If you have started working from home, whether you are a freelancer or running a business, having a home office in your home is very important.

It is a place where you can separate your home life and work, so that you can get “in the zone” and concentrate on the important work tasks that you need to complete. But where should you place your home office?

If you have a spare bedroom in your home, the answer is easy – but what if you don’t have this extra space? Is it possible to squeeze a home office into an already full home? Of course it is, you just have to think outside of the box. Here are some ideas:

Convert Your Attic

If you have an attic in your home, why not use that space for a quiet and private home office? It will be separate from your home and free from any distractions. If your attic is unfinished, converting it into living space can be a good investment that will improve the value of your home.

Work At Your Breakfast Nook

Perhaps your kitchen has a breakfast nook, but your family always ends up eating at the dining table and doesn’t really use it much? If this is the case, you could create a small and compact office space where you can work – while being close to the coffee maker in the kitchen!

Find An Unused Corner

Perhaps there is a corner of your bedroom or living room that you aren’t really using for much? Why not turn it into a home office? All you need is a small desk and a chair to create a workspace. If you want to separate it from the rest of the room, you can use stylish room dividers.

Go Underground

Have you ever thought of using your basement for your home office? There is probably a corner down there that you could use for office space. To combat the lack of natural light, you can use a SAD lamp that offers the same wavelengths as sunlight.

These are just a few ideas of where you could place your home office, even if all of the rooms in your home are in use. As long as you can find a quiet corner somewhere, you can create your ultimate working space.

For more tips and information, contact your trusted real estate professional today.

Filed under: Around The Home by Julie Woodward
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Are you working on decorating your home? Perhaps you want to spruce up your decor, but you aren’t sure where to start. Where can you find inspiration for your home decor, besides the obvious home decor magazines and websites?

Here are some fun and creative ideas that will inspire you when designing your decor:

Luxury Hotels

The next time you go on a vacation, you can find decor inspiration at your hotel. Most hotel rooms in mid-range to luxury hotels have beautiful, comforting and understated designs, so take photos if you find something that you like.

Perhaps you can invest in plush throw pillows for your bed, a sleek bed table lamp or thick white towels for your bathroom to recreate the look of a luxury hotel.

Art Galleries

Take a walk around your local art gallery and see if you can find some inspiration there. Perhaps the harmonious colors of Impressionist paintings or the angular shapes of Cubism will inspire you to add visual interest to your decor.

You might not be able to afford an original Picasso or Monet, but you can always order prints of your favourite artists online and add art to your home on a budget.

The Beauty Of Nature

Another place to find beauty and inspiration is from Mother Nature herself. Take a walk outside in the country and take some photos of what you encounter.

Perhaps you will be inspired to paint your walls a shade of green just like the spring leaves, or create a centrepiece for your table made from pinecones.

Fashion Design

You can also find inspiration from the colors, textures and patterns that are popular in the world of fashion design. Look at magazines, fashion shows and advertisements to see what colors and styles are popular at the moment.

If you love the look of a certain item of clothing, think about how you can incorporate that color, texture or pattern into your decor.

If you have an open mind, you can find inspiration for your home decor all around you. These are just a few ideas to get you started, but of course there are many other sources of inspiration out there.

For more info and tips regarding your home, contact your trusted real estate profesional.

Filed under: Around The Home by Julie Woodward
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When you’re moving into a new home in Port Aransas, you want it to look its best—but where do you begin?
These 5 interior décor secrets from the pros will get you started.

5 Interior Décor Secrets From the Pros

You don’t have to spend a fortune decorating your new home in Port Aransas. Instead, you can make the whole house look amazing without breaking the bank.

Interior Décor Secret #1: Choose the Ideal Color Scheme

Come up with the perfect color palette before you get started, says Gary McBournie, Boston interior designer.
“I come up with a basic color scheme for the whole house, and then I take that from room to room,” says McBournie.

Interior Décor Secret #2: Enjoy Your Favorite Pieces

Whether you’re an antiques collector or you have something new you just love (but you don’t know where to put it), it’s a great idea to make your favorites the focal points in any room.

Interior Décor Secret #3: Use Color in Window Trim

Designer Jeffrey Bilhuber says that you can really make a statement with window trim.
“I often end up painting them [window trim pieces] green, to blend in with the landscape. Or sometimes, I paint them pitch black, so the muntins practically disappear in the evening,” says Bilhuber.

Interior Décor Secret #4: Use Mirrors to Your Advantage

Be careful when you put up mirrors. It’s great to use a large sheet of mirror, but you’ll end up making your home look like a commercial enterprise if you’re not careful. Opt for a sectioned pattern if you’re putting up large mirrors, or frame a large sheet of mirror with crown molding that matches your existing style.

