Photograph Collage Wall Complete

I finally got around to making that collage wall I was telling you about awhile ago! I found the idea on Pinterest and knew I had to do it. It’s like personalized wallpaper!

The part that took me the longest was sorting through our millions of wedding & engagement photos.

I picked up the knob from Anthropologie

I wanted the entire door covered in photos, so to fill in any bare spots, I cut out some photos of our wedding cake, favors, scenery etc

Considering what the door used to look like…

this is a huge improvement!

You like? Xo, Melissa

2 Comments

Filed under DIY Ideas, Home decor ideas, Uncategorized

“YUM” Kitchen Sign

Good morning! Hope you all had a nice weekend. I spent mine holding an open house for one of our listings, then we went out dancing with a bunch of friends to celebrate one of my bestie’s birthdays. Sunday, we took Frank to the dog park, did a little shopping and had a nice family dinner at Clay’s parents. I also finished up our photo collage wall. It’s looking pretty dang cute. Can’t wait to share with you tomorrow!

Okay, so I really liked that ever so popular “EAT” sign that has been popping up on blogs everywhere. I didn’t want to just do the same, so this is my take on it:

When the babe & I were at Joann’s last week picking up our items for making our headboard, I spotted these paper mache letters, only $2.99 each. I bought em & sprayed them with my fav spray paint ever – Rustoleum gold metallic… the thing is, it was really cold when I sprayed the letters and the paint started crackling!!

Anyway whatever, I still like them. I think it adds character haha. It kind of reminds me of the cracked nail polish trend that’s going on right now.

What do you think? Do you think I should sand & re-paint it or just leave them?

Oh btw, I used these awesome little adhesive squares to put the letters up. Got them at Joann’s as well. You can remove the adhesive and it leaves no damage at all.

I will definitely be using these paper mache letters for the baby room also! They are just too cute not to.

Xo, Melissa

6 Comments

Filed under DIY Ideas, Home decor ideas

Now is the perfect time to sell {Easy tips to get your house ready for the market}

Spring is here and with it brings lots of home buyers looking to purchase! If you have been considering selling your home, Spring time is by far the best time to do so.

{We have compiled a list of tips for preparing your home to be sold}

Your goal with this first and foremost is to make sure your home is clean, bright and comfortable.
Keyword clean. You want buyers to be able to envision themselves living in your
home. You don’t need to go crazy fixing up your house, but in order to get top dollar,  make sure these key things are complete:

  • Clean carpets & remove stains and/or replace flooring if necessary.
  • Clean windows, doors (finger prints), keep kitchen clean; remove all food products, cookware, etc from counter tops.
  • De-clutter the home. Get rid of the knick-knacks.

  • Pretend you are a potential buyer. Clean up and repair everything that would turn you off.
  • If your home will be vacant consider having it staged. This helps the buyer see what the house looks like with furniture.Also; depending on the home’s condition can help the house look more appealing! When a house is completely bare, it tends to show every little flaw.
  •  Clean bathrooms; get rid of mildew and mold, toilet bowl rings and remove personal hygiene products. Bathrooms and kitchens are top sellers, so get them in the best condition possible. Nobody wants to see your tooth brush and toothbrush sitting on the vanity! Also, consider buying white hand towels, new bathmats & shower curtain – white suggests clean.
  •  A small vase with pretty flowers wouldn’t hurt either. Just sayin!

  • If necessary, remove pieces of furniture to make a room feel bigger.

If you have dark or bright colored paint on your walls, we suggest you paint
them a neutral light color.Wild colors don’t really appeal to buyers. Neutral sells.

  • Handle all minor repairs around the house. Examples: fix faulty electrical wires, replace lose tiles in the bathroom, replace cracked electric plates,replace light switch plates, fix leaky faucet, repair sprinklers, re-calk shower.

Click here to view our Handpicked Home Vendors list for reputable tradesman – plumbers,house cleaner, electricians, painters & more

  • Install Carbon Monoxide detector – mandatory & the law as of July 2011
  • Install fire alarms in the home or make sure current ones are in working order.
  • Mow the lawn, paint front door, straighten up front porch & plant some pretty flowers (flowers optional). It’s always helps the home sell when it has curb appeal, so do what you can.

We hope this helps! Contact us today for a free, no obligation market analysis of your home.

Any other questions, feel free to email, call or text us anytime.
Direct – 408.921.3601
RemaxAdler@gmail.com

Happy Friday & enjoy your weekend!

Xo, Virginia & Melissa

Leave a comment

Filed under Property Values, Selling Your Home, Uncategorized

OlioBoard Obsessed

I recently came across the most amazing website known to man.. or should I say women. It’s called OlioBoard and I am beyond obsessed. I spent approx 3 hours playing around with the site & designing my ideal home office!

