I like using 'interiors on line' (all one word). Look out for specials, some times the freight is free on some items. Zanui is another one. I also find the independent furniture stores have really lovely furniture and very good service. I have been looking at Max Sparrow site but it is a bit expensive for me but the stuff is beautiful. Temple and Webster is another site I have used but their delivery is slow but you do get the products. Now I understand their process I feel safe using them. I live in a regional area.

Hi All, thank you very much for your comments and feedback regarding this blog. We have had the privilege of seeing the inside of a large number of homes when providing owners with a property styling quote. It has been interesting to see how many people actually seem to live with their curtains/blinds shut most of the time. Therefore what may seem obvious to some that opening up curtains or blinds makes your home feel more warm and inviting, may not be that obvious to others. Olldroo, your question is definitely valid, where does all the mess go?? A few decluttering tips we provide our clients when getting their homes ready for sale: - This is the perfect time to throw out the old, broken, unused items and start getting ready for when you move to your new place. Make use of your fee council clean-ups in your area and make sure you book these in early! - My rule of thumb, if it hasn't been used or worn in the last two years, throw it out or give it away. Most suburbs have charity bins or a Salvation army and your good quality much loved items will be of better use in another home instead of being shoved in a cupboard or corner. - Use your garage. Most buyers understand that the garage is used for cars or storage. Therefore use this space to temporarily store much needed every day living items such as children's toys, prams, baby cots during the open home. Once the open home is over, you can then bring these back into the home until your next open home. Just be sure not to over stock the garage. A buyer should still be able to get a sense of how large the space is so that they can determine if it will meet their own storage needs. - The value of your property can instantly be increased merely by decluttering. It may well be worth renting a temporary self storage unit in your area to store away unneeded furniture and items during the marketing campaign. Most of these are not too expensive and for a couple of hundred dollars investment, you are sure to get much more than double that back when selling your home. - Invest in plastic containers or storage boxes that can easily be stored and hidden under your bed. This is perfect for those extra toys and clothes that needs to go somewhere! - Finally, I love the practical article on IKEA's website with some fantastic storage solutions -> http://www.ikea.com/au/en/ideas/201812_idli02a/ Happy decluttering :-)

Hi Kerry, I love the look of your home. Very warm and inviting, snug but roomy. In the living/dining anyway. The other space is a very wide passage is it not! Let me check I have this right: You use the entry at the back of the carport between the living room & bedroom which comes into the room in question. The kitchen is entered off the living room and opens onto the 'passage' room. Opposite that are stairs with the door opening into this room and bathroom which the kids in 2 bedrooms use. SO: how to fix a room that is handy but not quite wide enough to be more than the passage way.... Small uses and small furniture I think is the answer: If you use the large square dining table don't bother with another. If you want another space to sit have just one or two chairs. If you need some of it for study area pop a desk in front of windows at far end near kitchen: it maybe a tad quieter there? I would avoid a TV in there as it is not large enough. If the kids have play-station etc that may work there. Create traffic ways with the furniture: all f't to the right as you walk in (As long as entry door is on the left) but then you need to leave space to move across the room to bath and stairs so another off road! Traffic lights maybe needed if all else fails! If some day down the track you were thinking of renovating the kitchen, would you plan servery and access onto the dining/living room and close off the 'passage' room? That would at least give you one corner for more serious furniture! Hope that helps you and if not we can look further.... Cheers Margot

Tips for a perfect cleaning after a move A move can be a very exciting experience, as it almost always brings with it many illusions. However, everything that it entails can end up turning into a real hell. And not only because we have to pack everything, transport it and put it back in our new home, but also because we have to do the cleaning after the move so that everything is perfect and we can fully enjoy our new home. But do we really know everything there is to clean? Many people are not aware of it until they have to do it. Therefore, today we bring you some tips to make a perfect cleaning after a move. Information 1 Room, kitchen, and bathroom 2 Furniture and appliances 3 Doors, handles, and switches 4 Decorative objects Rooms, kitchen, and bathroom Before placing all the furniture and unpacking the boxes, we recommend that you clean all the rooms in the house when they are empty since it will be more complicated later. Floors: Floors collect a lot of dust, regardless of whether it is a new house or if it has been previously occupied. Therefore, pass the vacuum cleaner and the mop. Ceiling: Although it may not seem like it, the ceiling also accumulates dust and all kinds of dirt. Therefore, it is time to climb a ladder to give it a good review. Walls: If the house is freshly painted, you will not have to clean the walls. Otherwise, they have probably been collecting a lot of dust. Wipe with a damp cloth to make them shiny. Furniture and appliances We should clean furniture and appliances before we move in so that when they get to the new house we've worked so hard to make perfect, they don't dust it all over again. However, it is not worth doing if they are going to be stored somewhere else for a while. Here, it is best to do it later. Doors, handles, and switches They are also elements that we must clean before moving into a house. Like the walls, the doors also accumulate a lot of dust or marks from day-to-day use. But we must not forget about switches and doorknobs either. Think that if the house has been inhabited, the former tenants will have touched them many times and that they are one of the elements that accumulate the most bacteria, so they need a good cleaning. Decorative objects In all homes, there are lots of objects that we accumulate over the years. Take the opportunity to throw away what you do not use or that you no longer want. It is better to pack these types of objects cleanly to prevent them from dirtying everything when we place them. Although you also have the option to do it later if you prefer. As you can see, cleaning after a move is not easy at all, so if you think it's too much work for you and you don't have time, you can always hire adomestic cleaning service company that will take care ofprofessional deep cleaning, quickly. Everything is clean when it is time to move and you can do it more quickly.