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Adding Organic Elements to the Home
What’s a home without a bit of texture? Incorporating a variety of materials into your space is critical in order to achieve that collected look that we all crave. Texture can be used within a home in a number of ways: It can add artful flair, make a space appear more welcoming and cozy, and simply allow a room to appear more curated. Ready to get started adding more texture to your own space? We’re here to help you do just that with a few simple tips!
Step 1: Layer, layer, layer
Don’t be afraid to mix and match textures. For example, when it comes to rugs, consider layering a woven Turkish rug from Etsy over a classic jute from Pottery Barn. On your bed, drape a woven throw blanket from Serena and Lily over your linen duvet cover. Pair a cotton lampshade with a terracotta base. The list goes on! Best of all, implementing these tactics will ensure that your space looks unique and well-designed, not as though you stopped into a furniture showroom, picked up everything in sight, and called it a day.
Step 2: Find the right accents
Accent pieces are the perfect time to have some fun with texture. Mediterranean style plant pots and vases are majorly in style right now, and their plaster material will shine in any room. You can easily grab one at Pottery Barn or CB2. Then simply fill it with fresh branches from your yard or stems of eucalyptus for a simple yet sophisticated arrangement. On your bookshelf or coffee table, add a decorative clay bowl or an onyx tray to stash trinkets and bring in new materials. Stores including West Elm, Crate and Barrel, and Anthropologie are great places to shop for these kinds of pieces, or better yet, hit the antique store and find a diamond in the rough there.
Step 3: Think about your walls
When it comes to adding texture to your home, you’ll of course want to give consideration to your walls. Wallpaper, plaster, and molding are an excellent way to add some textural zing. Maybe your style leans traditional—go ahead and install some grasscloth wallpaper in the color of your choosing. If you’re feeling a bit artistic, experiment with Venetian plaster. Or if you crave the look of a classic Parisian apartment, incorporate some picture-frame molding into your space to bring that dreamy French look stateside.
Don’t forget about wall art, either. Hang a sculptural piece or an oversized abstract canvas that will capture visitors’ attention immediately.
Keeping these three tactics in mind will allow you to transform your space with texture in no time. The good thing is that when it comes to texture, there’s really no such thing as too much of it!
Sarah Lyon is a New York City-based freelance writer, originally from Bethesda, MD. She contributes to a number of national design and lifestyle publications like Architectural Digest, Apartment Therapy, MyDomaine, the Washington Post, and more. Sarah also works with designers to help them style spaces for photo shoots. Find more shelfies on her Instagram page, @sarahlyon9
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Spring Showers Bring… Stormwater, Bayscapes, and Rain Gardens!
The inevitability of the rainy season is something that most regions are used to. In Alexandria and the rest of the DC-Metro area that rainy season comes in spring. Early spring showers prepare your landscape to thrive throughout the summer months as water percolates deep into the soil. But it’s not all roses and butterflies. The wet season can also mean it’s time to prepare your home and property for stormwater. Through your own proactive and ecologically-friendly stormwater management, you as a homeowner can protect your home from flooding, reduce harmful runoff, and make mother nature happy!
So what exactly is stormwater management? Stormwater management refers to the host of processes, techniques, and management protocols for dealing with stormwater, AKA rainwater that is running along the ground. To the public sector, this generally means big underground infrastructure designed to manage the flow of water to be least disruptive in what has become an increasingly impermeable urban environment. But on the residential side, and as a homeowner, your stormwater management generally refers to various processes that keep rainwater out of your home through a sequence of systems. Starting with your roof, stormwater runs off into gutters, before traveling through downspouts and dispersing into your yard or out to the street. This is where it enters either a body of water or public stormwater pipes. Once on the surface, grading and proper waterproofing along your home’s foundation are important to keep water moving and avoid pooling against your home where it could eventually cause flooding, mildew, and mold.
But the relationship with water does not have to be adversarial. After all, water is a most valuable resource, and in the context of your landscape, your soil’s ability to absorb water is the key factor in whether or not your lawn, trees, flowers, and shrubs survive and thrive. By introducing ecologically-friendly stormwater solutions into your landscape, you can maximize the ability of rainwater to beautify your home, enhance local populations of pollinators and birds, and enhance water quality.
While there are many solutions and variations of solutions to improve the general permeability of your soil, the most cost-effective, budget-friendly technique is conservation landscaping–often referred to as BayScaping in the Chesapeake Bay Watershed. This technique involves the deliberate planting of native plants with high ecological value in areas of your property that experience water and are sensitive to erosion, such as a sloped area. The specialty native plants used in conservation landscaping restore soil health through extensive root structures that help improve soil microbiology and, in turn, help your soil become nutrient-rich and sequester carbon from the air. The improved, more fertile soil is a welcome respite from the excavated backfill that makes up the principal soil medium for many homeowners of recently improved or built homes.
Rain gardens take BayScaping a step further and are an ideal enhancement when the soil conditions are such that water can sufficiently percolate into the soil. Rain gardens are a more labor-intensive enhancement that includes excavation and the introduction of high flow rate soil amendments, such as compost, sand, topsoil, and mulch. These amendments are mixed into a new soil medley that is well suited for developing extensive root structures and absorbing runoff water.
