Exterior Paint Removal

John Watkins from Nashville Home Inspection has issues this home tip of the month pertaining to removing exterior paint.

He states that removing outdoor paint can be done a few ways. Sometimes you’ll need to remove all of the old paint, but sometimes you just need to remove enough to allow a new coat of paint to adhere without the risk of chipping.

Lead-based Paint

If the paint is old and contains lead, it is advised to consult a qualified contractor in lead based paint removal. According to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), harmful exposure to lead can be created when lead-based paint is improperly removed from surfaces by dry scraping, sanding, or open-flame burning. Tracking contaminated soil inside the house can lead to high concentrations of airborne lead particles in your home. You’ll also want to consult with the local health department (Tennessee Department of Health) as an updated source of federal, state and local laws pertaining to lead-based paint.

Non-lead-based Paint

If the old paint does not contain lead, here are three methods of removal depending on the type of surface:

Wood

To refinish a wooden deck or fence, for example, use a power sander to remove old paint. It will remove the top layer, but you should be careful not to overdo it. It is recommended that you wear a professional, multi-purpose respirator mask with compact filters.

Concrete or Brick

Because concrete and brick are porous getting paint out of the cracks will be no easy task. A steam pressure washer might prove the most effective way to get into those tiny spots.  The steam will essentially melt the paint and washed away with the pressure washer.

Metal

Preserving the original look and quality of metal while removing paint is a challenge. If you can stand scratches on the surface, a sand blaster will be effective. If you want to prevent scratches on the surface, a chemical paint stripper is ideal. Make sure to follow the manufacturer’s directions on proper handling and use.

Check back here for more information about buying, selling or living in your Nashville Tennessee home. For more information contact, Dena Williams at Keller Williams - 615-739-2944 or 615-778-1818.

…my beloved “Spring”. It really is my favorite time of the year. While I really do love summer, and the falls here are beautiful, nothing gets me more excited than spring in Nashville. I feel like I am coming alive again with the trees, flowers and grass. It’s the time I miss my convertible. It’s the time I use my outdoor living furniture like everyday. I love everything about it. Children playing. Outdoor sports complexes filled. Greenways and parks bustling. Dog owners frolicking. Streams gurgling. Birds chirping. Bugs taking over. Awesome breezes. Freshly mowed grass smells. Cool thunderstorms. Beautiful sunshine. Anti-brown, color, color and more color. It makes me very happy.

If you do not currently live in Nashville the weather’s great! This week we’ll be in the 70’s for the most part with some 60’s during the day. The lows at night sometimes will be a bit chilly, but sometimes not so much. If you have allergies to cedar and pine pollen, you’ll want to be careful right now in TN. The index is 37 right now, which is quite high.

The Bradford Pears have their white blooms in full with some of the green bursting through. The weeds are starting to grow too, but I don’t care…it’s something green for the moment. And in the spring, green is my favorite color. People are starting to mow their yards for the first time of the season. The grass is getting a bit greener and some of the trees are showing the teeniest green blooms. Several other colors have been recently reintroduced into our color palette in Nashville with flowering bushes, etc. in purples and yellows. I love discovering a new color for the season as we get new blooms. Before long, we’ll have that beautiful lush “Spring” green overwhelming us everywhere we go that’s so rich before it turns to the deep green of summer.

In the spirit, I thought I’d share a few spring photos from Smashing Magazine’s nice collection from different artists:

In these economic times, it seems clubs are popping up everywhere for do-it-yourself projects among friends and neighbors. They vary in set up, but a common model is a handful of couples who meet monthly at a different member’s house where the host couple takes care of organizing the equipment/supplies and the meals while the other couples do the work. It can make home improvement tasks once dreaded, now fun and social. With a group of people, you can often accomplish things you wouldn’t expect.

So how about you? Will you be starting a neighborhood DIY club in your area? Will you mix cocktails with paint? How will you do it? What projects will you do? Make sure to invite me and my husband to your club. You definitely want him there…he’s quite handy. Once you’ve had your party, come back and share the details and results!

