What to Get for Someone Who Has everything?

Have you ever needed to touch up paint in your home and were not sure which color you used?

Have you needed some house facts - like square footage or year built - and had to guess?

Wouldn't it be nice to have, in one handy spot, a list of all the home improvements made throughout the years - warranties all in one place - samples of paint chips and fabrics - photos of each room.


That is the purpose of the "Homeowner's History Book" designed and created by Cozy Chic Design. The brainchild of Jen Griswold, the "Homeowner's History Book" in an expandable binder that holds house facts, information, records, photos and receipts. A handy place to document everything - from service providers to neighborhood facts -- and keep it all in one place.

At an "opening special " of just $15, the "Homeowner's History Book" makes a wonderful gift. This book placed on the counter of a home that is on the market, shows that the property has been well cared for.

Order yours today! Plenty of time for Christmas delivery!
707-447-0977 or 707-455-8265

Cheap and Easy DIY Chalkboard Labels

Ok, we've all seen many a cute idea in the Pottery Barn magazine. The following project is exactly that but you can do it yourself for a fraction of the price!

Step 1: Gather your supplies.

Head to your nearest craft store to stock up on $1 unfinished picture frames (if you have their 40% off coupon this craft gets even cheaper). For my project I needed 8 frames and one can of chalkboard spray paint (around $4 with coupon). You'll also need chalk for writing.

Step 2: Paint the frame.

You can paint the frame with acrylic paint (I used some I had in the cupboard) to match your decor and paint the cardboard backing with the chalkboard spray paint. Wait to dry, reassemble the frame, and voile! You have the cutest and CHEAPEST little chalkboard label for your fridge, to label baskets, toy boxes, etc.



Step 3: Dress up the frame.

You can tie it onto a basket with raffia, ribbon, or twine. Or put an adhesive magnet on the back and display your latest goodies on the fridge. Enjoy the versatility of this project.....the possibilities are endless....all for only $1.00!!

Seasons of Life...What Season Are YOU In?

Seasons of Life

By: Rachel Krugh--Family-focused freelance writer from Puyallup, WA

With Halloween behind us, now is the perfect chance to take time to catch your breath before the busyness of the rest of the holiday season is upon us. Pack up all the witches and goblins, skeletons and pumpkins, and before you bring out the boxes of Christmas/Hanukah decorations, take some time to live with the empty spaces in their place. Take a good look around your home to see if the furniture in your home fits your needs, if the spaces and traffic patterns function well for the way you use your home, and if the things you have in your home speak to your heart and nourish your soul.

A wise man once said that you can chronicle the seasons of life by watching the furniture in the family room change. A young, newly married couple, with lots of love but little money, starts with a love seat. They make a little more money and want their home to reflect their sense of style, so they buy an expensive sofa and tchotchkes. They start a family and add a rocking chair – and soon after add a slip cover for the sofa and box up the tchotchkes. As the family grows, the trendy sofa, which wasn’t really comfortable anyways, is replaced by the sectional sofa. As the nest empties, they end up with “his” and “hers” recliners, which, of course, can be moved when they fold out the new sleeper sofa for the visiting grandchildren, who think the tchotchkes make great toys.

What “season of life” are you in? Does your furniture work to support you in the many roles you play to keep the household running? Do the pieces of art on your wall bring you joy, or remind you that you need to dust more often? Are you able to enjoy your most cherished treasures, or are they buried under piles of bills and clutter or stored in the back of a cabinet somewhere? Would a room function better if some of the furniture was removed? Do you have a comfortable space for celebrating holiday traditions with family and friends? Sometimes our lives and our living spaces can be too full – even if they are full of “good things.”

Now is a perfect time to try this experiment and see what happens: take everything off of the walls and horizontal surfaces in a room and box them up. Live with the space this way for at least a week. After the first week, start putting back your most cherished items, one at a time. You might find that you are content to leave half of the things in the box. If so, pass them on or donate them. You will be ready to start the rush of the holiday season with a clean slate. And maybe Santa will bring you some new tchotchkes!

Another Quick Sale

If you have ever wondered whether home staging is a worthwhile investment, here is another good example to prove that it certainly does--this home was under contract within the first 2 weeks! See the difference for yourself in these befores and afters:

Color Your World

The least expensive, most effective decorating tool is COLOR!

