Okay, I know summer is barely over but I’m already on to the next season and, well, we all know what that means. It means the holidays are just around the corner. If you pay any mind to holiday planning in September you’re considered nuts, by October you’re proactive, and by November you’re way behind. For those of us who take the holiday season quite seriously we are already giving thought to the parties we’ll host, the meals we’ll make, and the gifts we’ll buy; in addition to the gifts we’d like to receive.

My family, for as long as I can remember, has always done a holiday wish list. We each write five things on a list (we have to keep control somehow and five seemed like a reasonable number) that we would want for the holidays. That way, should anyone ask for gift ideas – or if we’re stuck for gift ideas for each other – we have something to which to refer.

This past year, we just moved into a new home and so I’ve been busy decorating it; it’s been a slow process for sure as I hunt out those things that I really love and want to see every day. So as a part of my holiday wish list I’ll be including those things that I would really love for our new house – starting with clocks.

Let it be said, that I love clocks of all kinds- wall clocks, mantel clocks, grandfather clocks – you name it. But they are not something that I have been driven to go out and buy myself. So – armed with some general direction regarding my overall style and choice of clock – I will be alerting my family and friends that, this holiday season, the perfect gift for me is a clock that I will love and look at every day.

For most of us, the only consideration we have to give to home décor is to our one primary residence. For others, however, who have a vacation home, a second property, or even a boat in their life, decorating takes on a whole new meaning. When you consider how expensive it can be to decorate one home, you can only imagine the cost of decorating multiple properties.

In order to make the process go smoother, many homeowners will simply buy multiples of pieces that they love. This may mean the purchase of a particular piece of furniture that works well in their primary residence and is sure to work just as well in a separate property, the use of a particular paint color, and even the use of accessories within the same family.

Those who love clocks, for example, may be inclined to purchase several clock pieces when doing their shopping – a mantel clock or grandfather clock for their primary residence and a matching mantel clock and a wall clock (a design that is made to resemble the grandfather clock but in much scaled down version) for their additional property.

Just because you are decorating a home that you don’t live in full time does not mean that you shouldn’t work to make it just as homey and appealing as your primary residence. After all, this is a home that you, your family, and even your friends may spend quite a bit of time in – a place at the beach where you can spend summers, a place in the mountains where you can ski in the winter, or a boat docked a nearby marina where you can jump aboard and hit the open water. Whatever purpose it serves, this property is yours and should be decorated accordingly.

In the last post we discussed the many ways in which homeowners get trapped by changing design trends and how it is very easy to simply go along for the ride in terms of what is popular in design rather than staying true to your own personal preferences. When we do what’s popular instead of what right for us we run the risk of two things: paying a lot of money for design choices that are likely to be considered out of style in a few short years (if that long) and creating a home that is completely out of touch with who we are as people.

Instead, it is important for homeowners to embrace their own personal style and infuse their home with those things that most appeal to them. To that end, it may help to think of conventional items in unconventional ways. Clocks, for instance, are normally used in very traditional manners; mantel clocks are placed on mantels, wall clocks are hung on walls in more formal rooms, and grandfather clocks are reserved for those rooms that are typically the most formal of all in the home.

Instead, try using clocks in a different way to achieve a much more interesting look. For instance, instead of simply placing mantel clocks on a mantel, try using them as design accessories on bookshelves; mix and match several different style mantel clocks and place one on each shelf in a library; add a mantel clock in a country style to a baker’s rack in a kitchen or on a buffet in a dining room.

When it comes to wall clocks and grandfather clocks (or grandmother clocks) don’t think that you have to choose formal pieces to make an impact. Do something different and place both in less formal rooms in a home. Hang a less formal wall clock in a kitchen, or in a family room; move a grandfather clock into a dining room or even in a large eat-in kitchen.

The point is, no matter how you use clocks and other accessories, you should be sure to do what feels good to you rather than what you think is popular. Follow your gut and you can’t go wrong!

Have you ever noticed that the homes that are really something special in terms of design are those homes that are a bit “different?” That don’t have the traditional set-up or the traditional design choices? After all, for most of us who grew up in one area we could pretty much tell you what each and every home on the block would look like on the inside based on exterior layout and the trend that was popular at the moment. Formal living room flanking the entranceway – decorated with staid furniture that looks as though it has never actually had someone sitting on it and a host of neutral colors and accessories; kitchen to the back of the house – featuring cabinets in darker colored woods and laminate countertops; family room off of the kitchen – perhaps featuring a fireplace and outfitted with pieces you might expect on a mantelpiece including candles and a mantel clock.