Dena
Source: The Associated Press, Melissa Kossler Dutton (03/21/2009)

I just finished watching Design on Dime’s Top 35 Secrets of All Time episode on HGTV. While I feel the REAL secrets are in the examples rather than the blanketed general tips, they did give several tips and examples worth mentioning. Here’s a recap of the countDOWN to #1…

35. Get organized. The biggest change you could make is to edit down. Build a bookcase and desk to store and hide. Wall off a small area with sliding closet doors. Getting organized helps to move along the design concept.

34. Hide your TV. Most want it to stay in its place and in the room, but it shouldn’t be the most prominent focal place of the room. Hide them in an armoire, behind a mirror, or behind curtains.

33. Build a headboard. It grounds the room and gives it a focal point. One of their examples: Rust headboard with leather panels by using a chemical process with metal paint and spray that rusts before your eyes. Make headboards out of reclaimed lumber, MDF, fabric, paint, wood, upholstery, etc.

32. Go M.D.F. Medium Density Fiberboard. Sawdust glued together and compressed. It’s easy to work with, takes paint well and is inexpensive. Build anything with it and finish it off professionally with molding or routing. Make breakfast nooks, murphy beds, light boxes, and wall panels. You can add anything to it.

31. Take on a salvage job. Recycle an item and make something out of it. Vintage details are too complex to recreate so use them and re-salvage. Examples include bookcases to benches, doors to bars and fire extinguishers into table lamps. Old piano bar as an actual bar.

30. Double up in small spaces. Use multi-function furniture (coffee table that’s a chest, an ottoman that fits under the coffee table, etc.) Put a mirror across from a window to reflect light, the outdoors and double the space visually.

29. Break down big spaces. You don’t have to fill every spot of a large space. Create “zones”. For a large space you might have three zones: media, seating, lounging that are grouped together and separated from the other spaces or zones.

28. Lighten up dark spaces. Grab an ugly chandelier at a thrift store, spray paint it, and add new shades. Replace dark drapes with lighter ones.

27. Seating matters. Have enough seating for guests. If you can’t afford a new couch, get creative by using a mattress and build out a simple frame. Then you have a daybed.

26. Plan your approach. When you make or buy a large piece of furniture, make sure it fits inside first.

25. Learn to sew. Drapes, pillows, bedding. You’ll save tons when you make some of these items yourself.

24. Cut a rug. Buy smaller versions and put them together so it’s less expensive (4 bathmats, etc.). Buy carpet remnants at a rug store. Rugs add warmth, comfort and color to a room. So make a rug.

23. Fix up the fireplace. This should be a focal point. Add a new mantle or change the whole facade. Use thinset and flat-backed river rocks, for example.

22. Reclaim closet doors. These can be new art pieces/canvases (paint squares inside of squares, etc.). Examples: rich stained wood treatment on the back of a mirrored door with added curtains, etc.

21. Look up! Add to the ceiling to make it a 5th wall and element of interest. Make creative decor to hang from the ceiling or attach to it. Add faux beams & natural fiber wallpaper, for example.

20. Become a hunter. Examples: Flea markets, online classifieds, estate sales, hotel furniture liquidators, consignment stores, yard sales, seconds yard of ceramic yard/factory, etc.

19. Fix up the finds. Sanding, stripping, staining, painting, etc. Use automotive body filler for repairs in a cabinet. Use regular tire dressing on vinyl furniture to buff the scratches and make it shine. Change hardware on a piece. Change the legs or doors. Add molding, decorative appliqués. Use shoe polish on leather to touch up and salvage, etc.

18. Take pre-fab furniture to Fab. Think outside the box. Dress up and rework existing pieces…add molding, trim, stain, etc. One designer took a pine table and gave it an import feel with a ratan shade and moldings. She trimmed out the edge of the table and stained it to look like an expensive piece.

