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Holiday Decorating Services Charlotte NC

11-22-09
Tonia Mosteller

Redesign + More provides Holiday and Event Decorating in Charlotte, Mooresville, Statesville, Hickory, Huntersville, Gastonia, Belmont, Davidson, Monroe, Matthews, Lake James and Lake Norman North Carolina. We also extend our holiday decorating services to Fort Mill and Lake Wylie South Carolina.

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Party Ideas & Planning Tips For Holiday Entertaining In Charlotte NC

11-18-09
Tonia Mosteller

Party Ideas & Planning Tips
For Holiday Entertaining In Charlotte NC


Holiday Table Decor Holiday entertaining can be a great joy – a festive time to get together with family and friends, showcase your holiday decorating skills and celebrate everything the season means to you.

With these party planning ideas, you can throw the perfect holiday party whether you have an over-sized family room or a small Charlotte apartment or condo for entertaining. The key is to be creative with what you have, and plan, plan, plan!

Plan The Mood

Set the tone for your holiday party even before the first guest arrives. Fill a baking pan halfway with water and cinnamon; then put it in the oven on a low heat, and let the aromatic smell of cinnamon fill the house. Plug in the holiday lights to cheer guests as they arrive. Have seasonal music playing softly in the background. Keep a fire burning in the fireplace to add to the cozy holiday mood.


Plan the Seating

There is nothing worse than not having a place to sit at a party! Make your guests' comfort a top priority at your holiday celebration. You can borrow chairs and benches from friends. Depending on the formality, you can throw down some beanbag chairs or over-sized cushions, which work great for kids. If you lack a large open area to seat everyone, arrange small seating areas separate from one another. Truth be told, most guests would prefer these intimate seating areas anyway!

Plan The Holiday Meal

To tide guests over before the meal is ready, offer plenty of appetizers and finger foods. These can include cheese and crackers, prepared veggie platters, cocktail shrimp, chips and salsa, fresh fruit, mozzarella sticks, sandwich quarters, etc. Add elegance to your Hors D'oeuvres by lining each tray with colorful holiday foil and doilies. Know when you're going to serve the holiday meal, and make that clear to your guests.

For the main course at your holiday party, you can go with a traditional ham, turkey or lamb... or opt for lasagna, subs or even pizza. It's your party, so do things your way. But remember to offer an option for vegetarians, dieters and fussy eaters!

As far as beverages go, you can satisfy most guests with a variety of juice, soda and alcohol -- or why not combine all three in a killer holiday punch?And don't forget the eggnog!


Don't forget dessert! If you are clever enough, your desserts can double as decorations. Picture this: rich, chocolate fudge cake, drizzled with raspberry sauce and berries beneath the flickering silhouette of a red taper candle. Delicious and eye catching!

Plan The Entertainment

If you want guests to stay awhile instead of taking off early, then keep the party alive with games and activities. Plan a holiday gift exchange -- or better yet, a joke gift exchange. You may want to put a dollar limit on the gift so it's not a burden on your guests. Fill out a few Mad Libs, or try creating your own with guests at the party! Announce that you're hanging up the mistletoe to stir things up . Dust off the chess table, break out the poker set, grab Pictionary. You can even look online for icebreaker games that might be appropriate. But keep in mind, there will be those who would rather mingle than play games, so let the guests dictate their own entertainment schedules.


Or you can make it stress free... and hire Redesign + More for your holiday and event decorating needs. We offer Interior Holiday and Event Decorating packages for Charlotte NC and surrounding areas. We highlight the rooms in your home and set the mood, so your guest can enjoy your holiday party.

We make it painless for you, so you can enjoy your holidays.

~ Happy Holidays ~

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Home For The Holidays in Charlotte NC

11-17-09
Tonia Mosteller


Home For The Holidays in Charlotte NC

start at the front door and greet your family with holiday cheer, not to mention you add curb appeal to your home during the holiday season. Decorating my home for the holidays in Charlotte, NC always starts at my door. You can add holiday cheer with lights, garlands, pine-cones, Christmas balls, ribbon and all sorts of things you can think of. This is the time of year you can let your imagination go free. The market is so vast this day in age that it holds something for every person and the season's decor is limited only to your imagination.






Christmas Candles

could come in variety of forms. They could be used in fireplace, table, tree, windows and other things decoration. They could become a beautiful light addition to your holidays decor. They can become glowing greetings message if you hung up it on the house door when guests should arrive. Anyway there are plenty variants of using candles in Christmas decoration.



Add holiday cheer to your front door

Every door needs holiday cheer and what better way to welcome your family and friends. Entry door decorated with wreath is a great announce of your Christmas spirit. Christmas wreaths can actually be made out of just about anything. Although evergreen wreaths sold at home centers and grocery stores, making it by yourself is a great process after which anybody could be proud.



"Baby it's cold outside"
Holiday Decorating for a cozy fireplaces

nothing better then a cup of hot chocolate and crackling fireplace, Christmas music playing as you decorate your mantel for the holidays. If you have a fireplace with a mantel than probably you are wanting Christmas to decorate it. Usually mantel is a star in living room decor like the Christmas tree. I have used cranberries for years when decorating my home in Charlotte NC. So grab a couple of glass hurricanes, place a candle in the middle and add cranberries half way. You have added a punch of festive color.



Dress your Staircase with Holiday Cheer

another favorite place to decorate for the holidays, yes it's the staircase. This area you can be so creative by adding white twigs, white lights, glittery snowflake ornaments and old fashioned ice skates, this adds a frosty touch to the traditional greens and ribbon garland on the staircase.Another favorite place to decorate for the holidays, yes it's the staircase. This area you can be so creative by adding white twigs, white lights, glittery snowflake ornaments and old fashioned ice skates, this adds a frosty touch to the traditional greens and ribbon garland on the staircase.



