyers see themselves reading to their baby or playing with them in what could possibly be their future nursery. What to avoid? Any décor items with first names, initials and personal photos.

7. Keep it squeaky clean and smelling fresh. No dirty diapers! Spraying the room and/or furniture with a lightly-scented room spray is a great tip just before showings. Wipe down surfaces and store launder hampers, soiled sheets, rugs, etc. that may distract buyers!

8. Flex space is big with buyers. Imagine optional uses for your nursery -- an office, workout room, play room (for older children), guest room etc. Then declutter and accentuate the key features of the space (flooring, windows, lighting, closet, etc.). This is especially helpful for buyers without children.

House Dressings 2021 Fresh Start Product Guide for Sellers

A new year always brings aspirations of a fresh start.  You know, wiping the slate clean.  As stagers, we love new beginnings, and like you, we could not be more excited about watching the calendar turn from 2020 to 2021. 

This January, we’ve decided to take that “clean slate” feeling literally and open our House Dressings staging bag to reveal what’s inside.  That’s right – we’re going to be sharing some of our most recommended cleaning & organizing products and tips for sellers.  From foyers to bathrooms, and lots of spaces in-between, we have an amazing list of tried-and-true suggestions to help make your home totally dazzle buyers in 2021.  It’s an HD Fresh Start Product Guide created just for you!

HD’s insider list of go-to cleaning & organizing products and tips for sellers:

Foyers:

·       Give a scentsory welcome!  Our stagers love Bath & Body Works plug-ins, especially the Sandalwood Vanilla, Mahogany Teak or Clean Linen scents. But, a tiny word of caution – go very light on scents within the home.  We typically say to use just one source within a 2500 SF or smaller home, positioning it in the dining or living room. 

·       For front door glass – keep that window squeaky clean for each showing by using the #1 favorite glass cleaner in the U. S. – Windex Original Glass Cleaner!

Living Rooms:

·       Those floors!  Please don’t settle for dull and scuffed wood floors.  For less than $25 and an hour of your time, you can add luster and vibrancy to your floors with the mop-on Rejuvenate Wood Floor Restorer.

·       Is your wood furniture looking tired from scratches?  We always keep a set of furniture touch-up wood markers in our staging bag to give some quick love to those dinged up pieces.

·       What about those seriously abused fireplace interiors?  Rust-Oleum black “High Heat” specialty spray paint can refresh fireplace interiors in a snap!

Dining Rooms:

·       Yes you can – get those dusty drapes dry cleaned!  Short on time?  Second best is running window fabric panels in the dryer on a low heat setting for about 10 minutes to help remove the dust. 

Kitchens:

·       Want to make your kitchen look and smell like you’ve been cleaning all day?!  Nest All-Purpose Cleaner is great on kitchen counters. 

·       We’re all in with using enviro-friendly microfiber clothes instead of paper towels for cleaning throughout the house.

Laundry Rooms:

·       Does an octopus live in your laundry room?  On closer inspection, maybe it’s just a messy tangle of mop and broom handles.  No matter how small your laundry area, you can charm buyers with your tidiness by installing a wall-mounted broom and mop organizer.

Bathrooms:

·       Are your glass shower doors just not playing nice anymore?  No need to break up! Bar Keepers Friend Cleanser can be your new date for cleaning water-stained shower glass.

·       Clearly, there’s a little more to be said about glass & stubborn water stains.  For a quick short-term fix, we also recommend a Baby Oil wipe down (nickel-size squirt on a dry clean cloth) on dried shower doors.  While the effect doesn’t linger long, the glass will look fantastic for those last-minute showings.