17. Stick with Hook & Loop tape (upholster, adhere molding, etc.)

16. Create an illusion. Make rooms look larger with mid to dark tone paint. Place furniture or painted stripes vertically to make a room look taller. You can make rooms look more balanced by pulling curtains over to make the “center” change or place them higher to make the windows appear larger, etc.

15. Less is more. Restraint is part of good design. Find an inspiration, but keep it simple and add balance. You can create a theme room, but it’s not a theme park.

14. Do your homework. Research and getting the details right brings the look together (period, the look you want, style, etc.) Then after you research the look, research how to make it. If you want to build it or can think it up, learn how and make it happen.

13. Take your time. Take time to find pieces at the right price. Don’t go out in a weekend and just buy what’s on sale…it won’t look like you or be pulled together correctly. Take your time and add pieces as you find them over time so that it is right and YOU!

12. Know when to break the rules. Go over the top with kids rooms if you want. If you are integrating kids spaces and adult spaces, make it cohesive with color coordination.

11. Own the outdoors. Your backyard should be like your living room. Designing an outdoor room is “like” adding square footage to your home. Have nature to enjoy with outdoor living spaces. You can apply all the same design tips outdoors as the indoors.

10. Accessorize! It makes it complete and yours. It is the final layer to having dimension. One project was to take a large votive holder, sunk another glass votive holder in the larger one, filled the rest of it with broken glass, poured resin in the rest of it and let it dry (putting a cup where the candle will go). It was like glass floating in glass.

9. Avoid overkill. Have a maximum number of items/accessories. If you add one, remove one to adhere to the maximum. Have 3’s, 5’s, and 7’s. Have a place for your eye to stop in between the accessories.

8. Drop that brush. Paint is key, but put the paint brush down and pick up your hands, the trowel, or a rag to apply faux finishing treatments. Do it yourself with the equipment in your local hardware store.

7. Expand your faux-rizons. Faux finishes are not just for the walls. Use a product that, when applied, actually creates concrete on your countertops. If you can’t afford new floors, doors, cupboards or counters, there are tons of ways to give them a new look. You can also use staining, stenciling, tiling and acrylic. Lee took frosted glass musite and gave it a raised look to wainscoating and chair rail of the dining room. It highlighted the chair rail with a modern look.

6. You are an artist. Use your own personal artwork. Anyone can create artwork. For inspiration start with what you treasure and transform it into works of art. If you love photos, use them as black and white or sepia tone images so you’re not overwhelmed with the different colors.

5. Dare to design. Your personality should dictate your decor. Their example was the transformation of a back yard to an outdoor wedding glamor space.

4. Look for inspiration. Use mementos from travel or personality to incorporate in the design. For a multi-function need in a room, they took the office and moved it into the closet. They created an upper wall border with actual travel photos, gave a handcrafted look to everything, made a zebra wood veneer with little branches and brought the world to them.

3. Everyone can win. If you share your space with someone with different styles, you can bridge the gap and incorporate both needs. Design for both people and have both personalities represented.

2. Re-think the obvious. If a room is not working for some reason, get creative. They split a dining table in half that could be moved to each side of the room for a kid to have open space for play to accommodate two functions. A problem can become its own solution by re-thinking the obvious.

1. Form + Function = Fabulous. One project incorporated two rolling couches that came together for a bed. Reclaimed lumber table. Cool wall art. 3 colors. Simple. The few things they did were large scale to work for the small space.

What if…we knew our neighbors?

Have you been to a really small town lately? The ones with rocking chairs on front porches (with people actually in them). The ones where you’re constantly getting waved at from every car you pass on the road. Or maybe you don’t have to go to a small town. Maybe you just need to visit some senior citizens. That generation knows more about community than the rest of us do. It completely cracks me up how my dad has one ear turned to the driveway at all times because you never know who might just show up. It’s true! He has his regular running buddies, but then there’s always someone he hasn’t seen in like 10, 15, maybe even 20 years that will just show up at his house unannounced and out of the blue. He is always ready for visitors and will jump up and be out the door to greet before they’ve stopped the car. I love to hear the stories…in almost disbelief because that kind of thing would never happen with my generation. NEVER.