Touches of Red, White and Shimmer

If you have a neutral colored sofa, this look is a snap to create. The tailored sofa is combined with graphic pillows of different shapes and fabrics, and a sweater knit throw, none of which are exactly the same shade of red. The similarities combined with the differences are what make this room extraordinary. A chrome "twig-reindeer" is a unique holiday addition that looks great with the other chrome accents in the room. A pretty Christmas tree is decorated with origami ornaments that pick up the colors used in the room, and lightly decorated white wrapping paper for the presents finishes the look.

Happy Holiday Decorating, may your home be filled with lots of love, joy and laughter this holiday season. From our homes at Redesign + More to your homes.

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Weigh the benefits of home improvements versus selling.

11-13-09
Tonia Mosteller


Should I go or Should I Stay?



Weigh the benefits of home improvements versus selling.

Whether you just bought a house or you have lived there for a while, the fastest way to increase your home's value is by making a plan. Never start working on a project without having your resources and your home plan ready to go. Do your homework first and you will fare better if upgrades are made intentionally and not on impulse. Home improvement projects cost about 20 to 25 cents on the dollar. The other 75 to 80 cents spent go directly back into the home through increased value. So many homeowners are remodeling homes in this current market and also there are still many new homeowners that just bought a home and need to make some home improvements.

Start slowly and if your home is new, get to know it. If you have already been there a while, get started. List the things you want to change and the updates you would like to make. Don't worry about organization, just write it all down. Take a guess on how long you may want to live in the house. If you're planning on selling, talk to your local realtor for a selling plan and work with a professional home stager to get your home ready for the market.

Take the list and categorize by how much it may cost, including your time and money. It's OK to list an outdoor pool with a waterfall, but keep your financial picture in mind. Let your wallet do the talking and not your eyes, gather pictures of home projects you like or do some research on-line. Once you have a categorized list, take a look and prioritize what is a real "must have" and what is more of a dream. See if you can come away with a reasonable balance.Once you have made a plan, do research or talk to a realtor to see what sort of return those improvements may bring. Some improvements will add considerably more value to your home than others.Talking to your realtor is very important, as a professional they will know what is best in your area, so you don't loose money.

Doing small home improvements can really pay off. Are you torn between improving your home's decor, versus making upgrades you know will increase your home's resale value? Many homeowners are surprised to hear that doing a little bit of both will actually pay off.

Start by making two lists — upgrades for your home value and upgrades just for you. Upgrades for your home may consist of replacing old faucets, permanent lighting and doors. Upgrades for you are furniture, artwork and window treatments. Gone is the dartboard approach to picking projects and wondering if what you are doing is really making a difference. With this plan, you will see real progress.




Do I upgrade the kitchen??? Ask any real estate expert what the #1 upgrade with the greatest return is, and the answer will be the kitchen.
  • Do a mini-remodel. Change the paint. It sounds simple, but it works. You can also paint a faux-wood finish onto your cabinets. This looks just like cherry.
  • Add a splash of color with a new backsplash. New tile is attractive. Home improvement stores teach classes on this.
Home buyers are often attracted to stainless steel appliances.
  • Go stainless steel. The cold feel of steel is a hot ticket item for buyers. Transition your appliances as they wear out and go with a similar metallic look in your light switches.
  • Make your kitchen rock with a rolling island.
  • Hang a pot rack with fresh new pots, pans and a hanging wine bottle holder. With the rolling island, your kitchen will catch every buyer's eye. You can take some of these things with you to your new home.



    • Weigh the benefits of home improvements versus selling. Is this a good time for you to sell? Should I stay or should I go? Should I do a home improvements? It's a question staring many homeowners in the face. Here is how to tell if there is more value for you in fixing up, or moving on.

    First, estimate your costs to buy a new home. Add up the realtor and home selling costs (packing, moving and the new loan financing). Don't forget hidden items. The buyer may ask you to replace the carpet before you sell. Or, what if you have to replace appliances? Make your best effort to include everything it will cost in time and money to sell your home and buy a new place. Then, estimate what you may get for your house and how much cash you will leave with to put down on a new home.

    If you like your neighbors and your school district, consider doing some remodeling. You can get exactly the home you want and you won't risk any buyer's remorse. Estimate the cost of making the most crucial renovations needed for you to stay. Decide what you would like to do and go price shopping at your home improvement store. Call contractors and get estimates. This is especially important if you need to add on extra square footage.

    Look at what it would cost to move, then what it would cost to remodel. Add in the X-factors such as friends, schools and neighbors. When all is said and done, you may find you get more equity by staying in your home and remodeling.


    Weigh the benefits of home improvements versus selling. Should I go or Should I Stay? Trust me you are not alone on this one, so many homeowners are facing these questions everyday.

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    Holiday Home Makeover Gift Certificates

    11-12-09
    Tonia Mosteller

    Holiday Home Makeover Gift Certificates



    Redesign + More Holiday Home Makeover Gift Certificate

    Surprise a friend or a family member with a Holiday Home Makeover Gift Certificate in any amount and any of our services. Including Interior Design - Interior Redesign - One Day Decorating - Color Consultations and Home Staging Consultations.

    Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas to all of Redesign + More clients in Charlotte - Belmont - Gastonia - Davidson -Lake James - Lake Norman - Mooresville -Statesville - Hickory and Winston Salem North Carolina and Lake Wylie South Carolina.

    Please call me for more details.
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