Stage It List It Sell It

If your house is on the market, how do your online pictures look?

Kristen Noble — Wed, 08 May 2013 13:38:19 +0000

It’s time to do your job as a seller. If your house has been on the market for a couple of months, make sure your exterior and interior photos reflect the spring weather. All snow covered houses decorated for the holidays are just inviting buyers to put in a low offer. Many of the local agents I have spoken to in the Rochester NY real estate area are viewing the market as a seller’s market. Make your house competitive. Get those pictures changed. If you want to see great photos go to www.dwcproperties.com. and search under Danielle Windus Cook, professional home stager’s listings. It’s no wonder she sells millions every year!

Save Your Candy Canes!

Kristen Noble — Wed, 09 Jan 2013 15:45:36 +0000

As I was removing all the candy canes from the 4, yes 4 Christmas trees at my home as well as various wreaths I was drinking coffee. Lots of coffee. For me, coffee creates endless ideas!
1. Take your candy canes and grind them in your food processor. Freeze the powder. You can use that powder as a topping for brownies before you bake them to add a chewy texture and great flavor. Check out my previous blog on making a “Brownie Pie,” they would work great there.

2. Put broken candy cane piece close together on a cookie sheet covered with tinfoil. Bake at 325 degrees and watch closely. As soon as the candy canes melt, remove the tray from the oven. Use cookie cutters and create peppermint hearts for Valentine’s Day. They look unique and will fill in any cookie tray.

3. Use step 2 and make small hearts for cupcake toppings.

4. Bake a sheet cake. Frost. Use a cookie cutter or cut a paper stencil with hearts. Add the powdered candy canes for a festive Valentine’s cake.

5. Yum. How about an ice cream sundae with peppermint topping.

6. Having a large event? Melt ice cream until its soft enough to make a round scoop. Roll the ice cream in the crushed candy. Freeze on a cookie sheet with wax paper underneath. Remove the balls and put in a wide lipped glass. Put on some melted chocolate and a little whipped cream with the crushed candy canes or a miniature candy cane heart. A beautiful, inexpensive dessert.

7. Use those peppermint covered ice cream balls with your chocolate fountain.

8. Make a true powder with the candy so it can be dissolved with water. A great way to make a child take their medicine during flu season!

9. Just eat them! How bad can the calories be!

http://www.dwcproperties.com

Saving Tips for Holiday Gifts

Kristen Noble — Sun, 18 Nov 2012 12:59:13 +0000

It’s that time of year again! Here are a couple of quick ideas to help your dollars stretch!

1. Get your own greens from your own or a friend’s pine trees. Instead of traditional wreaths, tie bows upside down with a ribbon. They look great on doors or anywhere in the house.

2. Use greens in vases and spray paint some twigs/pinecones to place with the greens or glue them on the greens.

3. Place several greens on your table, use candle sticks in between them and some led lights from for additional light!

4. If you want a more contemporary look, fill a vase with water colored with food coloring! I prefer a vase/s that are cylinder or square shaped. Put out a funky tablecloth with these and you’re good to go.

5. Use the same technique above, but with jelly and canning jars for a more traditional look. Use a small piece of a brown paper lunch bad cut in a circle and tie it with a piece of twine.

Have fun!

How to clean up paint spills!

Kristen Noble — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 14:38:40 +0000

Dont waste your time crying over spilt paint on your lovely carpet. Instead, spring into action before it sets: mix 1 1/2 teaspoons vinegar and 1 1/2 teaspoons laundry detergent into 2 cups warm water. Now sponge away the paint (a task that takes time and elbow grease), and rinse with cold water. If your lucky, what might have been an unwelcome (and permanent) decorating touch will be gone!

How to brighten rugs and curtains!

Kristen Noble — Fri, 07 Sep 2012 22:20:46 +0000

If cotton rugs or curtains have faded, simply add 1/3 cup salt to your laundry detergent to brighten the colors. If a rug is too big for the washer machine, scrub it well with a clean rag dipped in salt water

How to remove stuck-on candle wax!

Kristen Noble — Wed, 05 Sep 2012 17:04:24 +0000

Sick of the candle wax sticking to your beautifulwood furniture pieces? Well here is a fool proof way to remove it without scratching the wood. Put a few ice cubes in a plastic bag and rest the bag on the wax until it becomes brittle. Then gently lift the wax with the edge of a spatula or credit card. Gently rub a soft cloth dampened with a solution of 1 part apple cider vinegar to 10 parts warm water to take care of the residue.

How to remove invisible grease film on glasses and china!

Kristen Noble — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 16:30:33 +0000

Although you may wash your glasses daily and they look clean when finished they may still be covered with a thin film of grease, invisible to the naked eye. Well see for yourself by making a thin paste of baking soda and water, dipping a sponge in it, and rubbing the glass or china surface well. Rinse, dry with a soft cloth, and voila your dishes may shine like never before, and may even feel different to the touch.

How to make antibacterial spray cleaner in seconds!

Kristen Noble — Fri, 10 Aug 2012 17:08:38 +0000

Sick of spending money on cleaners? Well now you can save time and money by combining 1 cup rubbing alcohol, 1 cup water, and 1 tablespoon white vinegar in a spray bottle. spritz on kitchen surfaces including tile and chrome, wipe off, and watch how quickly the germ-killing polish evaporates!

How to get rid of watermarks and scuff marks from leather!

Kristen Noble — Tue, 07 Aug 2012 19:06:48 +0000

Have beautiful leather furniture that looks less then beautiful due to scuff marks and watermarks? Well get rid of them in a fast and easy way by rubbing watermarks with white vinegar and get rid of those aweful scuff marks with a pencil eraser!

Home Tip of the Day: How to simply get rid of grime and soap scum!

Kristen Noble — Thu, 28 Jun 2012 21:12:06 +0000

Hate that nasty soap scum in your shower or by your sinks? Instead of buying that “miracle” product that never actually gets rid of it, stir 3 tablespoons baking soda and 1/2 cup household ammonia into 2 cups warm water. Once you’ve wiped the solution on and rinsed it off with a sponge or rag, your bathroom surfaces will gleam!