This is who “most” of us are today. Sometime early in the morning, garage door comes up and car comes out. Sometime in the early evening, garage door goes up, car goes in, and garage door goes down. (What a sad “progression” from the earlier generations’ way of life!) Exciting stuff to our neighbors, right? Their only window into who we are is how messy or clean, bare or junk-filled our garages are. Oh, and how much and what times of the day we work. It’s easy to be that person even if you don’t have a garage. Some of you are thinking that’s the way you like it. I get it…we like the privacy and comfort of our own home. BUT…as I think about the way we buy homes I’m inclined to believe that’s not “entirely” true.

There are lots of homes not within communities or subdivisions…some with private land, some with regular lots. If you’re one of the many who actually lives in a community and subdivision…chances are, you live in a community for a reason. Sure, for many of us, we’ve given up on the idea that the community we live in actually functions like a real community where people know their neighbors, but does it have to be that way? Some neighborhoods are proving that to be a big N-O!

I hear of communities “here and there” all throughout Nashville and the suburbs that are keeping it real. One neighborhood’s women started getting together and ended up forming a non-profit to benefit Make-A-Wish together. Another group of people in a neighborhood cut back considerably on their own Christmases to collectively help a nearby family in need. Others know their neighbors well enough to know when help is needed. There’s plenty of fun being had out there too. Porch parties, neighborhood events or groups, games, meals being shared…and more. Communities with amenities like a playground, park, pool or even walking trails make it easy to see and meet others. For most places that we live, we have to really work at it. For those that do not live in these neighborhoods, what can you do?

10 ways to start creating community in your neighborhood

1. Band together with the residents of a neighborhood culdesac, agree to a time to make it car-less, buy some chalk and let the neighborhood children go crazy with their creative side.
2. Go for a walk. Talk to every person you see as you’re walking.
3. If you’ve lived next door to the same people/person for 10 years and still don’t know their name…it’s time to go next door, knock on the door, and say, “Hi, I’m so and so. I live next door. If you ever need milk or something, you can at least knock on my door to see if I have any before driving to the store.”
4. If you see neighbors outside as you’re coming home, resist the garage up/down thing. Go outside and start conversation. If it’s too awkward to just walk directly up to them, pretend that you intended to do something outside…like check the mail. Analyze your lawn with pride (or disdain) and pick a weed out or something. Then say, “Oh, hi…what are you doing?” Don’t make fun. I have pretended like this just to work up the courage to talk to a neighbor.
5. Organize a neighborhood pot luck or progressive dinner. I have people from all over the world in my neighborhood. Don’t you know that food would be good? Set it up and send flyers out.
6. Get a group together of some sort…common interests, common people…book club, bunco night for ladies, cards or sports tv night for guys, moms days with the kids at the park, an event centered around the children, etc.
7. Go to a neighbor that just moved in and take them cookies…or whatever you can think that would be a nice gesture. Knock on the door and just welcome them to the neighborhood. If you really want extra points and a friend for life, offer (and actually start helping) to help them AS they’re moving in.
8. If you have a front porch, by all means, get a rocking chair and actually sit in it. Make sure you smile and wave at every single car or walker that passes by. If I had a porch, I’d do it for fun but with a video camera in hand to film their responses because I’m weird like that.
9. Meet simple needs. For the widow in the neighborhood, get the community together to rotate in and out and actually go visit her for an hour just to listen and keep her company or do things like change out a light bulb. For the new parents that come home from the hospital, get people involved in bringing them meals. For the elderly couple, make their yard the nicest on the block because the neighborhood comes together to take care of it.
10. Share things you have…maybe others will share back. Wouldn’t it be nice, if we had 1 lawn mower per every 2, 3 or 4 houses? Why do we all need our own anyway? So we can mow our yards “ANY” time we want? That’s just silly. We could share so many things with our neighbors to cut down certain costs. I know, I know. I’m getting “out there”, but think about it. You could share something with at least one neighbor, couldn’t you?