As homeowners, many of us fall into a routine regarding the way in which we decorate our homes. We see the trends – on television, in books, and magazines, and played out in the homes of our friends and neighbors – and we follow suit; not really giving much credence to what is most important to us in terms of our own personal style and, most importantly, what best reflects our own personality. A home that is decorated to suit the style that is popular rather than the style that is in line with the personality of the homeowner will inevitably fall short in terms of design goals.

Instead of going with the standards, think in a more unconventional way. Even the most traditional of pieces can take on a whole new life if they are used in an unexpected manner. Remember that mantel clock? Why put it on the mantel when there are so many other places that would be just as attractive and infinitely more interesting?

In the next post, we’ll talk about some of the ways in which to use clocks and other pieces in unconventional ways.

As homeowners we all look for ways to maximize our design dollar. While we may have an idea of what we would want (derived from high-end design magazines and television shows) we are under no illusion that we can achieve that look, under most circumstances, without spending thousands of dollars to make it happen. The successful do-it-yourself designer that is able to achieve their design goals without breaking the bank does so with the use of creativity – looking for objects that only look rich but are affordable for the average home designer.

With the use of faux paint finishes we can create a look on our walls that may look as though we spent thousands to have a professional create it; our linens can be high-end but purchased from a discount retailer (it pays off to keep an eye towards those sales); and furniture is crafted in such a way that it may look like it is custom made but was really picked up for a song from a furniture store chain.

Accessories are really where the luxury look for less can really pay off, however. Clocks, for instance, are among those pieces that can look amazing but won’t put a home designer over budget to place in their home. Through online clock suppliers, consumers can find high quality clocks of all kinds – mantel clocks, wall clocks, atomic clocks, even grandfather and grandmother clocks – at great prices. And because the most renowned clock manufacturers are invested in providing their customers with high end designs and quality materials at low prices, homeowners can really punch up their design efforts without having to spend a fortune.

Decorating a home is no small task; a lot of compromises must be made between those who live in the home; and ultimately a well decorated home makes use of an interesting color palette, comfortable yet sophisticated furnishings, and pieces that the homeowner truly loves. These specially chosen pieces will offer guests to the home a window into the personality of the homeowner and will work to give the home that truly loved and lived in feel.

If you can’t think of anything that you truly love and want to display then consider the purchase of a special clock to round out your decorating style. Contemporary clock designers have offered a variety of choices to consumers in terms of clock styles, sizes, and prices. You are just as likely to find a contemporary wall clock as you are to find a traditional grandfather clock through the online clock supplier websites available today.

Once you find the clock that you truly love, give it a home where you will enjoy looking at it every day. Consider:

* Place a wall clock that you love in a sunroom where you have your morning coffee and read the paper. Its gentle tick-tock will wake you up in a pleasant manner and allow you to start your day off the right way.

* Place a traditional grandfather clock – reminiscent perhaps of the grandfather clock your parents used to have in their home – in a study where you do your office work or reading. There is nothing better than looking up now and again to see something you truly love.

* Put a mantel clock that you love on a bedroom shelf or dresser. Just because it’s a mantel clock does not necessarily mean it has to sit on a fireplace mantel. You have sole discretion to determine where to place the clocks you love.

In the last post we discussed the practice of “staging” for those who are currently selling – or preparing to sell – their home. Staging essentially refers to the readying of the home to make it more attractive to potential buyers and speed up the process of selling the property at the desirable price.

In most cases, staging combines the use of color palettes, furniture placement, and other proven design tricks to welcome potential buyers to the home in such a way that they can easily envision their own family living happily in the space. And so sellers have been known to paint walls, change out fabrics, buy or rearrange furniture, clear the space of personal items, and utilize accessories that impart quality and sophistication. To this end, clocks often lend themselves quite well to the comprehensive staging of a home. Some of the ways in which clocks can be used most appropriately include:

• Mantel clocks above a fireplace. If you have a fireplace in your home this is huge selling feature for any potential buyer and so it is important to showcase this area of the home. The fireplace mantel should be given much thought in terms of design as the eye is drawn to this area and it will essentially promote the fireplace. Mantel clocks – which come in a variety of styles; everything from traditional to contemporary – can help make the best use of space and really showcase a fireplace in the best possible light.

