FROM COZY TO CRISP

Kristen Brown and Amy Keeley, owners of Salt + Pine Home Staging in West Greenwich, have made it their business, quite literally, to give homes the “about face” they need to turn heads. Staging homes throughout Rhode Island, Massachusetts, and Connecticut, the design duo works to make homes fresh and welcoming for prospective buyers, typically aiming for a look that’s “traditional with a modern flair,” all while keeping a sense of place top of mind.

“Here in Rhode Island, we find that a slight coastal vibe is always on trend,” says Brown. “Adding a warmer, beachy vibe to a space will help with a springinspired feel.” Keeley advises starting with a deep cleaning, which she says will “help a room breathe a little after winter” and give spaces a fresh start. “Spring is a great time to purge. You would be surprised how different your house feels just by cleaning out the drawers and cabinets,” adds Brown.

Paint color is one of the easiest and more affordable methods to completely redefine a space, but think of the big picture before collecting swatches. “We generally recommend light, bright, and neutral paint colors,” says Keeley. “Darker, moodier paint is trending right now, but that is a much bigger commitment.”

March 12 at 2am is when we move the clocks forward one hour!

PRO-TIP: Use this as a reminder to change batteries in smoke alarms.

“One of our most popular bang-for-your-buck projects is accent walls,” says Riveted Woodworking’s Tower. “Board and batten is definitely one of the more popular things that I do; it makes such a di erence, especially in small spaces.” Pictured here, “board and batten” is a siding and paneling style where narrow strips of wood molding (called “battens”) are a xed atop wide vertical planks (the “boards”) to create visual interest, though the style has served more practical uses for centuries. Often, traditional board and batten designs take up three-quarters of a wall and are topped with trim molding, but the look can also extend floor to ceiling in any number of designs. The aesthetic aligns seamlessly with trending interior aesthetics, from modern farmhouse to coastal. Accent walls also allow homeowners to get creative and wildly transform a room, bathroom, or hallway without major construction. “We do everything from your regular horizontal shiplap to vertical shiplap or diagonal shiplap, or geometric walls,” says Tower.

“There are a lot of fun ways you can do accent walls, and then you can make them a di erent color, or you can make it tone-on-tone with a pattern to it.”