Even if your attempts to get the community more involved in one another’s lives are mostly unsuccessful, you will have one great benefit from it all. You’ll be the most popular person in the neighborhood. Chances are, when YOU have a need, someone from the community will be there to meet it. So what if…

What if…

People relocating here say all the time that they moved for the quality of life or lifestyle. So what if we actually improve our quality of life where we live and make our home an even better place to live? What if we go outside our comfort zones by being neighborly and put forth an effort? I know some of your neighbors are weird, but you are weird in some ways to, admit it! So I challenge you to be a change agent and initiate something, even if it’s small. Sure, you’ll get some grumpy responses, but keep at it. You’ll be glad you did.

If you do live in a great neighborhood now, share with us what makes it so friendly, so great and so inviting.

If you don’t live in your idea of an ideal community, what would that look like to you? What changes could be made to yours now? What will you do to step outside your comfort zone a bit? What have you recently done to try and promote community and how did it go? Share your experiences so we can learn together.

Lighting is one way to quickly give your home a face lift. It can also easily and effectively add drama or create mood. This is especially helpful when you look to sell but definitely worth the investment to enjoy now. Make your own modern pendant lamp of string for about $20 using the instructions here courtesy of ReadyMade magazine. Hang them as one in the center of the room or make a group of two or three and hang at varying levels. Add another group of the same number to create balance on the other side of the room if you like. However you use them, it will create drama, interest and a conversational piece for your guests.

Ingredients

• Round balloon (some say to use a punching bag balloon)
• Crochet thread
• Fabric stiffener (we used Stiffy)
• Hanging lamp cord and socket
• Lightbulbs
• Ceiling hook
• Takeout container lid (optional)

Tools

• Scissors
• Drop cloth
• Bowl
• Rubber gloves
• Foam brush
• Clothespin
• Needle

Make the lamp

1. Inflate your balloon to the desired size, and tie it off.
2. Take one end of the thread and tie it to the knot on the balloon.
3. Begin wrapping the thread around the balloon, keeping it taut but not letting it distort the shape of the balloon.
4. Keep winding the thread around until you have good coverage over the whole surface of the balloon. The final trip around the balloon should end up back at the knot.
5. Cut your string and tie it to the knot of the balloon.
6. Cover your work area with a drop cloth, and fill a shallow bowl with fabric stiffener.
7. Wearing rubber gloves and using the foam brush, gently apply stiffener to the entire surface of the balloon. Be generous, making sure to saturate the thread completely.
8. Hang the thread-covered balloon with a clothespin and let dry overnight.
9. Once it’s completely dry, pop the balloon with your needle and remove it from the globe.
10. Cut a hole where the balloon knot was, and insert your light fixture.
11. Install the ceiling hook in a nice spot, hang your new light, and let it shine.{ TIP } To suspend lightbulbs within larger globes, cut a small hole in the center of a round plastic takeout lid, and make another cut from the outer edge to the hole. Tie the cord in a loose knot, and slip the lid above the knot. To insert it into the fixture, fold the plastic lid and push it through the hole in the top. Once inside, the lid unfurls and the bulb remains suspended in place.

With home sales down across the country and remodeling projects recouping progressively less since the record 2005 year, which projects make sense in a year such as 2009? Which ones will be an improvement for you to enjoy now and be resale-friendly later? With any remodeling project, especially in a tough economy, you should consult with professionals on costs and a realtor about real estate values. Many different factors contribute to the ability to recoup a portion of your costs, so it’s important to talk with those professionals about your specific area’s factors. You must consider your own financial situation carefully before proceeding with any major investment.

