Launched in 2005, WellesleyWeston Magazine is a quarterly publication tailored to Wellesley and Weston residents and edited to enrich the experience of living in two of Massachusetts' most desirable communities.
Issue link: https://wellesleywestonmagazine.epubxp.com/i/92498
10 tipsfor… ( SPR UCING UP Y OUR HOME FOR THE HOLID A Y S ) Winter's short days leave plenty of long nights for holiday entertaining. Before welcom- ing far away family and friends, try some of these top tips to give your home a fresh face. one two Focus on the front. The entryway is the first—and last—part of your home that guests will see. Give the front door a good scrubbing or even a fresh coat of paint. Add a bright new doormat or bold little area rug just inside the door for a pop of cheeriness. Light it up. Shorter days and slippery walkways make exterior lighting all the more important. Lights warm and welcome guests arriving out of the winter gloom. Inside, candles provide flattering, cozy light and a crackling fire warms more than just snow-bitten hands. Treat your fireplace to a brand new screen, a new style of tools, or a fresh log holder. three four Free the clutter. Before cracking open that freshly painted front door, walk through the house and repeat interior designer Mollie Johnson's mantra: "Let spaces have some breath- ing room." Put away piles of clutter, even if it's only into a "sort later" box, and swap yesterday's tangled cords for updated wireless holiday decorations and lights. Clean it up. Look over high-traffic areas for signs of wear and tear. Touch up painted finishes, clean the fingerprints off the walls and the switch plates, and rent a steam cleaner to bring dingy sofas and carpets back to life. Don't forget the guest room. Change the sheets; add a little basket for guests of often forgotten items (toothpaste and toothbrush, hairbrush, tissues, and the like) and a vase of flowers. five Make small changes for big impact. Judy O'Neil Labins of Shafer O'Neil Interior Design says to go for maximum impact in minimum space by painting or papering the guest bathroom. Replace the knobs on kitchen cabinets or update the faucet style to refresh the room. Switch artwork around or create a gallery of portraits with matching or complimentary new frames. "Finally," says Labins, "if you have pets, buy them new collars. They will love you for it." six Mix materials. Combine natural materials like moss or pine cones with slick metal or glass for visual and tactile contrast. Put out a bowl of glass ornaments for sparkle. Mix and match silver, glass, and wood candlesticks to create an interesting landscape. seven 28 Be bold with color. Find ways to pop strong colors throughout the house, inside and out, to provide a festive and fresh look for the WellesleyWeston Magazine | winter 2012/2013 COURTESY OF A BLADE OF GRASS