Photo courtesy of Neponset River Watershed Association
In order to absorb as much rain as possible, rain gardens are ideally located in a depressed area of your yard where you can direct a downspout and where the natural slope of the surrounding areas flows. It is also important that rain gardens be at least 10 feet from your foundation, and are in locations that do not otherwise have standing water, which would indicate either a high water table or low percolation rate. Rain gardens are generally designed to hold water for no more than 2 days after a rain event before drying out, which also helps to reduce mosquitoes. On one of the sides of the rain garden, we generally also create a berm and spillway to help retain water and direct its flow if the rainfall is significant. Some of our favorite installations include rain gardens that overflow into beautiful bayscapes.
As root systems and soil microbiology become established, rain gardens can become proficient in naturally treating contaminated runoff from impervious surfaces. As water flows through these areas, nutrients are absorbed and otherwise harmful chemicals are broken down. Simultaneously, butterflies, songbirds, and other beautiful pollinators are attracted to the rain garden, as a small ecological refuge. What’s not to love?!
Graphic courtesy of RiverSmart
There are many different types of native flowers and plant options to choose from when starting your rain garden or BayScape. Once your plants are in the ground, maintenance of your rain garden and BayScape is extremely important to ensure proper function. If you have a new rain garden, plants and flowers should be soaked every few days to help them establish deep root systems and create a dense bed of foliage. To ensure ideal growth, the area may also require pruning, seasonally mulching, and de-weeding of any invasive or competitive ground covers that can take over or out-compete the new native plants. Trash and other debris should also be removed. Monitoring the garden for any signs of erosion or compaction is very important to ensuring the soil medium is able to absorb water as intended. Though this may sound like a lot, it’s not. It’s just a matter of restoring and maintaining balance. Mother nature will do the rest!
If you find that you need help getting started with your rain garden or BayScape, please reach out to us. At TLC, we offer packages for rain garden and BayScape installations where we can complete an installation in a day. We also specialize in other residential stormwater enhancements such as dry-wells, rain barrels, permeable patios and driveways, and more. Please reach out to us with any questions or to learn more about what TLC can do for your landscape, and home! Visit us online at TLC Design to learn more and fill out a consultation form so we can chat or visit.
We wish you a beautiful spring!
Tactical Land Care
Tactical Land Care is net-zero to help protect our world and environment for all of us. We specialize in sustainable construction, conservation landscaping, and stormwater management solutions, including permeable hardscape and rain gardens. By working together, we can maximize the ecological benefit of your property.
Please give us a call at 703-879-7091, or email us at info@tacticallandcare.com, where someone from our TLC team will develop a plan with you to help enhance your yard or property for many years to come.
Patrick Moran, PMP, LSC, HIC, LEED | CEO Tactical Land Care
Patrick utilizes his passion for the outdoors along with his professional skills as a licensed Landscape and Home Improvement contractor in Virginia and Maryland, as well as a Project Management Professional (PMP) and LEED Green Associate. Patrick has a BA from Yale University, where he studied climate change and its impact on society.
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The Art of Adding Wall Decor to Your Home
A house isn’t a home without the presence of art. Prints, paintings, framed photographs, and more are so key to achieving a curated, welcoming space that is full of personality. Many homeowners put off installing art for quite some time—putting nail holes into one’s walls can be daunting after all. But the reward of unwinding in a beautiful, art-filled home is certainly worth some risk!
Yet even after tackling art in their main rooms—the living room, primary bedroom, and dining room, for example—homeowners are often left with additional pieces that they wish to display; it’s just unclear where these items should go. Truthfully, there are so many places where art can shine throughout the home, and below are a few of our off-the-beaten path favorites!
The bathroom: Don’t forget to jazz up both your powder room and your everyday primary bath with the addition of some art. Since bathrooms can easily be concealed by shutting the door and you don’t have to worry about choosing pieces that coordinate with specific fabrics and furnishings, this is your time to have a little fun. Think out of the box with a quirky photograph or a sassy portrait. Black and white figure drawings also look beautiful displayed in the bathroom. If you’re not feeling quite so bold and crave a loo that feels nice and spa-like, consider printing out a photo that you took on your travels or choosing an abstract piece rooted in neutrals.
Photo courtesy of Asha Maía Design
The kitchen: The kitchen is a utilitarian space, but it’s unfortunately one that you spent a whole lot of time in throughout the course of the day. And you deserve to be surrounded by aesthetically pleasing artwork as you cook! Rather than leaning into food-themed pieces, which can be a bit overdone, focus on highlighting certain colors that are already at play in this room. Look to your tile backsplash, for example, and hang pieces that complement these hues. Landscape scenes, black and white charcoal drawings, and botanical prints are also having a major moment in kitchens these days.