It won’t surprise you that small projects are “in” while big projects (additions, etc.) are “out”. You can never go wrong improving your curb appeal. Kitchens and baths have always been and still remain the magic rooms. Energy efficiency can only help both you and the next owner.

Americans are expected to spend $217 billion on remodeling in 2009, according to Gopal Ahluwalia, staff vice president for research at NAHB. That’s up from the $210 billion spent in 2008 and not far off from the $218 billion spent in 2007.

So which specific projects will warrant attention in ‘09?

1. Widows and Siding Replacement - Nationwide, these were two of the highest projects in terms of amount recouped in the recent Cost vs. Value Report by Remodeling Magazine from 77%-80% in mid-range and 80%-86% in upscale categories. In the East South Central region, these recoupable amounts were comparable. For upscale homes both windows and siding replacement ranked highest in return: foam-backed vinyl - 91.5%; fiber-cement vinyl - 90.2%; windows - 81% for vinyl and 76% for wood). Vinyl siding replacements in mid-grade homes, ranked #2 in recoupable value. These projects increase curb appeal and can give a home quite a face lift. Even better, it makes the home easier to maintain. Energy efficiency from new windows are dramatically better than older ones.
2. Anything green - Adding energy efficiency to your home can only help. Some of those projects include caulking, insulating, reinsulating, replacing doors and windows, and energy-efficient skylights. Other green projects include low-flow faucets and toilets, energy-efficient appliances, high efficiency furnaces and hot water heaters.
3. Deck addition - Both Nationwide and in the East South Central region, it was the most recouped mid-range project (wood materials) at 85% in the East South Central region and 81% nationwide. On the upscale list, the return was not as high. If every other house in your neighborhood has a deck, buyers will expect one when you look to sell. On the other hand, if you’re one of the few that have a deck what a differentiator you have!
4. Cosmetic updates - Cosmetic upgrades create huge impacts. Simple projects include painting, replacing carpet or tile, replacing hardware in bathrooms, putting in hardwood floors, updated and matching appliances such as stainless, etc.
5. Cosmetic Plus - Going a step further in cosmetic updates can really differentiate your home with things such as faux finishes, crown molding, etc.
6. Kitchen remodel - You’ve heard it a thousand times. Kitchens and bathrooms sell homes. It was true yesterday. It’s true today. It will be true tomorrow. Major remodels have the biggest impact overall and give a high return for the investment, but minor remodels can certainly differentiate your home and make it pop. A minor kitchen remodel was in the top 5 of mid-grade recoupable projects at 81.1% in our region. Minor kitchen projects include: upgraded counter tops, replacing appliances, installing new and improved faucets and/or sink, or refacing cabinets. With a bigger budget installing one luxury appliance could be a winner like: built-in espresso machine, two drawer dishwasher, or wine chiller.
7. Bathroom remodel - It’s just as important as the kitchen and brings a high return on your investment. Fancy tile work or stone can have a huge impact in the shower area if you have the budget. Otherwise, tile replacement, hardware, cabinetry and counter tops can all be an improvement. It had the fourth highest mid-grade return in our region at 83.1% and fell right behind windows and siding for upscales at 79.3%.
8. Better use of rooms - Big additions are not going to score big right now, but reinventing an existing space can work wonders. For example, make better use of the mud room or family foyer. Create a place to store sports equipment, crafts, and other similar items. Insert a desk nook.
9. Lighting - Nothing can date a house more or impact a homeowner’s mood like lighting. Improved lighting and new light fixtures can make a room and your whole house look and feel radically different.
10. Basement remodel - While it’s important not to over spend in the basement, especially if it is not a walkout, they are a little more rare in our specific region and can make a difference in your home. In our region, basement remodels ranked right up there as #3 in terms of recoupable value at 83.9% return on average.

