The Flurry Of Fall

The college trunks have long gone and before you know it the college kids will actually be home on vacation.  School is in full swing.  The Labor Day Weekend bash is a distant memory.  Now it’s time to relax and enjoy the loveliness of the change of seasons, as well as the peace and beauty of your own home.  So perhaps it is not a good time to remind you that in in less than two months, family and friends will be coming for the Thanksgiving holiday and, you know what is just a short month after that!  The largest home entertaining season is a remarkably short time away.  For those of you whose home is ready to face public scrutiny, you can skip the rest of this article.  For the one or two who are still reading, perhaps it’s time to get down to business.

“Taking stock now will avoid the frantic house make-over in November for all the holidays ahead”

•    Start at the beginning.  Open the door as if you were entering for the first time.  Do you like what you see?  Remember, it is that entry which sets the tone of your entire home.  Is the carpeting or flooring in good condition?  Do the walls or trim need a coat of paint?  Is your wallpaper outdated or in need of replacement?  Do your accessories and artwork make a positive statement about you and the rest of your home?

•     Check your areas of entertaining and public spaces.  When your guests arrive, will there be adequate and inviting seating or is your floor plan in need of rethinking?  How is the flow from living room to den?  Do the styles and colors coordinate?  Is there furniture requiring reupholstery or carpet in need of replacement?  When your guests enter the dining room, will it be the appropriate backdrop for your beautiful holiday meal?  And how about the guest bathroom?  Is all plumbing working?  Do accessories and amenities provided look well and function well?  In short, will you feel good about entertaining people in your home?

•    Is it time to bring your kitchen into the 21st century?  Whether you are doing all the cooking or a caterer is working in your home, ovens, dishwasher and refrigeration, if not in good shape, can create havoc for the holidays.  If your long awaited plan for a kitchen redo is on the fall agenda, begin immediately or there is no guarantee that your kitchen will be completed when you’re ready to start cooking.

•    Plan and implement your decorating projects now.  Interview and hire competent professionals, committing them to scheduled dates to begin work.  (Remember, everyone wants them before the holidays and would like them to finish immediately.)  By scheduling in now for your pre-holiday projects, you can relieve a part of the usual pressure which always impairs the full enjoyment of these special occasions with family and friends.