How to Mix and Match Styles if You Can’t Pick Just One

Are you moving into your first-ever apartment and wondering how to even begin to fill it with furniture and decor you love (and won’t regret a few months from now)?

Your home should be filled with things you love, regardless of whether or not they all fall into the same interior design style category. In fact, some of the most interesting home decor styles are an amalgamation of more than just one.

“People get really worked up about mixing styles, but almost every great room has been layered with a variety of styles in one way or another,” says designer Emily Wolowitz.

That said, if you want to combine colors, accents, and pieces with a bit of intention and don’t know where to begin, keep the following guidelines in mind. Just know that, much like learning how to mix prints in your wardrobe, blending interior design styles is an art, not a science.

Start with a single style, then expand.

Palley & Southard owner and designer Lane Blank (with whom I work on an antique and estate jewelry business) suggests starting with one style and then throwing in a little bit of another, rather than deciding from the get-go that you’re going to do half of one style and half of another. (“Half and half winds up being a hodgepodge,” she cautions.)

Then, after you settle on your jumping-off point, Wolowitz encourages “that one doesn’t stick too closely to one design style unless the entire house or apartment is very specific to a certain design style (think Palm Springs Modern).” This is how you create a style that is more uniquely you.

Remember that the bones of your space might count as a style, too. 

You might live in a super-modern high-rise with walls made completely of windows and an all-white lacquer open kitchen design. That’s a very specific look. “Some spaces dictate what style is going to be comfortable to live with,” explains Blank. So in the high-rise example, filling your home with top-to-bottom antiques could feel a bit off.

However, that doesn’t mean you can’t decorate a particular architectural style with a different interior design style. “I think contrasting the architecture of a space with the interior decor can oftentimes be successful,” says Alexia Sheinman, director at Pembrooke & Ives. “For example, a [space with] more historic, ornate architecture with contemporary furniture.” Sheinman adds that “it works better as a one-way stream,” meaning that modernizing something historical is a much more cohesive option than trying to make something new seem old. 

Keep in mind that some traits beat out others. 

“Warm always trumps cool,” says Blank. “You can’t have a cool room with warm accents. If you mix, it will just wind up being warm.” The same goes with print, she says: “If you put any print in a room, it’s no longer going to be a neutral room.” And yes, that’s even the case when adding a few throw pillows. 

That’s not to say that you can’t mix any of the above, just that the overall vibe of the space will wind up being the stronger of the two. In other words, if you prefer a cool space, it’s best to avoid any warm accents, and if you love a truly neutral room, trust that any prints you incorporate will pull the eye.  

Find commonalities among different styles.

“One of the best ways to mix in a different style [of] furniture or decor element is to find a unifying theme in the piece,” says Wolowitz. 

One option for doing this, according to Marie Cloud, owner of Indigo Pruitt Design: “Start with a simple color scheme first, and filter everything through it.”

And if you can’t spot a shared theme, you can DIY it! As an example: “If the room is very clean and minimalist, but you are looking to incorporate vintage French chairs, I’d consider recovering them in a more contemporary cream bouclé or black-and-white graphic print,” suggests Wolowitz.

Get more tips like this on Apartment Therapy.

Related Links

• That Fridge May Not Come With the Home: Here’s What Is (and Isn’t) Included in a Sale

• How joining the Great Resignation could hamper homebuying plans

• 10 Small Garden Ideas to Steal for Your Own Space

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

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That Fridge May Not Come With the Home: Here’s What Is (and Isn’t) Included in a Sale

A favorite pastime of many buyers scrolling through real estate listings—or walking through an open house—is fantasizing about what life could be like in that home.

You might spot a swanky “Mad Men”–style bar that would be perfect for book club nights. Or maybe you’ll begin planning the feasts you could whip up with that six-burner stove! And what about the garden’s burbling fountain? Ah, that sound would be perfect for falling asleep to every night.

But here’s the thing every buyer should know: When it comes to house hunting, what you see isn’t necessarily what you get. Indeed a seller can rightfully haul off some items you may think automatically come with a house you purchase. So here’s a helpful reality check before your imagination runs too wild. (Bonus: We share tips to keeping some of those fixtures you absolutely love.)

What’s included in a home sale?

Precisely what comes with a home is not cut and dried, and each state has its own set of guidelines regarding this issue. But there are some guiding principles.

“If an item is attached, it is considered a fixture and by default should stay with the house,” says Dj Olhausen, an agent with Realty ONE Group in San Diego. “On the other hand, if an item is not attached, it may very well leave with the seller.”

If that still seems vague, “fixture” is a real estate term used to describe items that are physically attached to the house via nails, screws, bolts, glue, cement, or electrical wiring. Standard fixtures inside the home include ceiling fans, blinds, plumbing and heating elements, and built-in appliances. Outside the four walls, items that generally stay put include mailboxes, shutters, backyard office sheds, and in-ground landscaping.