Remodeling Magazine publishes a Cost vs. Value Report each year showing national and regional data on projects, their costs, and the amount recouped in a sale. While the chart below will show the South Central region numbers on the left side of the project and the national averages on the right, Nashville’s data was not included in the report. I have no idea why. They list every other major city and have included both Memphis and Knoxville in our region. Regardless, it’s worth a look when you are considering a new remodeling project in 2009 to get an idea of what you can expect to get in return. Certainly, if you can pull off some of these projects for much less that the average (DIY-ers), you should be in better shape to recoup more of your costs.

Where resale value is a major factor in a homeowner’s decision to remodel, it is prudent to consult with a reputable local remodeler about actual construction costs and to talk with an experienced Realtor about home prices in the neighborhood. Your remodeling decisions can sometimes make or break the sale of your home…get you in the game or keep you out. So talk to professionals before you proceed. Average prices are reflected here, but simple changes in the scope or materials of a project can dramatically affect the price. There are many ways to cut costs on a project to make it more worthwhile.

Mid-range remodel in TN, AL, KY vs. National

Upscale remodel in TN, AL, KY vs. National

Historic and Downtown Franklin is having their First Annual Fashion Super Sale this coming Friday and Saturday (January 30 & 31, 2009) and is touting designer apparel at 8 local boutiques of 40%-70% off. These shops are a hot spot for many folks and represent some of the area’s best in local and national brands. Located on Main Street, 3rd, and 4th Street, visit these 8 stores this Friday and Saturday to check out their sales:

Emmaline - 400 Main Street, Franklin, TN (4th Ave & Main)- A couple of their highlights include being mentioned in Lucky Magazine’s “Best New Cities to Shop” report featuring Nashville and Franklin Tennessee in February of 2008 and InStyle Magazine in April of 2008. Known for their feminine apparel you’ll find selections from over 30 different designers ranging from up-and-coming to well-known designers.

Haven - also mentioned in the same article for “Best New Cities to Shop” is owned by music video stylist, Claudia Fowler, who offers bohemian clothing and jewelry in a rustic/antique setting she transformed from a grocery store.

whats-in-store - 407 Main Street, Frankin, TN - is packed full with affordable and adorable fashion accessories both from the local owner’s (Dena Nance) own line as well as other industry offerings she finds across the country. Her accessories usually show up in magazines & photos because of the celebrity that is wearing them at the time.

Philanthropy - 432 Main Street, Franklin, Tennessee - This store combines fashion with compassion and marries the two for charitable giving to do things like dig wells in Sudan, provide homes for orphaned children in Haiti, and help support the needs of autistic children, to name a few. Christina Martin and Marianne DeMeyers have created a model that allows us to give to support needs through the purchase of any of their high quality men or ladies clothing, jewelry, spa products or home accents and gifts.

Ivey on Main - 317 Main Street, Franklin, TN - While there are some men’s clothing the focus is women with an emphasis on casual trendy. You can find t-shirts and jeans to cute dresses.

Open Window - Sorry, but I honestly do not know much about this store. So check it out and let us all know what it’s all about in the comments below.

The Cellar - 324 Main Street, Franklin, TN - This may not be the hippest store for teens or rockers on the block, but it offers a great selection for some of the moms out there that aren’t going for the latest trends.

Gin-O - 118 4th Avenue S, Franklin, TN - This boutique offers a mix between chic, trendy and eclectic fashions.

In addition to the sales, you will find refreshments at select retailers as well as free gifts with purchase to add to the experience. An added benefit for sale shoppers will be two free tickets to O’More College of Design’s student fashion show for any shopper whose two-day collective purchases total $300 or more.

And there is one more treat for you when you get hungry. Puckett’s Grocery is giving sale shoppers a free dessert with the purchase of a lunch entree’. If you’ve never been to Puckett’s you’re really missing out! So make Friday or Saturday your first visit and enjoy a free dessert.

If you go, let us know how it was through your comments below.

