A Stylish New Year

         
          When you're writing your New Year's resolutions, don't forget to add a few that will help your home be its stylish best in 2012. I asked one of the members of the Hermann Team to join me in sharing some decorating resolutions to help inspire you.

Jennifer Hermann: Clean,edit and Upgrade

          January is the perfect time of the year for a purge. As you go through each room, sorting, editing and freshening your decor be completely honest with yourself. Do you still love all of the accessories in your year-round displays? If not, box them up and donate them to your favorite charity. Take a long hard look at your artwork. Is it dated and faded? If so commit to upgrading your artwork this year. How about your accent lighting? Are your lamp bases dated? Are your lamp shades dusty and dingy? I think of lamps like artwork-you only want to fill your home with pieces you love. Sometimes a new shade is all it takes to transform the look of your room.
          Finally, make a list of home repair and clean-up projects you need to tackle, like getting your carpets and Upholstry cleaned, touching up your trim and wall paint and other minor repairs around your home.



Becky Lichtenberg: Feng Shui for the New Year
          Happy New Year! Here are a few tips to help you energize and enhance your home as we make a fresh start in 2012.
Since your home is a reflection of who you are and who you wish to be, it is essential to make sure that you have enough room for the energy or "chi" to move efficiently through your space.
Take some time this month to clear any clutter in your home. Clean out your closets. Tackle that room or garage that you are embarrassed to let guests see. Let go of items that hold unhappy memories or anything that no longer serves you. When you remove clutter, you make room for the new and better things to come in to your life.
           Now that you have tackled your clutter, why not go ahead and give your house a thorough cleaning? Good "Chi" loves a clean house! Make sure that your bathrooms sparkle and your kitchen stove shines. If you do not have the time or energy to clean house, just focus one room or area. You will be amazed by the way it makes you feel. You may even be inspired to move on to another room!
           Once you have de-cluttered and cleaned, here are a few things that you can do to enhance the "Chi" even more. Place a large bowl of fruit in your kitchen to symbolize abundance and prosperity.
            Treat yourself to fresh flowers or a new houseplant to represent personal growth and expansion. (Silk flowers and plants will work just as well. Just remember to keep them dust free.)
             Make sure your home smells good. (Which it should since you just cleaned it!) Make it smell even better by lighting a scented candle or using scented oil with a reed diffuser. 
              Finally, take a good look at your home. Do you like it? Does it serve your needs at this time in your life? How does it make you feel? If any of your answers to these questions are negative, perhaps it is time to make some changes. Rearrange or replace your furniture. Change out your accessories and artwork. Repaint the walls. Make any changes that support your intentions for the New Year.
              Always remember, your home is a reflection of who you are and who you wish to be. So be happy, be healthy, be prosperous, and be fabulous in 2012!

           The rest of the Hermann Team had so many ideas we finally just decided to make a list of suggestions for you to freshen up your home in 2012:

Organize with Style
           If you have storage space in your home that is open for your guests to see, make it look its absolute best. This basket in the kitchen is housing cooking utensils and oils that would have other wise just look junkie on the counter.

 Book Worm. Use books to bring height to a display or side table. Try the Hermann's tip of recovering books in maps, kraft paper, burlap or seasonal papers to lend an instant design statement.

Be Bold. Introduce a new accent color to your home, either through accessories, pillows, fabrics, paint or art.

Looking Pretty. Add a dressing table to a special spot. Hang a mirror over the table and instead of a chair, use a small garden stool.

Play Musical Chairs. If you are a empty nester, rethink your kitchen eating nook. Trade out your dining chairs for comfortable upholstered arm chairs.

Have a wonderful and stylish 2012!!!!