Here’s the gist of how it works; You create your own digital mood/inspiration boards on their site & save them to your profile. A lot of interior designers use this site + regular people who want to design their own space.

 It’s free to join. They do have a pro version that enables you to choose wall colors, add text & use the budget feature, which is $8.99 a month.

All the images you select on the site are fully available for purchase and they list the product’s specifications & prices!! Amazing! You can even upload your own inspiration photos from your computer or photos of your current furniture.

I put this board together for my ideal home office. What do you think?

{Click to enlarge}

It really helps you envision the room you are trying to create.. instead of buying items at stores only to find out that they don’t match your current decor – talk about a major time saver.

White Parson desk $299 from West Elm ** Round Coco sunburst mirror $199 from West Elm **Aqua glass table lamp $502 from Layla Grayce ** Grant Wing Back Chair in Ivory w/Nail head trim $999 from Home Decorators ** Reflections white storage shelf $349 from Home Decorators  ** 9 drawer mirrored dresser $1,963 from Layla Grayce ** Paris Flea market collection champagne chandelier $700 from Layla Grayce ** Distressed metallic pillow $48 from DwellStudio ** Gold Leaf Cade table lamp $179 from Home Decorators ** Gold table clock $74 from Layla Grayce ** Glossy red boxes – set of 3 $79 from Dwell ** Small wire basket $13 from Crate & Barrel** Yellow laquered magazine storage $22 from West Elm ** Pearl box $48 from West Elm ** White washed weaved storage bins $39 from West Elm ** Trina gold corkboard $49 from Home Decorators **Owl Coin bank $10 from All Modern  ** Bold Black & White Stripped rug $399 from Overstock** Metallic Gold Leather Moroccan Pouf $199 from Overstock

 

xo, Melissa

Leave a comment

Filed under DIY Ideas, Home decor ideas, Increasing Your Home's Value, Uncategorized

DIY Tufted Headboard Tutorial

I have been wanting a headboard in our room for so long. For some reason it was just never something high on the priority list. I also never really found one I was in love with – that wasn’t $1,000+

The other day, I was searching for something on Google and came across this amazing blog and saw that she did an incredible tufted headboard and tutorial.  So I thought, why not give it a try!

Let me first start off by saying that this wasn’t complicated or hard to do, but just takes time! Clay & I did this over a weekend, but you could stretch it out over the week.

The headboard took about 2 days from start to finish. We followed Little Green Notebook’s tutorial exactly.

After doing this myself, I came up with a lot of tips for you, which I will share throughout this post.

{Materials you will need}

Home Depot

  • Pegboard from Home Depot, cut to size. We measured our bed (King size) and had them cut the pegboard 40 inches high x 76 inches wide
  • Spray adhesive
  • Staple gun & staples
  • Mounting hardware to attach headboard to the wall behind the bed

Joann’s Fabric Store

  • 3 inch thick upholstery foam 

**Huge Tip** Download the Joann’s app on your smartphone for a 50% off coupon. They have coupons every month for 50% off a single item, plus 20% off your entire purchase. For some reason these pieces of foam are extremely expensive – we would have paid $120 just for the foam!

  • High loft batting
  • 3 1/2 yards (less if your bed is smaller than king size) of whatever fabric you like. Originally I wanted a more velvet blush pink fabric, but we found a light blush pink satin fabric for 50% off, making it only $4.99 a yard!

Here was my inspiration photo

  • 4 inch upholstery needle
  • Waxed button thread

**Tip** I highly recommend using waxed upholstery grade thread, don’t use non-waxed. Half way through the tufting, we ran out of thread, so I went to a different fabric store that was closer to our house. They only had non-waxed thread. It was IMPOSSIBLE to work with. We ending up having to go back to Joann’s to get the waxed stuff anyway. The wax sticks to the fabric and makes it much easier for making knots as well – more on that later.

  • Button making kit + refills 5/8 inch size – enough to make 58 buttons. You can do less if you plan on having less tufts or if you have a smaller headboard.

Total cost $150 – not bad for an upholstered king headboard

Now that you have all your supplies let’s begin!!

First you will need to figure out your tufting pattern – we decided on rows of 11 and 10 buttons, alternating each row

circle where you will make your holes with chalk

then take a sharpie and make dots through the chalk marked holes.

Take the pegboard off and now you have your pattern.

Take a pairing knife and cut out your tuft holes

Now that all your holes are done, use your spray adhesive and glue the foam to the pegboard. Now all the holes will match up and you’re ready for tufting.

**Tip** make sure to let the foam hang off a 1/2 over the pegboard on the top and sides. This will make the edges more cushy and soft looking when you go to staple the fabric around the edges.

