BUDGET FRIENDLY RETRO REFRESH

Get inspired with these interior decorating ideas, great for owners of older-built homes

One of the best things about owning your home is that you can decorate however you want But the way you decorated twenty years ago might not be what you want to look at for the next twenty years It might be a great time to think about small design changes that spruce up your space, without breaking the bank Some of these are even from my own home! I've lived in the house since 1999 and I've painted all the walls at least three times I just get bored, and I love color I can always paint over it My taste of a lot of colors certainly aren't for everyone and I don't plan on selling in the near future, so these colors are all done for me. I'm just saying, "don't be afraid!" Do what makes you happy.

Whitewash your brick

If that old brick fireplace is an eyesore, consider painting it white or at least tinting it to be a little more neutral This can help make your decorations or more colorful artwork really pop I did this to my own fireplace, as you can see, to offset the bright yellow I painted the walls. I liked how the white-washed brick came out on my fireplace, so I got brave and did it to the entire front of my house!

Paint your front door

Paint your front door

Painting aro

Can you? Sure! Should

you

Can you? Sure! Should you

Replace your windows (yes, even your double pane ones!)

If your windows get foggy or sweaty when it's humid outside, that means the seal is broken on your double pane windows and they are leaking out air! Though resealing is possible, that's a temporary fix and you'll still be losing energy Windows are built to last 20-25 years Save some money longterm with the short-term investment in your home's energy efficiency!

If you're planning on staying in your home then there really are no restrictions! Make the space something YOU feel comfortable in, and if you need some interior design help, ask for it If you have a friend I'm not an interior designer, but I understand placement and color theory, and I do consult my sellers on staging when I am selling their home because I am an Accredited Staging Professional

If you're planning on staying in your home, then there really are no restrictions! Make the space something YOU feel comfortable in, and if you need some interior design help, ask for it If you have a friend I'm not an interior designer, but I understand placement and color theory, and I do consult my sellers on staging when I am selling their home because I am an Accredited Staging Professional

There's rarely a wrong answer when it comes to interior design in your own home UNLESS you're planning on moving If you're planning on moving anytime soon (like within 1 year,) probably stick to the safer side with style choices to appeal to future buyers

There's rarely a wrong answer when it comes to interior design in your own home UNLESS you're planning on moving If you're planning on moving anytime soon (like within 1 year,) probably stick to the safer side with style choices to appeal to future buyers

Risky style = tough sel

Risky style = tough sel

Dancing with the Hampton Roads Celebrity Stars Takes to the Stage at the Sandler Center

BY MEREDITH LIPPERT | PHOTO BY RAMONE PHOTOGRAPHY

The stars will be out at the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts on August 19th as 22 local celebrities take to the stage to perform in the eighth annual Dancing with the Hampton Roads Celebrity Stars fundraising event.

Based on the hit TV show, the night of glitz and glam will feature business leaders, media celebrities, civic and political leaders and other professionals from the community. With limited or no dance experience, the contestants will be paired with a professional dancer and will perform in front of a live audience and professional judges.

Local entrepreneur and owner of Town Center City C lub Barbara Lewis is producing the event while Joe Flanagan, longtime reporter from WVEC will be this year’s Master of Ceremonies.

The festive and entertaining evening is a fundraiser to benefit local arts groups including Virginia Musical Theater and The Governors School for the Arts. Tickets can be purchased from contestants, local ballroom studios or online at hrcelebritystars.com.

Meet the Celebrity Dancers

ASHLEY ALLMAN

DAVID AMBROSE

ASHLEY ARMBRUSTER

ANTWAIN BRITT

JAMES PAUL CADOTTE

TAYLOR DAVIS

ASHLEY FORBES

HUNTER HARTNETT

BRITTANY HENDRICKSON

STACEY HIGGINS

RON KILMER

JOHN “JAY JAY” MAYO

CALEB MYLES

JOY NAIK

STACY ROGERS

JAKETA CLARK THOMPSON

MARIA M. WEISSENSEEL

MICHELLE WESTBERRY

GREGORY S. ZIMPEL

Meet the PROFESSIONAL Dancers

SIMONA CAPORALE

OSCAR CHACALTANA

WENDY DENYSENKO

ANDREA FRANCO

JACK GABRIEL

CAMERON JOHNSON

REBEKAH KLYUKIN

ZHENYA KLYUKIN

JAY LEARY

RICCARDO PACINI

BLAKE PERKINS

MARIE RANTS

JASON RUSHING

SIMONE SPADONI

DIANE TAYLOR

Paint your kitchen cabinets

Paint it any color you'd live with for the next few years! It's an easy DIY, just sand down the original finish, just enough to hold the primer and paint (Tip: Add a tiny bit of the paint to tint your white primer Ask the paint shop professional for advice.)

Cover your wall with something new

I have a very long wall in the living room and it's the focal point when you walk in (from two points of the room, front and back), so we put these different-colored panels on that wall (Super easy, by the way, it only took us a couple of hours - you can order them on-line). The other 3 walls (have windows and double-glass doors) are Navy Blue

Make your bedroom a calming place

My bedroom is very soothing I call it my Hollywood bedroom. The one wall is a textured wallpaper and the other walls are a nice chocolate brown It’s a nice space that makes me feel at peace.