Attachment issues

You might assume a refrigerator that looks built-in stays with the house or that the sellers will take their kid’s swingset with them. That’s where the acronym MARIA can help you identify fixtures:

• Method of attachment: If you need tools to remove the item, it’s probably permanently attached and considered a fixture. That’s why curtain rods stay with the home, but the curtains—which can be easily slipped off—usually go with the seller.

• Adaptability: If an item is adapted to be an integral part of the home, even if it isn’t physically attached, it usually stays. Examples include garage remotes, pool covers, lightbulbs, and even a floating floor.

• Relationship of the parties: In a dispute over what stays, it comes down to whether the seller installed what appears to be a permanent fixture. So if a home has shutters, the buyer can argue those were meant to be a forever fixture and should stay behind.

• Intention: Similar to above, if it seems the homeowner intended for the object in question to be a permanent part of the property, it stays. For instance, a desk in a home office specifically built to fit into an alcove—even though it isn’t bolted down—could be deemed a fixture.

• Agreement: When in doubt, refer to the purchase agreement to determine what’s included in the sale and what isn’t.

Just keep in mind there are some common-sense exceptions to the definition of “attached to the property.” For example, let’s say the owners have a dresser that’s bolted to the wall to prevent it from toppling over on a toddler, or they have bookcases attached with earthquake straps to keep them from tipping over. In those cases, the actual furniture isn’t considered a fixture.

What about outside the home?
“In general, any object attached to the ground is considered a fixture, while anything that can be moved freely will be deemed personal property,” says Olhausen.

Still, when you are touring a home, it may not be apparent if something is attached or not.

“So when it comes to deciding if an outdoor item is viewed as a fixture or someone’s property, ask yourself if it can easily be removed without the use of tools,” says Olhausen.

For example, electric vehicles typically require hardwiring and electrical system upgrades for a charging station.

“I have found that some sellers are taking the connector [a portable, plug-in charger], but the electrical setup stays with the property,” says Wendy Gladson, a real estate consultant at Compass in Marina del Ray, CA.

Personal property that will definitely leave on moving day includes items like potted plants, sheds that lay freely on the ground, or any item that can be moved without being disassembled, according to Olhausen.

Everything is negotiable

You may really want that coat and shoe organization unit that fits perfectly in the entry hall or maybe that beer fridge in the man cave. So remember, there is wiggle room when it comes to what stays and what goes in a home sale.

However, the local housing market may dictate how far you get when you try to negotiate. In a cooler market, buyers have more leverage when asking for items. But you might not get the extras you want in a hot seller’s market.

If you’re still confused, don’t worry—you’re not on your own trying to figure out what stays or goes. Your buyer’s agent will know what fixture exclusions are explicitly stated in the multiple listing service, and will also help you negotiate for items you want.

Learn more like this on Realtor.com

Related Links

• House Hunting Is Literally a Part-Time Job — Here’s How To Save Time on It

• How joining the Great Resignation could hamper homebuying plans

• 10 Small Garden Ideas to Steal for Your Own Space

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

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10 Small Garden Ideas to Steal for Your Own Space

Be it a teeny balcony, a side yard, or little patio—there's room for a garden.

Sprawling gardens are beautiful to behold, but they certainly are a lot of work. In some ways, a smaller footprint for a garden is a helpful thing, because it forces you to be creative with the space you have, and the payoff is even bigger when you’re able to transform it into your dream outdoor space.

Look to the walls, the fence, and any little scrap of yard to maximize your small garden space—be it a tiny city balcony, a quaint suburban backyard, or just a small side yard in need of some greenery.

Below, we’ve rounded up 20 of our favorite small garden ideas to make the most of your outdoor space—no matter how tiny.

1. Create A Lattice Wall

Don't let a lack of plantable ground stop you from growing things—they’re spaces just waiting to be filled with plants. While a full-on living wall can be a stunning addition to a small garden, you can tackle it in a smaller scale as well with a trailing vine lattice feature.

2. A Teeny-Tiny Garden Shed

You might not have room for a full-size shed in your garden, but who needs one when you can have a shed that’s this cute, and takes up such little square footage?

3. Roll It On Home

We’ve sung the praises of the rolling cart many times over (Bathroom storage! Cleaning cart! Bar cart!), but a whole new application is to use it as a mobile herb garden. This is especially genius for patios and balconies with limited sunlight—the cart can just move with the sun.

4. Make An Herb Spiral

If your garden is low on square footage, build up! You can use salvaged bricks for this project as well, which takes advantage of an ascending spiral design to squeeze as many herbs into the small space as possible.’