Let me introduce you to my friend, Robert Routh. He holds the key to information that will delight even the least frugal of you, in economic times such as these. I like to think of Fridays as Frugal Fridays. This is when I call up Robert to get the scoop and attempt to learn from the master. Undoubtedly, I’ve already missed out on some spectacular deal that he, of course, was able to fully exploit. He sees opportunity everywhere, and there’s no doubt he’s going to find it if it’s hiding from plain view. Mega-shopping deals, an easy way to save money, or a crazy combination of promotions to get the most he can for less from retailers. You name it, he probably invented it. But now, the secrets will be revealed…one by one…week by week. Robert has agreed to let me step inside his ever-churning head and pull out some of his best tricks and secrets…well, at least for that week.

So it’s yours free for the taking. Beware, some of these tips are not for the lighthearted. Take what you can, and thank Robert for not keeping the secrets all to himself. Here are the 5 ways Robert managed to keep more of his paycheck than the rest of us this week.

1. Fight back against crazy high gas bills in the winter. - Robert’s utility bills don’t go up too much when the winter months hit. First, he has a fire going every night. He burns whatever he can find…all of his trash, dead tree limbs he picked up (that you left on the curb) on the side of the road, you know standard stuff. I mean, I usually go out in my car in the middle of the night several nights a week looking for tree limbs people left out after cutting down a dead tree, a wind storm, or something…don’t you? Like I said, he sees opportunity everywhere, even for dead tree limbs. He bought a kerosene heater last year “on sale”, of course, for about $35 that holds a 5 gallon tank. He just refills those for $3/gallon and can keep most any space he’s in heated well for days on end between that, the fire and a couple of electric space heaters in other rooms. Just in case the temperature in the house starts getting a little nippy, he’s got the heat set to come on at 60 degrees.
2. Get better prices on Christmas Decorations than the day after Christmas - You went the day after Christmas to get all of your Christmas decor for next year. Not Robert. I don’t think he started his Christmas decoration shopping until around the 15th of January. He just pops in random retailers regularly and waits for their Christmas decor to go down from 50% off (what you probably bought it for) to 80-90% off. He’ll ask employees there when the merchandise will be further discounted, and they tell him. So he waits patiently. Then he goes nuts buying the stuff. Some of it might show up in his house next Christmas, but most of it is for the Summer Garage/Yard Sale. This is where he makes money on all the discounted merchandise he’s bought all year long. He’ll sell the stuff for 50% off retail when he got it for probably 90% off retail…oh and he got an additional 10-15% off that because he had a coupon of some sort. If you want to keep the stuff yourself and don’t want the picked over leftovers, he has a solution for that too. It’s perfectly legal, but I don’t think I want to exactly promote it on here.
3. Don’t discount the discount stores - It is not uncommon for him to frequent these $1 item retailers, and upon leaving give the cashier $100. He gets cleaning supplies, soap, detergent, pot scrubbers or sponges…whatever everyday necessity he can think of for $1 each where we pay several dollars for them at the grocery or pharmacy stores. He then stock piles them and uses them all year long. There are some great ways to save money on everyday needs as well as creative projects you can do in and around your home at these stores.
4. Save tons when it comes to Paint - Robert never buys paint at retail when there are plenty of perfectly great colors and ready-made cans of paint in the rejects section. The rejects section is just where people picked a color and bought a paint that they didn’t like when they got home. They bring these paints back, and the stores sell them for a ridiculously low price in comparison to the freshly mixed paints custom for you. He gets creative and even mixes the rejects together, but personally, I’ll leave color mixing like that to Danielle on Color Splash.
5. Never pay retail - His last tip of the day is never, never, never pay retail for anything. If an item doesn’t go on sale (which, many times it actually does somewhere, somehow), he says to always use a coupon. Many retailers regularly give coupons (Bed, Bath & Beyond’s 20% off, etc.) to customers, but you can find them in newspapers, online…anywhere if you just look!

Let us know if you have any tips or tricks of your own in the comments section or feel free to just leave general comments. More frugality tips revealed next week…so stay tuned, and make sure you come back to learn more of Robert’s frugality secrets revealed!