The home office: The concept of the at-home workspace isn’t going away any time soon! Make yours a place in which you’ll actually want to spend time by jazzing it up with prints that will provide you with inspiration and a sense of calm as you complete your day to day duties. Family photographs are fine, of course, but consider displaying these on your desktop or built-ins so that they do not overwhelm the space. Because Zoom backgrounds are still important, you’ll want to think about what your coworkers will be seeing when you log onto a video call. We suggest choosing an oversized abstract canvas or nature scene to hang behind your desk area; this is a great way to fill an empty wall while remaining office-appropriate. The walls that won’t be shown on camera can definitely have a little more personality, but you won’t want to create a setup that’s too distracting or overstimulating, given that work is your main priority in this room.
Purchasing art online is nice and simple these days, but sometimes, it’s preferable to view a piece in person before inviting it into your home. When it comes to local retailers that offer incredible art pieces, we’re proponents of looking at traditional shops as well as vintage stores. Our favorites include:
Traditional:
Anthropologie (many locations in DC, VA, and MD)
CB2 Tysons Galleria in McLean, VA
Crate & Barrel & CB2 Outlet in Alexandria, VA
Random Harvest (locations in Alexandria, VA, Washington, DC, and Bethesda, MD)
Vintage:
Christ Child Opportunity Shop in Washington, DC
Miss Pixie’s in Washington, DC
Our local partners at The Scout Guide Alexandria and The Scout Guide Hunt Country are also experts at design. For more inspiration check out their websites and social media accounts:
Ronni Logan Interiors & Collections
Sarah Lyon is a New York City-based freelance writer, originally from Bethesda, MD. She contributes to a number of national design and lifestyle publications like Architectural Digest, Apartment Therapy, MyDomaine, the Washington Post, and more. Sarah also works with designers to help them style spaces for photo shoots. Find more shelfies on her Instagram page, @sarahlyon9
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Getting to Know Grandmillennial Style
Do you know your Staffordshire dogs from your foo dogs, fall hard floral patterns, and swoon over pleated lampshades? If so, the odds are that your home decorating style leans grandmillennial.
Not familiar with this term? Grandmillennial refers to—you guessed it—millennials who are all about home accents that traditionally lean a bit older. In addition to loving all of the items mentioned above, grandmillennials can’t get enough of needlepoint pillows, chintz, and wicker everything! Grandmillennials gather their style inspiration from publications including House Beautiful, Elle Decor, and Traditional Home and are all about pattern mixing and having a little fun at home—their rooms are a stark contrast to the minimalistic, modern interior spaces that we often see in 2022.
The great news is that it’s easy to replicate grandmillennial style in any type of home and on any budget. The key is in finding pieces that are versatile, a tad playful yet still classic, and will stand the test of time. And there are plenty of places to shop locally if you’re looking to introduce some of the style’s classic touches into your own space. Below, we’re sharing a few of our favorite retailers for those in the market for all things grandmillennial. Happy shopping!
Antique Stores
Antique shops are excellent places to pursue if you’re looking for pieces with history that tell a story. They very well could have been your grandmother’s! Virginia Hunt Country is home to Domestic Aspirations and The Paradise Antiques. Keep your eyes peeled for Staffordshire dog sets, wicker trays, silver, and fine china, all of which will look lovely displayed on open shelving. DC’s Georgetown neighborhood is also an excellent antique shopping destination. Grandmillennials will enjoy scoping out the Opportunity Shop and Pillar & Post, both of which are located on Wisconsin Avenue.
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A Mano:
While in Georgetown, be sure to make a stop at A Mano, a beautiful family-owned shop that features luxurious housewares, desk accessories, and entertaining essentials. Their signature embroidered cocktail napkins with the phrase “Please leave by 9” are grandmillennial to a T.
Boxwood:
This Alexandria, VA destination is filled with homewares and also sells chalk paint (a tidbit which is worth filing away, as many grandmillennails do love their DIYs!). Because grandmillennials have a penchant for entertaining and whipping up new cocktail recipes, a chic bar cart is a must. This faux bamboo style is right on trend. Jazz it up with a charming pineapple bottle opener and a fabulous lime green serving tray, which you can easily relocate to the patio in the warmer months.
Creme de la Creme:
This Middleburg boutique is a fantastic place to browse for hostess gifts (every good grandmillennial knows that you should always bring one, even when visiting a longtime friend!), but we won’t blame you if you wish to grab a few goodies for yourself, too. A sturdy, sizable serving dish will last for ages, and grandmillennials will go gaga for this one’s blue and white pattern. A classic French market basket is great for corralling magazines or mail in the entryway, and dainty highball glasses with beautiful bees will also fit right into any grandmillennial home.
Patina Polished Living:
For larger furniture pieces, this is a must-visit locale in Alexandria. Grandmillennials will gravitate toward items like this sweet sofa (many paint companies have named green the color of the year, after all, and grandmillennials can’t resist a happy hue). Additionally, faux bamboo benches like these are so versatile and perfect for any space, large or small. Tuck one or two under an entryway console and use them as extra seating while hosting, or place one at the foot of your bed to make lacing up boots a breeze.