Then make your buttons with your kit

This part wasn’t as bad as I was anticipating.. we watched some Oprah & Real Housewives + we had this fatty to keep us company 🙂

Once all your buttons are done

Lay your pegboard, foam, batting &  fabric down – in that order

Take your needle, waxed thread & button

and poke it through your first hole

Pull it through and staple a couple of times. Triple knot the thread around the staple to ensure it doesn’t come loose

And there’s your first tuft! Yeee!

I am so thankful the Little Green Notebook said to start in the middle of all rows and work your way out with the tufts & save the edge tufts for last.

Knowing us, we would have totally botched this part if not for her advice!

After all your tufts are done, staple at the bottom on the foam slightly pushing up when stapling so that your staples aren’t visible.

Then just simply pull fabric tight around all edges and staple to the back!

Attach your mounting hardware & attach to your wall behind your bed & there you go!!

What a difference this pretty headboard makes in our room!

Notice how the tufting starts right at the top of our mattress and the rest hides behind the bed perfectly

Our headboard kind of reminds me of this Pottery Barn one – I think ours is way cuter though and we didn’t have to spend $800 Yay!

What do you think? Are you thinking about making one??

It really makes our bedroom feel so romantic & chic. What do you think of the color?

The best part is, I was about to buy something identical to this headboard for $600 about a year ago. With everything said and done, we spent a total of $150!

Hope you like our headboard as much as we do!

Xo, Melissa

15 Comments

Filed under DIY Ideas, Home decor ideas, Uncategorized

DIY Tufted Headboard Sneak Peak!

We are loving our new tufted headboard!

The step by step tutorial will be up tomorrow. For now here is a little sneak peak:

Here is the tutorial

Xo, Melissa

Leave a comment

Filed under DIY Ideas, Home decor ideas, Life, Uncategorized

383 Greenlake Drive Sunnyvale $429,000 – Just Reduced $30,900!

What a weekend! We have a huge price reduction on our listing at 383 Greenlake Drive Sunnyvale, CA 94089 in Lakewood Village. Please let us know if you would like to view this home or need help with the loan pre-approval process.

New list price $429,000

{Click to enlarge}

This perfect family home offers a remodeled kitchen, wood burning fireplace, 3 bedrooms 2 remodeled bathrooms. The property is situated on a quiet street, near Lakewood park & Lakewood Elementary School. Within walking distance to the park where you can play tennis, basketball, swim & more! 1,186 square feet, 2 car garage and large backyard with extra storage unit/possible office space with electricity & dual pane windows. Backyard gate has access to tranquil walking trail overlooking creek. Automatic sprinklers in the front & backyards.
Quiet neighborhood, close to 237, 85, 280 central expressway & San Tomas expressway.

View MLS listing here

For disclosures/reports on this property or to get a tour of this home email or call us today!

RemaxAdler@gmail.com

Direct – 408-921-3601

Xo, Virginia & Melissa

Leave a comment

Filed under Listings, Property Values

Brand New Listings & Open Houses

Happy Friday! Thought we’d share some new listings that have hit the market recently. Some of these are having open houses this weekend {2/25-2/26}, so if you are house shopping in the Bay Area, here are some great deals you should check out.

**1691 BLOSSOM HILL ROAD, San Jose 95124 {Bordering Los Gatos}**

Charming 3 bedroom, 2 bath Cambrian home near Los Gatos offers updated kitchen with granite slab counters, stainless steel appliances, cherry cabinets and Travertine floor & breakfast bar. Hardwood floors throughout home. Large back yard with covered patio. Central A/C, close to freeways and shopping, mature fruit trees: apple, lemon, peach & more! 10 days on the market. Please contact us if you are interested in viewing this property. We would be happy to give you a tour. There is no open house this weekend. Full property details here.

Listed for $549,999

{Click photo to enlarge}

***57 HERNANDEZ AVENUE,#A and B, Los Gatos 95030*** {Monte Sereno/Los Gatos area}

Great opportunity!! Two houses on one lot in the prime Glenridge area of Los Gatos. Both the larger house and the cottage would be perfect rentals. Or rent one & live in the other! The lot would also be a perfect site for new construction if you prefer. 4 days on the market. Full details here.

Listed $639,000

Open House this Saturday & Sunday {2/25 & 2/26 – 1-4pm}

{Click photo to enlarge}

***2217 Santoro LANE, San Jose 95124*** {Bordering Los Gatos}

Absolutely stunning 3 bedroom, 2.5 baths newer Townhome with 1,535 SF of living space – a fabulous floor plan in the very desirable Parkwood community by Summerhill Homes. Formal living room w/cozy fireplace. Spacious kitchen w/pinewood cabinets, granite counters, stainless steel appliances, gorgeous cherrywood floors, large bathrooms, large patio & more! Union schools – Carlton Elementary, Union Middle & Leigh High School. Near freeways 85 & 17. Walk to Los Gatos, parks & Good Samaritan Hospital. 4 days on the market! Full property details & photos here.

