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Visit "The Man
Cave" - August 7th & 8th
Visit Sue
Hunter, owner of “It’s a Guys Home for a Change”, at the first ever “Guy Expo” at the St. Paul RiverCentre, August 7th and 8th.
Everything for all of you
guys ... Electronics.. Gadgets.. Sports Personalities... Tickets...
Contests... and of course BEER! There will be a 1500 square foot “man cave” completely decked out for you
guys... I will be there to answer questions and of course, educate you on how I can
help you with your Man Cave without doing any shopping!
Sue is Featured in The StarTribune
The Star
Tribune did a before and after on my backyard make over, on a budget, July 1st Variety section, before and
after. See it online for more outdoor tips. (Click
Here for Link)
Home for a Change is here to assist you in designing that special summer
place... as always... on a budget.
The first step in creating an outdoor room is to install a structure. The last few years we have seen several 10 X 10 ‘ gazebos, all at fantastic prices. Once you locate the perfect spot in your yard, put up your gazebo and start the decorating!
Start
with some great ideas!
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Now is the time to buy some more flowers to add to your garden,
there are many places offering great discounts so you can “spruce up” and start planting some additional
perennials.
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Start with a color scheme. I like using neutrals (such as black and white or tan and white). This allows you to change your accent colors easily and inexpensively.
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Some of the great furniture out there need not be expensive. It is quite possible you have a
daybed or sofa in your home that could be placed outside for the summer.
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Add a pair of
Rattan chairs and you have your basic furniture grouping. Try some neutral chairs and
spray paint them black, French blue, caramel or apple green.
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A large garden pot with a round glass on top makes a perfect table. I also pull things from
inside or find an old table at a garage sale and paint it a fun color!
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A rug will ground your furniture arrangement and make the space really feel like a room.
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Lighting is important to create a “dreamy” ambiance! There are many outdoor light fixtures
available today. Hang a chandelier ...put a pretty lamp on an end table...hang “twinkle”
Lights.
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Add a lot of comfortable pillows which is a great way to add your accent colors and also, a
great spot for reading, napping, lounging dreaming.
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Buy some inexpensive fabric or drapery panels in a crisp white or stripe. Hang them on the
back wall of your room or use them to create a “grand” and romantic entrance.
Your garden and surrounding areas:
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Try a unique and different flower color scheme. I like hot pink with orange and whites.
This is whimsical, fresh and adds an abundance of color in a very unique way.
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For a classic garden, use just 2 colors like red and white or yellows, reds and whites. I
feel too much color near your outdoor room takes away from the “focal point” of the room.
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Buy some inexpensive clay pots and spray paint them with your accent color (match your
sofa pillows or colors from your rug. Try hot pink, periwinkle, tangerine or raspberry.
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Add a lot of potato vines and coleus! It adds a lot of color and lasts all summer long.
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For an inexpensive walk way, use stepping stones priced a few dollars each and plant moss
between the stones. It creates a “English” garden feel without the expense.
Curb appeal:
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I like to use height at door entrances, on porches and in large pots at the end of a sidewalk
or driveway. Some of my picks would be, palms, rose topiaries, evergreen topiaries or large
Banana palms. Hanging ferns in groups of threes gives the feel of an old southern home.
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Try a different color on your shutters, window boxes and front door. Try a deep copper
Orange, terra cotta or rusted red. Add a lot of coleus and potato vines for a great contrast
of color...this will give you a fresh, spring feel and add some great color to the exterior of
Your home.
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I love the look of ferns, they spread quickly and work well in any garden.
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Add some iron someplace, an arbor, a bench or window box. Adds some European charm!
Inside
Your Home:
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Add some white or cream linen...a pillow, a window panel, a collection of vases on the
Mantle. I like to remove my rugs and have a bare wood floor in the summer, feels like you
are at a Oceanside beach villa. Imagine some white sheers at the window, a soft breeze
blowing them, the fresh smells of your summer garden, lot’s of light! Enjoy every minute
of our Minnesota summers.
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Fresh bedding, again white, cream, french blue...cotton, linen...lots of light colored pillows
and fresh color! Buy some new towels for your bath, use some shells in a glass vase,
Gardenias or white roses. Think of smells that remind you of summer or the beach and
use them somewhere...fresh flowers, candles, room fresheners, soaps.
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Display your fresh fruit in a large bowl
someplace... pears, green apples, strawberries.
Color combinations that “work”!
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Brown...works with bursts of white, blue, yellow, vermillion and nickel.
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Green...works with everything! (Think of how well your green plants fit into any color
scheme). Try any of these combinations... chartreuse, grass green, moss, lime or
olive green. To add some color accents in a pillow or accessory, try hot pink, tangerine
peacock blue or bright white.
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Blue....works well with neutrals (white, cream or taupe). Add some turquoise, robins egg blue,
and some golds or French inspired aged woods.
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If you are painting some trim, a classic color to use is Benjamin Moore, Dove white. It has
the softness of alabaster with a little gray and a little yellow.
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Are you ready to try something dramatic? Paint all of your trim in black! The walls painted
a grayish blue or soft apple green. A true “designer” inspired room.. all it takes is some paint,
time and bravery!
Coupons
for the month of July 
If
you are interested in advertising your business in Sue's newsletter,
please e-mail Sue at sue@homeforachange.com
612-701-0101
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Updates on the Guy Expo at St. Paul RiverCentre.
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SUE'S SHOPPING PICKS
Opitz Outlet
Opitz outlet, as always, offers the best designer clothing at fantastic discounts. They now have
a back room that is loaded with fabulous deals. Update your summer wardrobe on a budget!
Nu Look
If you like consignment shops, be sure to check out the great deals at Nu Look on 50th and Penn. They have a summer sale where all summer items are 50% off of the consignment
price. Also, visit their lower level. I have found some amazing deals discounted
75% off or more.
Better than Ever
For great deals every day, visit my friend Geri at Better than Ever consignment, 3800 Grand
ave. in Minneapolis. She has a great eye for clothing and accessories and her prices are the
best in town. Designer clothes for adults and kids.
Anthropology
One of my favorite stores is Anthropology. Although they carry very expensive items, their
clearance area will have very affordable finds. They always have such fabulous, unique items
that can’t be found anywhere else.
Bucktown
If you are planning a summer trip to Chicago, make sure and visit the great consignment shops in Bucktown. I was there in May and found a pair of True Religion jeans for $22.00!!
!Attention
Realtors!
I have had some realtors
interested in a "realtors corner". You could add a great new
listing, news about the market, or information you would like to add
about a "hot buy" or real estate tip. Let me know...
Follow Sue on
Twitter!
You can
follow me on Twitter
www.twitter.com
- Just search for Sue Hunter on twitter and follow my design travels.
You can get
great design ideas on Facebook.
www.facebook.com
- Just search for Sue Hunter or Home for a Change and read up on other
great design ideas for your home.
You can now Linked-in
with Sue.
www.linkedin.com
-To make a Professional Connection! Join me on Linked-in. Just search
for Sue Hunter or Home for a Change.
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