Sarah Lyon is a New York City-based freelance writer, originally from Bethesda, MD. She contributes to a number of national design and lifestyle publications like Architectural Digest, Apartment Therapy, MyDomaine, the Washington Post, and more. Sarah also works with designers to help them style spaces for photo shoots. Find more shelfies on her Instagram page, @sarahlyon9
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Winter Tips For Sustainable Snow Removal
It’s cold out there! Winter is here, and with it are freezing temperatures, ice, and snow! How have you managed thus far? If the first big winter storm of the season showed us anything, it’s that we cannot take winter preparedness for granted. With the risk of stronger winter storms in our area forecasted in years to come, we must all be prepared and understand best safety practices for adequately dealing with snow and ice.
Having a plan in place to clear hardscapes, whether they be roads, sidewalks, or walkways, can make all the difference. Below, we’ll share some of the eco-friendly, economically ideal, pet-friendly tips we’ve learned along the way, which we use as we provide sustainable snow removal services.
The first thing to keep in mind is that moving snow is hard work! That’s because it’s cold and heavy. The weight of snow, especially when it is compacted or wet, can quickly sneak up on an unsuspecting weekend warrior, especially one not accustomed to moving a high volume of heavy weight. Don’t get caught off guard, and plan to shovel the snow intermittently throughout the storm if we are anticipating 4+ inches. I use the term shovel loosely, because sometimes simply pushing it to the sides is the best approach. Explore tools such as “man-plows” that allow you to push the snow at an angle similar to how a plow truck works. This can enable more snow to be cleared with less effort than traditional shoveling.
Typical cues for physical exertion, like sweat, can be missed with the cold temperatures, and your heart can be forced to work overtime. So be careful, and treat it like a workout. That means hydrating, warming up your body, dressing appropriately in a hat, gloves, and good boots, taking timely and appropriate rest breaks, and maintaining good posture to minimize the risk of injury. If you aren’t usually physically active outside, snow is not the best place to start, and it’s perhaps better to recruit someone to help you before the storm hits.
If you don’t plan to push the white stuff yourself, make the calls as early as you can, BEFORE the storm hits. Whether it is with the neighborhood handyman, the eager teenager down the street, or your landscape provider, set up your agreement early! Trying to line up help after the snow has fallen means you’ll be paying a premium in dollars and time.
The next question that you will need answers for is what de-icer will be used after a storm? De-icer is a combination of chemical ‘salts’ that decrease the melting point of water, meaning water it mixes with will not freeze as it normally would. Typical de-icers vary in their melting point, which will mean some de-icers will not be effective if temperatures are below their rated melting point.
Assuming you have a good product in mind, be sure that the de-icer is applied BEFORE the storm. This is a critical point to ensure the product works properly by forming a layer of saltwater between the snowpack and the surface. This layer will ensure the snow melts faster and is less likely to develop into a slippery ice layer along with the concrete.
The alternative practice of applying de-icer atop the snowpack is a less compelling option that can result in overapplication of materials and unhealthy winter stormwater runoff storms that wreak havoc on local waterways not to mention vegetation next to those hardscape surfaces. Chemical burning is a common occurrence for which there are few solutions beyond removing affected areas and waiting for new growth in the spring.
After a snowfall, it’s also important to consider our furry, barefooted friends. We’re proud to live in a dog and cat-friendly community, making pet-friendly de-icers a must. But unfortunately, many de-icers, including rock salt, can be highly corrosive and quickly dry and crack bare skin if exposed directly. If your four-footed friend is walking on your sidewalks or walkways, make sure to use a CMA (calcium magnesium acetate) or similarly sensitive product. If you’re walking through town, plan to wash and wipe down paws with a wet washcloth as soon as you get home, as many municipalities opt for rock salt as their go-to product given its low melting point.
Another option is sand which is used as an abrasive additive for traction. However, it can counter the effect of a de-icer so remember not to mix them directly.
Now that we’ve covered the ‘what’ and the ‘how,’ we’ll look at the when. Removing snow in a reasonable time after snow has fallen will help prevent ice from forming. Be sure to clear walkways before the first melt-refreeze cycle that is almost guaranteed to occur once the sun comes out and solar rays begin to melt the snow. If you wait until after the sun sets, you’ll find that the bottom layer of snow has become ice, which if untreated, will be fused to the hardscape below. Needless to say, ice is much harder to remove.
If the risk of ice is insufficient to stir you to early action in snow removal, check your local ordinances. Most local governments require property owners to maintain private rights-of-way, including sidewalks and driveways adjacent to public roads if they are used by the postal service. Failure to do so can result in a substantial ticket and fine.
Our most recent snowstorm showed that many folks weren’t prepared. Snow shovels and de-icer were sold out, and more snow was on the ground than many people knew what to do with. If this was you, don’t let it happen again! Next time you’ll be ready, whether you are handling it yourself, or calling in reinforcements.
Patrick Moran, PMP, LSC, HIC, LEED | CEO Tactical Land Care
Patrick Moran is the founder of TLC Design Co., an Alexandra-based small business located in Old Town, Alexandria. TLC has a professional team of landscape and construction tradesmen dedicated to offering clients sustainable solutions year-round. During the winter, our snow removal teams use environmentally-friendly de-icer and work with clients to pretreat sidewalks, walkways, and driveways to help ensure that snow and ice can be removed as quickly and efficiently as possible. Please reach out to us at 703-879-7091 or via email at info@tlcdesign.co, and we will be happy to be of service to you through future snowstorms and to help you prepare your property for the Spring season ahead.