Listed $615,000 HOA: $215

A must see! Open House 2/25 & 2/26 1:30-4:30pm

{Click photo to enlarge}

***1151 NORMANDY DRIVE, Campbell 95008***

Gorgeous 1,723 square foot, 4 bedroom, 2 bath completely remodeled Campbell home offers tons natural light, beautiful hardwood floors in all rooms except master. Sunroom not included in the square feet. Huge country kitchen with granite counters & abundant cabinetry. Recently installed central A/C & Heat. Beautifully landscaped backyard features huge paved patio,waterfall, lawn for kids.Plus a 1 bed 1 bath guest cottage with kitchen!! Perfect in-law unit! Large lot – 9,100 sf lot size. Fenced in front yard perfect for dogs & children. Great schools & close to all major freeways, farmer’s market & downtown Campbell. 4 days on the market!

Full details & more photos here.

Listed $849,500

Open House Sunday 2/26 1-4pm

{Click photos to enlarge}

We hope you enjoy this sunny weather & your weekend!

Are you looking to buy? We can help! 408-921-3601

Mortgage loan pre-approval info here.

Xo, Melissa & Virginia

Leave a comment

Filed under Listings, Open Houses, Property Values, Uncategorized

Weekly Pinterest Favs {Easy DIY projects}

Mirrored furniture is extremely popular right now. I have had my eye on this peice to complete our living room & provide some much needed storage. Honestly though either I’m becoming a major bargain shopper or I am just getting used to Craigslist & TJ Maxx prices, because for some reason I just can’t pull the trigger. It’s also $800 for a decorative piece. Little ridiculous. Plus Babe has been dying for a new bed and would be a little annoyed if I bought that over a new bed first! OK anyways, I found this awesome and easy peasy DIY on Pinterest:

{How to make mirrored furniture}

Step 1 – Buy a thrift store dresser, desk, buffet with drawers

Step 2 – paint it in whatever color you like

Step 3 – Measure the drawer panels where the mirrors will go & have a hardware store cut the mirrors to size – Pay extra to have polished edges

Step 4 – Drill holes for the hardware & apply the mirrors to the drawers with mirror glue or liquid nails.

Step 5 – Tape mirrors on furniture to ensure they stay in place while drying. Let dry overnight & you’re done!

Now you have a chic and glamorous new piece of furniture

Check out this DIY mirrored coffee table tutorial

{Tufted ottoman DIY}

Make an ottoman out of an old coffee table or chair! Brilliant & cost effective! Instructions here

{All images from Pinterest}

{DIY Herringbone Tray}

This looks so easy! All you really need is a tray, paint, ruler and tape. She did a great job. You could do this in whatever color matches your decor. I’m tempted to do this in hot pink.. ah so cute!

Instructions here

{Photos via House & Home}

So those are my Pinterest favorites this week.. This weekend me & the man will be attempting this tufted headboard project ekksss!! I’m really scared but I think we can pull it off; I’ll keep you posted with pics & everything!

Any of you attempted making your own headboard?? Please share your tips with me, as I will need all the help I can get! Haha

Xo, Melissa

2 Comments

Filed under DIY Ideas, Home decor ideas, Uncategorized

Stenciled floors

Again, a project I would love to do..but this DIY will have to go on my massive list of “House projects I get to do when we own our house”

I have been really into lace stencils lately.. They look incredible on furniture & walls too.

{Via UnstitchedBlog}

Find the stencils in the above photo here & here – scroll down for the bottom left yellow/orange design

For a step by step process of prepping & painting/stenciling your floors go here

Chevron striped floors are a huge trend right now. Pale grey or blue would be so cute in a nursery.

{Source unknown}

Stencil Library offers various chevron, stripe & other bold stencils

{Via Pinterest}

The above yellow/orange & white pattern was made by Paisley & Wallpaper

These bold black and white stripes are to die for… If I had my way these would be in my bathroom. I’m highly obsessed with stripes.

{Via ApartmentTherapy}

Gorgeous herringbone stencil adds interest, yet isn’t overpowering.

{Source unknown}

{Via Apartment Therapy}

{Via Pinterest}

If you have stairs in your house, why not stencil them?!

{Via DesignAmour}

I love the alternating Moroccan designs. Check out their tutorial.

Do you have the guts to stencil your floor?? Stenciling is definitely more permanent than just buying a bold rug & calling it a day. What do you think?

I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Xo, Melissa

2 Comments

Filed under DIY Ideas, Home decor ideas