Nothing has a greater color impact than a fresh coat of paint! Paint colors can be used to carry a "decorative flow" throughout the home, to play up the architectural features of a room or to camouflage its defects. Color can make a small room seem larger, a dark area lighter, or a dull place bright. Depending on the function of the room, and the goal of the homeowner, color can add warmth and coziness, crisp clarity or to make a bold statement of excitement.

When selecting colors, there are many things to consider.

* Which walls to paint?

* How many colors to use?

* Where to put the accent colors?

* Which hue? Intensity? Value? Finish?

With so many choices, color selection can be a perplexing decision. At Cozy Chic Design, we use our knowledge of color and a box of over sized paint samples to guide you through the maze of questions. While the price for the Color Consultation ranges from $50 for one room, to $250 for the whole house, considerable discounts are given when the Color Consultation is purchased in conjunction with a Redesign or another Cozy Chic Decorating Service. The Color Consultation normally "pays for itself" as, included in the Consultation, are free estimates from a professional painter, and a 30% saving on Kelly Moore Paint.

As the season changes, the chill is in the air, and it gets darker and less colorful outside. What a perfect time to add some brightness and color indoors. A fresh coat of paint is great way to "Color Your World."

Why is Decorating so Important? By Janet Davison

“Why is Decorating so Important?”

“Because it is so much fun!!”
(Maybe that’s why I stage homes and decorate for a living!)

It is true, that when selling a home, staging adds to the appeal in a way that can translate into a quick sale for top dollar. (See the article in this newsletter where one of our staged home sold on the first day!) What most people do not realize, is that staging is the exact opposite of decorating.
¨ Staging de-personalizes the home -- making it possible for potential buyers to visualize themselves living in the home.
¨ Decorating, on the other hand, is a celebration of you -- the people who live in your home.

We often ask the question, “Does your home speak well of you?”

The decorating in your home should be a reflection of your personality– an extension of who you are. The “reasons” for decorating become more emotional than practical. Your home is the comfort zone for present moment living, but it also holds your family’s memories and aspirations. A recent article from Better Homes and Gardens Magazine stated, “When our home is in order, we feel good about ourselves and our place in the world.” When you better your home, you better your life. Every little improvement counts.

OK, decorating is important. What prevents people from realizing their decorating dreams? Usually three things come into play
*Cost
*Know how

*Getting started

Cozy Chic Design is here to help you on all 3 counts!
We specialize in Redesign, which is the art of moving and rearranging the furniture and accessories that you already own. While we sometimes add plants and a few accessories, most of what we use is yours already. This gives your home a beautiful look at a conservative price.

Know How – Most people know what they like, they just don’t know how to create the look. That’s OK – we do!

Getting Started – that’s simple. The answer is NOW!
In the fall months, when it starts getting colder outside and darker earlier, friends and family tend to spend more time indoors. Now is a great time to add color to your home in order to make up for the lack of color that is a part of winter.

“Does your home speak well of you?”
If your home is not saying what you want it to… We Can Help!

The Art of Stripping by Micaela R. Brancato

My introduction to stripping (furniture) began with the purchase of our dream home; the ideal country location, requiring multiple do-it-yourself projects. Although my husband did not seem as thrilled about my desire to try something new, he finally realized it was the best decision. After all, it was the only major project standing in the way of enjoying our summer. I wish I could report my first experience went smooth. Instead, I’m excited to share my lessons learned for when you get the stripping bug!

1) Be prepared for this project to take some time. Depending on item being stripped, there are several steps that may need repeating.

2) Prepping is very important. Do it right the first time, because you don’t want to stop midway to re-cover your flooring or wall paint. Supplies you will need: Stripping agent (gel or liquid), paint brushes, plastic putty knives, sandpaper, wood cleaner, painter’s tape, floor cover, new stain/paint.

3) When the directions say, ‘use a generous amount’ they are not joking. Don’t be afraid to goop it on. The thicker it is, the easier it is to remove. Otherwise, you might dislocate your wrist trying to chip it off.

4) Make sure your new stain/paint is the right color. After all that hard work, the last thing you want is to strip again. Test in an inconspicuous area or on a sheet of paper.

You might be thinking (as I was many times throughout this project), why didn’t I just hire this out or paint over the darn thing. I’m excited to report it turned out better than expected. After a little profanity and tears, I ended up feeling a huge sense of accomplishment and learned a lot. My goal was not to scare you off. In fact, the sooner you start stripping, the longer you’ll get to enjoy that item. In the end, a little muscle and hard work will add a new look, save you money, or extend the life of a sentimental item. Good luck and don’t be afraid to start stripping!