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Fall Tips for a Beautiful (and Sustainable) Outdoor Living Space (Part I)
This is the first installation of a two-part series where Patrick Moran, CEO of Tactical Land Care, has a conversation about preparing your outdoor living spaces for cooler weather.
As temperatures begin to cool, you are going to want to spend time outside in fresh air and a clean environment. The vibrant green of summer wanes and begins to transition to the rich pallet of red, orange, purple, yellow, and brown that we all have come to love with the fall season. It is during this time of year that many plants begin to show their true color, no longer masked by the green of photosynthesis. This is also the time of year when berries develop, a crucial natural food source for birds in our region. If your shrub is native, please pause and evaluate the condition of the plants and their importance as a food source before trimming or cutting off berries at various stages of growth.
At Tactical Land Care (www.tacticallandcare.com), we love the opportunity to connect our clients with their outdoors, and with it, see(d) the joy and smiles that come with a truly beautiful, natural, and sustainable outdoor living experience. We have included tips and reminders to make sure you take full advantage of the fall to make your landscape as beautiful and sustainable as possible!
Love Your Lawn
Fall is the time of year to rejuvenate and recharge your turf. Absent the harsh heat of summer, we think of the fall as the perfect time for your lawn’s spa treatment to bring moisture and nutrition back to the soil. During this time of year, the cooler temperatures are great for seed germination and root development.
Mow your grass down to 2 – 2.5 inches to avoid the risk of matting below your leaves, which can cause disease once the snow falls. But be sure to keep it full. If cutting it this low will leave bare spots, you are inviting volunteer plants (weeds).
If your grass has been struggling, conduct a soil test yourself or call a professional. It will take a few weeks to get the results, but you will be able to see if there are any nutrient deficiencies or imbalances. Responsible applications of nitrogen, potassium, and phosphorus, can be essential to help maintain homogeneous turf areas: a generally unsustainable landscape into itself. If you are committed to a tall fescue carpet, fall is also the ideal time to schedule aeration, overseeding, and dethatching of existing lawn. These steps can help maintain a rich tall fescue turf area, which can be highly effective, especially if you have a lot that has compacted soil.
A more sustainable way of maintaining your yard is to spread a light layer of topsoil or compost to the lawn area and embrace the native and naturalized plant biodiversity that include moss, dandelions and clover, or even Virginia strawberries, to name a few.
Pruning Perennials
Most perennials are near the end of their blooming cycle in the fall. If they have berries and are native or naturalized, the way Crape Myrtles are, it is good practice to leave the berries on their branches, as they end up being a crucial food source for birds come winter. Other perennials will be ready for deep cleaning and cutting back. It is important to use sharp pruners and thoroughly sanitize the shears between plants to avoid the risk of spreading and fungal diseases.
Hand-Pull Hardscapes
Maintain your hardscaped areas (paver patios, concrete, or gravel, by removing volunteer plants, such as weeds), by completely pulling them out from the root. Oftentimes we see that many of the so-called weeds growing are actually native plants that can be beautiful and ecologically beneficial if allowed to mature elsewhere in your garden, in a planter bed or clay pot. If it is invasive, yank it out and don’t look back! Google Image Search can be your friend in identifying what is growing where, and whether or not you want it.
Count your blessings (plants) and take stock!
Landscaping is unique in that there can be generally little residual value of what new homeowners inherit in their yards. If you want to move plans around or potentially propagate them, fall is the perfect time of year.
Check back soon for Part II where we will discuss leaf cleanup and the coming winter.
Tactical Land Care
Tactical Land Care is net-zero to help protect our world and environment for all of us. We specialize in sustainable construction, conservation landscaping, and stormwater management solutions, including permeable hardscape and rain gardens. By working together, we can maximize the ecological benefit of your property.
Your yard endures a twelve-month cycle and our team at Tactical Land Care stands ready to work with you on all your fall and winter maintenance needs. Please give us a call at 703-879-7091, or email us at info@tacticallandcare.com, where someone from our TLC team will develop a plan with you to help enhance your yard or property for many years to come.
Patrick Moran, PMP, LSC, HIC, LEED | CEO Tactical Land Care
Patrick utilizes his passion for the outdoors along with his professional skills as a licensed Landscape and Home Improvement contractor in Virginia and Maryland, as well as a Project Management Professional (PMP) and LEED Green Associate. Patrick has a BA from Yale University, where he studied climate change and its impact on society.
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What is Home Staging?
Staging is preparing a home for market by furnishing and decorating it specifically to attract potential buyers. Through the use of furniture and accessories, staging helps buyers envision how the space can best be used and makes the property appealing. It puts the home in its best possible light by accenting the home’s positive features and helping enhance the flow of the rooms.
Will the stager use the seller’s furniture or bring in furniture?
There are many different approaches to staging, depending on whether or not the seller has moved out of the property. In a vacant home, a stager will bring in furnishings, rugs and accessories. This is the most effective approach because the stager is working with a “clean slate” and is able to create a home atmosphere appealing to buyers with on-trend items that the stager has preselected just for that purpose.