• Wall clocks in a family room or living room. Wall clocks are the perfect accessory on any wall and a great alternative to traditional art pieces. This is a wonderful way to accent a room; and the gentle tick-tock of the clock is often familiar and comfortable to those taking a tour of your home.

• Grandfather clocks in a study or library. There is nothing grander than a grandfather clock which makes it the perfect accessory in nearly any room in the home; plus it easily acts as a centerpiece of a room and can make a large statement.

Staging with clocks can help really make your home a warm and inviting place. But best of all, when your home does sell (quickly, we hope!) you can take your clocks along with you to your new home.

The real estate market is certainly not what it used to be; of that we can all be certain. But regardless of the economy, homeowners still find themselves in a position where they have to sell their home. Moving out of a home is stressful enough but you have to sell it first; and that can be the most stressful part of all – especially when you need to move the property quickly.

Selling a home is a tricky thing, as much because there are so many variables that affect a person’s decision to buy. The look of a home, the first impression it makes, the color schemes that are used throughout the design – these are all elements that affect a potential homebuyer’s sense of a property. While we are taught to look beyond the current décor and imagine our own belongings in the home most of us find that this is easier to do if the home we are looking at is neutral and in keeping with our own taste.

Staging is a term that refers to the readying of a property for potential sale. A series of steps are taken in order to make the home for sale an empty palette onto which potential buyers can imagine infusing their own personality. Clutter is removed, personal objects are put away, walls are painted, and the rooms are staged to look inviting – almost as if they are a model home. Some of the more commonly used items that home sellers use in the staging process include:

* Paint. This is a big one as it is important to make the home as neutral as possible.

* Furniture. Consider that the shabbiness of furniture can have a negative impact on the overall aesthetics of the home; upgrade and freshen where you can.

* Accessories. While clutter is a no-no, well chosen pieces used to stage a home can have vast visual appeal. Clocks for instance – mantel clocks, wall clocks, and even grandfather clocks – can make any room in the home appear welcoming while still giving it a finished, sophisticated look.

In the next post we’ll further discuss the ways in which clocks can transform a home for the better when home sellers chose to stage their property.

Going away to college soon? This is a truly exciting time in any young person’s life; a time when we can strike out on our own and make our way in the world. This first year in college is the most fun as we explore the options and opportunities available to us and begin to make our own decisions. The first decisions, however, are those that involve the choosing of things to take with us to school.

Living in a dormitory the first year of college requires that we outfit our rooms to be most comfortable for us. This time of year you will see soon-to-be college students out shopping for their bed sheets and comforters, their bath accessories, and all the little extras that will make their dormitory “house” more of a home in which they are comfortable.

Clocks, are just one of the pieces that we can use to spruce up our dormitory and make it something that is more familiar to us. A well chosen mantel clock – while usually a staple over a fireplace – can look interesting on a shelf above a desk; fun and different atomic clocks may be the perfect things to sit on our nightstands; and even a wall clock (forget traditional and think fun and unique) can hang on a college dormitory wall. After all, this is the first time for many of us that we have to organize and follow our own schedules; making sure we always know what time it is – in style – can help keep us on track and make our dorm rooms something interesting and fun.

This is the time of year when many young people are heading off to college – leaving home for the first time and likely (in reality) not to return except for short bursts of visitation. What is any self-respecting parent supposed to do in this situation? Besides cry and bemoan the fact that their baby is leaving home? Redecorate their room of course!!

Rooms that have housed teenagers in most recent years will need some sprucing up to be sure. But many parents, faced with an opportunity to gain more space in their home, will set to work making their college bound child’s room something they can utilize – like an office.

Office space has become something that is used quite often in a home. With so many people working from home in order for companies to reduce overhead – or just working from home in their own business – it helps to have a dedicated office space where they can work in quiet and not disrupt anything else that is going on in the home. The door can be closed and work can be accomplished; whereas sitting in the living room trying to work is often far less effective.

Decorating a home office should include the use of office furniture that serves your purposes while still complementing the overall décor of the home. Additional pieces such as clocks can make an office something special – a finished room that has been decorated with thought and attention to detail. To this end, wall clocks can be hung over a desk area, a mantel clock can be placed on a desk, and even a grandfather clock can be placed in the corner. The creative use of clocks helps to make a home office not just a place to work but also an extension of the home.