5. Get A Mini Greenhouse Going

The balcony pictured above truly couldn't be tinier, but there's still room for plants if you want them. A zippered greenhouse, some potted plants on the floor, and containers hung from the railing take every advantage of the space available.

6. Ground The Space With A Table & Chairs

While you might be tempted to fill the entire small space of your garden with plants and flowers, grounding the space with a table and chairs actually helps to improve the flow, giving the yard a focal point and something to be anchored to—kind of like a fireplace in a living room.

7. Hang Pots From The Balcony

If you’re lucky enough to have a clear view out of your balcony, it’s the perfect place for a few hanging pots to display herbs, trailing flowers, or vines.

8. Consider Square Foot Gardening

Square foot gardening is a (somewhat self-explanatory) method of growing your own produce that's known for being approachable to first-time gardeners. It's great for small spaces, too, as you can squeeze in a number of herbs and edibles in a small garden bed.

9. Look Up

Okay, this one’s a bit specific, but how adorable is this bird cage that’s living a new life as a planter? You certainly don't need a birdcage to achieve a similar feel, hanging planters from a pergola adds height to a garden which otherwise might all feel close to the ground.

10. Go For Clusters Of Pots

If you have lots of ground that's not viable for planting—say, a deck or a concrete patio—you can still fill it out with tons of greenery. Pots (in various shapes and sizes) are your friend here, for decorative plants and vegetables alike.

Get pics + more inspiration on Food 52.

Related Links

• House Hunting Is Literally a Part-Time Job — Here’s How To Save Time on It

• How joining the Great Resignation could hamper homebuying plans

• 5 Reasons Why Buying an Old House Is a Great Idea

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

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How joining the Great Resignation could hamper homebuying plans

If you joined the Great Resignation in the last year, you may have found it even harder to compete in the already wild pandemic housing market.

A record number of Americans quit their jobs in 2021, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, and while it was a liberating experience for many, it added a layer of complexity for resignees who were also trying to secure a mortgage.

It’s not impossible to quit your job and still get to closing, but any big life changes during the process do make your mortgage application more difficult.

Why quitting your job can make getting a mortgage tougher

Employment history is one of the key indicators mortgage lenders consider when evaluating your application.

“Employment and income are the two most important factors that lenders consider,” says Marsha Barnes, a certified financial social worker and founder of The Finance Bar. “Lenders simply want to know that you can afford the monthly payments and that you can consistently pay them on time.”

Any changes to your employment situation can make lenders wary about your ability to pay, though not all employment changes are created equal, and lenders will be more concerned about certain kinds of job shifts.

Ace Watanasuparp, national director of Strategic Sales at Citizens Bank, says that lenders generally view applicants more favorably if they switch between similar lines of work, or at least continue to file W-2 tax forms, rather than shifting to self-employment with 1099 filing.

“When it comes to getting a mortgage, clients really need to understand that changing your job on a macro level, that can affect your ability to qualify for a loan,” says Watanasuparp. “Once you segue into a new industry, then you’re starting from scratch.”

Why timing your resignation matters

Buying a house doesn’t preclude you from ever switching careers, but it does mean you should think strategically about your priorities.

“If you are someone considering quitting your job, what do you really want for your life over the next year or two?” Barnes says. “Reevaluate the timing of you leaving your job” if buying a house is the more important goal.

While you may only need your first paycheck or a few months under your belt to show employment history at a new company, most lenders will want to see a minimum of two years of tax returns as proof that a new business is sustainable if you quit to strike out on your own.

“For many employers, even if you are going to another job that’s paying you more, often you’re on a probationary period,” Barnes says. “If you think like a lender, those are all things that come into play if they are considering getting you a mortgage.”

More broadly, Watanasuparp says, it’s not a good idea to make any major lifestyle changes while you’re applying for a mortgage. “First and foremost, I always tell all of our clients, if you’re looking to buy a home, stay put. Don’t go out and build debt, don’t go out and get a car loan while getting a mortgage. You want to show the bank stability.”

How to salvage your application if you resign before the closing

So you quit your job in a fit of passion and are still moving forward with a mortgage application. In that case, reach out to your loan officer as soon as possible to strategize.

“You are required to make the lender aware that you have quit your job, even if it’s during COVID,” Barnes says.

Watanasuparp agrees that it’s crucial to disclose everything about your finances to your loan officer, and adds that your loan officer can help you develop a strategy to keep moving your application forward in many cases.

“Be as transparent as possible with your loan officer,” Watanasuparp says. “If you quit your job and you have something lined up, we may be able to help you.”

Providing documents like your offer letter, new pay stubs, proof of any bonuses or other financial ballast can keep your mortgage application going even as you switch careers.

Keep in mind, however, that if you quit a corporate job to start a new business, you may need to wait a while before securing a new loan.