A stager may also work in a home still occupied by the seller and use the seller’s furnishings. In this situation, the stager first goes through the home with the seller, removing and packing up as much of the seller’s belongings as possible. Off-season items, personal photographs, collections and infrequently used items are some examples of what is packed away. If there are packed items that the seller needs to use on a daily basis, the stager will ensure those items are accessible. Once the home is cleared out of excess items, the stager will rearrange furniture, rugs, window treatments and lighting to enhance the home’s atmosphere. Frequently, additional items are brought in from the stager’s inventory of furnishings to round out what is in the home and complete the staging effect.
Is the entire house staged or only certain rooms?
It depends on the size of the property and the staging budget. Standard rooms to stage are usually the living room, dining room, kitchen, family room, primary bedroom and a bathroom. The secondary bedrooms do not need to be staged unless one is to be staged as a home office. With everyone working from home in the last year, a home office is now also standard for home staging. Even if it is not a separate room, having a dedicated space for a desk and work area is an important feature.
Staging outdoor space is now popular as well. Outdoor spaces do not have to be full kitchens or outdoor wet bars as seen in luxury magazines and home television shows. Showcasing a patio off the kitchen with a table and chairs as an alternative dining area or highlighting a fire pit with Adirondack chairs in either the front or backyard as a gathering spot is appealing to buyers who value having that additional living space at their home.
How much does staging cost and what are the benefits to the seller?
Prices for staging vary widely in Northern Virginia depending on the company and services being used. On the lowest end, a staging consultation may cost several hundred dollars for a few hours of advice. For full service, a vacant home that has staging in the living room, dining room, primary bedroom and bathroom, home office, family room, and patio will cost approximately $3,500 to $5,000 for the first 30 days. Renewing for a second month will usually be slightly less.
Staging offers big benefits for the seller, including a higher sales price and fewer days on the market on average. Research shows that staged homes sell for 20% more than homes not staged, and they sell 88% faster than homes not staged. The seller must be willing to invest in the staging costs at the time of listing or be willing to pack up most of their personal belongings to realize these benefits.
What is virtual staging?
A budget-friendly alternative to in-home staging is virtual staging. Virtual staging is photographically staging a home for online viewing by potential buyers. To create the virtually staged home, the property is photographed empty without furnishings. After the photos are uploaded, furniture and staging items are virtually added to the photos. The property will remain empty for actual buyer tours, but the online virtual staging will help potential buyers envision a fully furnished space.
Kathy Hassett is a Realtor with McEnearney Associates and a partner with the MPH Home Team in Alexandria, VA. Kathy has lived in Alexandria for over 25 years and started her journey in real estate as a settlement attorney in 1993. With her in-depth knowledge of the local area and her real estate know-how she serves as a strong advocate for her clients’ best interests. She provides her clients with experience-based strategies to help them navigate real estate transactions, reduce their risk, and save time and money. She would love the opportunity to work with you. Contact her today at 703-863-1546.
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10 DIY Projects You Can Finish in a Weekend
As the school year ends and daylight lingers longer, it is a perfect time to get things done around the house. Here are 10 easy projects….
1. Bring the outdoors in and freshen up your space with hanging planters.
Whether you go for live or fake plants, adding a little green always helps wash away the blues.
2. Update your photos.
You’ve already made that fabulous wall collage, but when was the last time you updated the photos in the frames? Go through the photos on your phone and have them shipped to your home with just a few clicks.
3. Swap out the knobs on cabinets and drawers.
It’s amazing how new hardware can completely transform a space. Choose a new classic pull, such as brushed nickel or satin brass, or express your personality with something more unique, like these knobs from World Market.
Photo courtesy of ScandinavianWorkshop
4. Paint an accent wall.
Nervous about committing to a paint color? Choose a small wall to paint instead, and it’ll bring new life to the entire space. An accent wall can be used to anchor a room and become a new focal point. Or, if you’re unwilling to paint, try one of these removable wallpapers. If you have any leftover, update the backing of a bookshelf between the shelves — or even the front of drawers.
5. Freshen up baseboards/trim.
Not the most exciting job around, but grab a cloth and dust those baseboards that usually don’t get a second glance. Follow up the dusting with a new coat of fresh white paint, and you’ll quickly brighten up any room. A great go-to color is Benjamin Moore Decorator’s White.
Photo courtesy of StickPretty
6. Peel and stick tile for backsplash or countertops.
If you’re in a rental or don’t want to take on an entire kitchen renovation, consider this contact paper that is both affordable and removable, so when your lease is up or your mood changes, you can easily take it off.
7. Update your bathroom tile.
Similarly, you can update bathroom tile with these great decals that are cheap and impactful.
8. Try a new furniture layout.
Without spending a cent, consider rearranging the furniture in your den or bedroom. Reposition your couch, bed, and television to give you a fresh new view.
9. Build a window planter box.
Small on cost but big on impact, bring some color to the exterior of your home and enhance that curb appeal with a flower planter.
Whether you go for live or fake plants, adding a little green always helps wash away the blues.