Interior Décor Secret #5: Use Texture

You can accent all the neutral colors in your new home by adding texture.
“I used a range—from fine-gauge and open-weave linen, to raw silk and taffeta, to cotton velvet and distressed velvet,” says Ohara Davies-Gaetano, a California interior designer, of a beautiful bedroom in a luxury home.

Are You Looking for a New Home in Port Aransas?

Whether you’re looking for a home for sale in Port Aransas or North Padre Island, we’d love to help you find the perfect place to live.
Call us at 361-563-7788 or get in touch with us online to tell us what you want from your next home. We’ll start searching right away.
In the meantime, check out our:

• All-in-one mortgage calculator
• Free homebuyer handbook
• Free eBooks about buying a home (and more!)

Filed under: Around The Home, Blog, Decor by Julie Woodward
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If you’re buying a new home in Port Aransas or the surrounding communities, you’ve probably already thought about your décor—but do you have a great conversation piece?
According to etiquette expert Margaret Shepherd, having a great conversation piece (or two) on-hand can make you the best entertainer in the neighborhood.

3 Great Conversation Pieces for Your New Home in Port Aransas

#1: Musical Instruments

Musical instruments make great conversation pieces, says Shepherd, but pianos don’t really count; people see them as if they’re furniture.
Don’t play the instrument unless you’ve been asked twice, though.
“Don’t accept the first invitation to perform, but thank the guest and promise to play later,” Shepherd said. “And then wait to be asked twice! A host’s performance stops the conversation and the party dead, while afterward no one can say anything but compliments.”

#2: Exotic Plants (or Anything Exotic, Really)

“If you have any spectacular object like this that is sure to excite curiosity and comment, be ready with a response that takes advantage of the moment,” says Shepherd.

#3: A Best-Selling Book

Steer clear of controversial or political books if you’re looking for a conversation piece—you don’t want to alienate your guests—but other best-sellers, “coffee table” books, or a novel that’s being made for the big-screen can be ideal.
“Any book that is floating around in popular knowledge is a conversation starter,” Shepherd said. “Even if someone hasn’t read the book on your table, he can then say ‘Oh, I have heard so much about that book. What’s all the hype about?’ That’s your hook. Now, you or one of your guests can build a valuable conversation with that person.”

Are You Buying a Home in Port Aransas or North Padre Island?

Whether you’re looking for a home for sale in Port Aransas or North Padre Island, we’d love to help you find the perfect place to live.
Call us at 361-563-7788 or get in touch with us online to tell us what you want from your next home. We’ll start searching right away.
In the meantime, check out our:

• All-in-one mortgage calculator
• Free homebuyer handbook
• Free eBooks about buying a home (and more)

Filed under: Blog, Buying, Decor, How-To, Luxury by Julie Woodward
No Comments »

Are you working on decorating your home? Perhaps you want to spruce up your decor, but you aren’t sure where to start. Where can you find inspiration for your home decor, besides the obvious home decor magazines and websites?

Here are some fun and creative ideas that will inspire you when designing your decor:

Luxury Hotels

The next time you go on a vacation, you can find decor inspiration at your hotel. Most hotel rooms in mid-range to luxury hotels have beautiful, comforting and understated designs, so take photos if you find something that you like.

Perhaps you can invest in plush throw pillows for your bed, a sleek bed table lamp or thick white towels for your bathroom to recreate the look of a luxury hotel.

Art Galleries

Take a walk around your local art gallery and see if you can find some inspiration there. Perhaps the harmonious colors of Impressionist paintings or the angular shapes of Cubism will inspire you to add visual interest to your decor.

You might not be able to afford an original Picasso or Monet, but you can always order prints of your favourite artists online and add art to your home on a budget.

The Beauty Of Nature

Another place to find beauty and inspiration is from Mother Nature herself. Take a walk outside in the country and take some photos of what you encounter.

Perhaps you will be inspired to paint your walls a shade of green just like the spring leaves, or create a centrepiece for your table made from pinecones.

Fashion Design

You can also find inspiration from the colors, textures and patterns that are popular in the world of fashion design. Look at magazines, fashion shows and advertisements to see what colors and styles are popular at the moment.

If you love the look of a certain item of clothing, think about how you can incorporate that color, texture or pattern into your decor.

If you have an open mind, you can find inspiration for your home decor all around you. These are just a few ideas to get you started, but of course there are many other sources of inspiration out there.

For more info and tips regarding your home, contact your trusted real estate profesional.

Filed under: Uncategorized by Julie Woodward
Comments Off on Where To Find Inspiration For Your Home Decor