Tips for all mortgage applicants

No matter your life situation a few basics will always apply. One key factor in any mortgage application is your credit score. The higher your score, the stronger a candidate you will appear to lenders, and the lower your interest rate is likely to be. Barnes says that her former employer, Wells Fargo, has a new tool for customers called Credit Close-Up, that helps them better understand and improve their scores.

Beyond credit, having savings and generally healthy finances overall will help make it easier to take on a mortgage. Check out Bankrate’s guide to getting a mortgage for more.

Bottom line

Changing jobs while applying for a mortgage can make you look like a riskier candidate to lenders, but that doesn’t mean it completely erases any possibility of securing a loan.

If your employment situation changes during your application, talk to your loan officer and be transparent about what’s going on so you can figure out your best option.

If changing jobs is in your control, it’s a good idea to wait until after you close on the loan if you can.

“I don’t recommend folks doing that, but if you do end up changing jobs after the mortgage closes, the banks will not pull their commitment or approval for you.” Watanasuparp says. “But before you do that, make sure you’re dotting your Is and crossing your Ts and getting all the ins and outs of the venture you’re about to embark on.”

Keep reading on Bank Rate.

Related Links

• House Hunting Is Literally a Part-Time Job — Here’s How To Save Time on It

• 50% of millennials think they need $300,000 or less to retire in comfort: Here’s how much they actually need

• 5 Reasons Why Buying an Old House Is a Great Idea

If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

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As Featured in West + Main Home Magazine: Horoscopes for Home

For a sneak peak into what to expect for the rest of this year, look straight to the sky.

Scorpio

ASTRO HOME STYLE - MIDCENTURY MODERN

Scorpio: In these coming months, you will find many opportunities to utilize your potential. Along with this, you will realize your ability to lift up others. Your home is a place for you to enjoy this season + state of mind, so be sure to keep it tidy and allow yourself to relax in your space.

Sagittarius

ASTRO HOME STYLE - FRENCH COUNTRY

Sagittarius: You might not have the energy to follow up with opportunities. At this time, it’s important to focus on your health. Make sure that you have a space in your home that belongs to you, where you can fully control the energy.

Capricorn

ASTRO HOME STYLE - TUDOR

Capricorn: This is the perfect time for you to start new projects, Capricorn. The small changes you make in your home, such as an accent wall or new living room decor, can make a big difference in the harmony of your space.

Aquarius

ASTRO HOME STYLE - COTTAGE

Aquarius: You will soon see a number of opportunities for growth. You should take these opportunities in stride, but be sure to wrap up your previous projects before pursuing new ones. Aquarius will also find that these next months will favor good relationships, further contributing to this period of growth.

Pisces

ASTRO HOME STYLE - MEDITERRANEAN

Pisces: Pisces, this season will bring significant change in your life. You may find that a new career opportunity will lead you to relocating, or maybe your dream home will finally go on the market. Whatever happens, accept this change graciously and charge ahead.

Aries

ASTRO HOME STYLE - CONTEMPORARY

Aries: Aries, your relationships are thriving in this part of the year. Now is the perfect time to host a big get together and spend time with loved ones. If you’ve been thinking about buying that gorgeous new dining set or sectional - this is your sign.

Taurus

ASTRO HOME STYLE - FARMHOUSE

Taurus: Professional growth is written in the stars for you, Taurus. If your home office is where you’ve been spending most of your time, hang some art to bring new energy into the space.

Gemini

ASTRO HOME STYLE - COLONIAL

Gemini: You’re itching for change right now, Gemini. A big move is in your near future, whether it be finding a new lease, buying your first home, or upsizing. If you’ve been spending your time scrolling through houses online, it’s time to get out there and start looking.

Cancer

ASTRO HOME STYLE -CAPE COD

Cancer: Cancer, now is the perfect time for you to slow down and relax. Looking for a project to benefit you? A new fireplace or spa bathroom could be just what you need to sit back and help you relax right now.

Leo

ASTRO HOME STYLE -VICTORIAN

Leo: Nothing can stop you, Leo. Now is the time to try new things and go on every adventure possible. Between events, make sure that your home is a place where you can recharge for whatever comes next.

Virgo

ASTRO HOME STYLE - RANCH

Virgo: March will be a memorable month for you. Relying on yourself + your own skills will bring you happiness this season. A great way to channel this is with a DIY project in your home, that you can admire every day.

Libra

ASTRO HOME STYLE - MOUNTAIN CONTEMPORARY

Libra: You can expect to achieve your goals this season, Libra. It’s time to sit down and figure out exactly what those goals should be. From cleaning out your basement to saving for your first down payment, now’s the time to set your sights high.

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If there is a home that you would like more information about, if you are considering selling a property, or if you have questions about the housing market in your neighborhood, please reach out. We’re here to help.

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