10. Replace lightbulbs and clean your lamps (and curtains).
More natural light. That’s something every space could always use. Take some time to clean your curtains, change out old, dull lightbulbs for fresh LED ones, and dust those lampshades.
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Pest & Plant, The Art of Attraction
Author: Matthew Zuccari, TLC Design
As we begin to shake off what will hopefully be the last of a wet, snowy season, days are becoming longer and warmer, the buds are breaking on trees, and blooms are unfolding from their winter retreats. Along with all these beautiful natural forerunners of spring come some not-so-welcome changes as well – especially the return of awakening home and garden pests. Just as we humans become more active and energized during these sunny days of early spring, all types of ants, aphids, mosquitos, and other bugs are as well. Being less welcome than most other guests in the house, homeowners will often select the most effective, readily available solution to get rid of their pest problems; usually this includes harmful chemical compounds that require careful contained use to avoid a laundry list of dangerous adverse effects.
However, for those of us who enjoy spending time in our property’s greenspaces, solutions for spring pests may be as simple as some inspired planting options. There are many plants that can be incorporated into the landscape that offer pest-repellent properties. Most pesticides on the market will feature plant-based oils or chemicals in their extensive ingredient lists, therefore, it makes sense to utilize these benefits directly from the source. However, most homeowners do not have an extensive enough pest problem to dedicate their whole garden solely to plants with repellent properties. It is my suggestion that homeowners looking to add pest-repellant plant material to their property make their selections based on one of the following two properties: Would they like plants to be culinary or cosmetic?
Some of the plants best at repelling pests from your property are equally at home in the pantry as they are in the garden. For seasoning lamb, I recommend a few sprigs of rosemary as a garnish. For repelling snails, slugs, rats, cockroaches, and mosquitos, I recommend planting this fragrant herb near your entryway. The smell of garlic and onions caramelizing is enough to attract many to the kitchen, but a row of either planted in the garden will help deter root maggots, beetles, cabbage loopers, rats, and rascally rabbits from your other vegetables. It is only appropriate that basil and oregano, two of the most dynamic, widely-used spices, are also able to repel one of the longest lists of pests: flies, fleas, beetles, aphids, asparagus and cucumber beetles, cabbage butterflies, mosquitos, and more.
It is quite convenient for we humans that many of the oils that make these plants palatable for our diet as vegetables, herbs, or spices, are as repulsive to pests as they are enticing to us. There are many other plants familiar to most entry-level cooks with oils that help repel pests in the home and garden: chive, chamomile, dill, fennel, lettuce, parsley, peppermint, radish, sage, thyme, tomato, and even tobacco, to name a few. However, don’t expect a sparsely planted spearmint plant to fight off the entire spring rush of critters into your home. Dense plantings thick with multiple plant selections from above are best suited to help repel the longest lists of pests year-round. Much like a recipe, the ingredients of a garden are best served rich and blended.
The second, more obvious, quality by which you could select your pest-repellent plants is cosmetics. As the old argument goes, there’s no reason to sacrifice form at the cost of function, especially in one’s curb appeal. Luckily, many of the plants best known for repelling insects, rodents, and other pests, are both repulsive to them and attractive to us; there’s a wide palette of shapes, colors, and styles to help build a landscape that is selective in its invitation.
With their rich clusters of red to orange to yellow blooms, marigolds have been a classic choice for gardeners looking for sun-loving summer annuals. Though there is little scientific evidence to support claims, marigolds have been touted for generations as having pest-repellent properties. Old green thumbs will swear that marigolds will help repel ants, beetles, nematodes, rabbits, and a long list of other critters from your garden; often, they will recommend filling spaces in your vegetable garden with marigolds to help melons, cucumbers, basil, broccoli, and tomatoes grow well.
Soon, planter beds, garden centers, and any space with a fistful of soil will be filled with rich arrangements of geraniums and petunias to mark the arrival of spring and summer. With a rainbow range of colors, shapes, and sizes, it is easy for homes and businesses to incorporate these annuals into alluring displays. While the flowers help attract guests, customers, and neighbors, they will also help repel aphids, beetles, hornworms, and earworms. Geraniums and petunias are often planted alongside corn, cabbage, grapes, and roses to help in their development.
Arguably the most beautiful of pest-repelling flowers for the garden is the chrysanthemum. A staple of both eastern and western gardens for centuries, these elegant blooms add their signature flare to flower beds, pumpkin patches, Amish markets, corsages, Japanese-styled tattoos, and any place in need of lush radiance. While being full of joy and optimism, mums are also full of pyrethrin – a compound that repels fleas, ants, ticks, beetles, and more. In addition to those above, there are enough flowers out there to build a beautiful bouquet of pest-resistance. Some other pretty pest-fighters include dahlias, four-o-clocks, nasturtiums, borage, catmint, and daffodils, just to name a few.
In summary, whether they are for cooking or contemplating, pest-repellant plants can bring other great benefits to your property. The fantastic oils in these plants that help repel unwanted critters are also able to create amazing culinary palettes and enticing aromas. Just as one builds a recipe or a bouquet, these plants are enriched through cohesion; adding together pest-repellant plantings of various flowers, grasses, and shrubs creates a vibrant, living tapestry of form and function to be enjoyed and admired for years. When selecting a landscape professional to help with your next pest-repellant planting, ensure you find a passionate individual who understands and respects the beauty in ecological cohesion.
PS: On the note of pests, for any local gardener concerned about the arrival of the infamous BroodX of cicadas, biblical examples of smoke and fire as repellants may prove excessive. Though their noisy presence is dreaded by humans, most of your plants are ready for it. Cicadas are usually only able to finish off plants already struggling, so don’t worry about them wiping out your property à la Old Testament. However, many of us are still inclined to protect those new pansies and geraniums. To give your plants an extra layer of protection all summer, I recommend picking up some neem oil concentrate from your local garden and following the instruction label guidelines for mixing with water so you have a ready supply through the season. A gardener’s best friend, neem’s pest-repellent properties have been valued by humans for centuries.
Tactical Land Care
Tactical Land Care is net-zero to help protect our world and environment for all of us. We specialize in sustainable construction, conservation landscaping, and stormwater management solutions, including permeable hardscape and rain gardens. By working together, we can maximize the ecological benefit of your property.
Your yard endures a twelve-month cycle and our team at Tactical Land Care stands ready to work with you on all your fall and winter maintenance needs. Please give us a call at 703-879-7091, or email us at info@tacticallandcare.com, where someone from our TLC team will develop a plan with you to help enhance your yard or property for many years to come.
Patrick Moran, PMP, LSC, HIC, LEED | CEO Tactical Land Care
Patrick utilizes his passion for the outdoors along with his professional skills as a licensed Landscape and Home Improvement contractor in Virginia and Maryland, as well as a Project Management Professional (PMP) and LEED Green Associate. Patrick has a BA from Yale University, where he studied climate change and its impact on society.
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Simplify Spring Cleaning: The Marie Kondo Craze
After a year of spending more time at home – working, learning, cooking, eating, and entertaining ourselves – this spring may be the perfect time to revisit one of our favorite posts. Read on for more inspiration…
Rather than feeling suffocated amongst the heaps of materials we tend to possess these days, why not make things simpler? At the age of 30, Marie Kondo has become a sensation in the eyes of millions of people who look to her when tidying up their homes. Her best-selling book, The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing also inspired a Netflix series, and she has launched a lifestyle brand, KonMari.
In each episode of her series, Marie Kondo teaches her method by entering people’s homes to help them achieve that homey and stress-free secure feeling that promotes a positive life change. When holding the item, if it does not spark joy, then thank it for its time and set it free.
She recommends 6 basic rules of tidying:
- Commit yourself to tidying up.
- Imagine your ideal lifestyle.
- Finish discarding first.
- Tidy by category, not by location.
- Follow the right order.
- Ask yourself if it sparks joy.
Marie tells her viewers that you must thank the home for all that it has done for you. Center yourself and really connect with the bones of the house to feel all the joy, safety, and excitement it has given you. Once you do that, you may then get started.
You must put all of their clothes into one pile in the center of the room. Start from the top and hold each article of clothing individually to see if it sparks joy. If the article of clothing does indeed bring you fond memories, or makes you feel unstoppable when wearing it, then you put it in the keep pile. If it does not then thank it for it’s time and remove it from your life.
You then do this with every room in the house with all the items each room has to offer. If it does not spark joy or bring you sentimental value, then it too must go.
Two most useful strategies to keep in mind when tidying up:
1. Problem: For most, when you put your clothes away you end up wearing the first few things on top in your drawer so you end up forgetting about the rest.
Solution: Marie informs her audience how to correctly fold your clothes so that when you open your drawer, you see all of your clothes instead of just the one on top.
2. Problem: Not being able to tell what items you have even stored, and where they are.
Solution: Boxes are key! Boxes help you store your items in an organized manner. You can put boxes in drawers as well as use bigger clear bins for storage. Clear bins are recommended so that you are able to see everything you have in that bin. This helps so that you do not buy the same thing twice.
The whole experience is meant to feel cleansing while reminding you of the objects you might of forgotten about and cherish. If you don’t believe me, below are two reviews from real people who followed Marie’s philosophy. Here is what they are saying about the trend:
“My house is now exceptionally tidier and logically organised making me feel more confident, happy and focused. Even whilst in work I’m finding myself more productive as I’m clearing my workspace, carrying less items and feeling focused. I get things done more quickly, after all there are less items to clean, my house fees brighter and practical.” – Jo
“Her advice may sound silly at first, but if your belongings inspire feelings of unhappiness, guilt, etc., her anthropomorphism of them can really help you change your viewpoint in a positive direction. I finished up with three bags for Goodwill and one for the garbage man. My drawers and closet, which were never very messy, are now exactly as I want them, and I feel fantastic!” – Eb
Both reviews are courtesy of Amazon
Feeling motivated yet? If so, you can go to Amazon or Marie Kondo’s personal webpage where you can purchase her book, as well as connect to her Netflix series for more information. Join the movement and change your life for the better starting today! Happy decluttering!
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