B4 • Friday, September 16, 2022
thegardenisland.com
THE GARDEN ISLAND
Got House?
Julie Black, Principal Broker & Owner (808) 652-6174 with daughter Kela Caspillo, Realtor Sales Person (808) 652-6173 kauaidreams.com
Turn your new rental into a personal haven Removable wallpapers also can add pizzazz to kitchen backsplashes, bathroom walls and cabinetry. Tempaper, for one, offers a range of designs, including ones that look like painted ceramic tile, terrazzo, marble or embossed metallics. Liz Morrow of Tacoma, Washington, temporarily papered her refrigerator. “A fridge can be ugly or boring, but removable wallpaper can transform it easily into the most interesting part of the whole kitchen,” she says.
Kim Cook ASSOCIATED PRESS Even though she was moving into a rental apartment, Alexa d’Argence was eager to put her personal stamp on it. “Loving my space is more important to me than my security deposit. So I just went for it with paint, shelves, window treatments and upgrading the medicine cabinet,” says d’Argence, who as a senior designer at BAR Architects in San Francisco knows something about creating a stylish space. “My landlord actually appreciated the improvements. I’d say, consider changes that add value, and that wouldn’t be removed if you moved out,” she says. Non-designers might not feel as comfortable doing that, since most rental agreements stipulate that you can’t permanently change anything. Another approach: Strike up a conversation with your landlord to talk about potential changes, and perhaps even offer to foot the bill. Or, just make some temporary tweaks, little personal touches that can turn bland and basic into hip and homey with just a trip to the hardware store. “Personalizing a rental is really easy these days; there are so many great accents
Storage “We don’t tend to consider customizing our rental storage spaces,” Shaw says, “but there are ways to LIZ MORROW VIA ASSOCIATED PRESS improve their aesthetics and functionality.” Designer Liz Morrow stands next to her refrigerator Set up custom organizers covered with a stylish patterned Tempaper removin closets to stow wardrobe able paper at her home in Tacoma, Wash. and household items efficiently. Coordinating bins And don’t forget the that are designed to be and baskets are inexpensive ceiling. On one project, she temporary,” says Jessica and ubiquitous in home created a wow factor by Dodell-Feder, HGTV Magazine’s executive editor. putting a colorful, removable décor stores. Or create a roomy closet geometric from Flavor Paper The walls on a bedroom ceiling. Night against a wall. You can take a sky patterns or photomurals clothes rack with you when Jessica Shaw, interior you move. Rebrilliant’s of forests could be design director of New Liddle heavy-duty adjustable especially nice for city York’s The Turett rack, for instance, has dwellers. Collaborative, is a fan of rubber feet that anchor Denver designer Rachel removable wallpaper. “I’ve Hoback put an eye-catching against the floor and ceiling. used it in my own home. In a small kitchen, shelf star-mosaic wallpaper on Etsy, where I found mine, risers and slide-in bins that her stair risers. “This was a has prints, murals and pop onto cabinet shelves custom options. When your very quick and affordable amp up your storage project that made a huge lease is up, you can gently difference in the look of our capacity. And adhesive remove it with no residue,” stairway,” she says. she says. hooks are good for hanging
Mortgage rates hit 6%, first time since 2008 housing crash ASSOCIATED PRESS WASHINGTON — Average longterm U.S. mortgage rates climbed over 6% this week for the first time since the housing crash of 2008, threatening to sideline even more homebuyers from a rapidly cooling housing market. Mortgage buyer Freddie Mac reported Thursday that the 30-year rate rose to 6.02% from 5.89% last week. The long-term average rate has more than doubled since a year ago and is the highest it’s been since November of 2008, just after the housing market collapse triggered the Great Recession. One year ago, the rate stood at 2.86%. Rising interest rates — in part a result of the Federal Reserve’s aggressive push to tamp down inflation — have cooled off a housing market that has been hot for years. Many potential homebuyers are getting pushed out of the market as the higher rates have added hundreds of dollars to monthly mortgage payments. Sales of existing homes in the U.S. have fallen for six straight months, according to the National Association of Realtors. “The increase will have an impact on the buying power of would-be homebuyers,” said Steve Reich, chief operations officer at Finance of America Mortgage, a home financing company. “We are hearing that some buyers are taking a wait-and-see approach until rates come down.” The average rate on 15-year, fixed-rate mortgages, popular among those looking to refinance their homes, rose to 5.21% from 5.16% last week. Last year at this time the rate was 2.19%.
not just artwork but pans and utensils. Metal utility carts come in a range of colors; if you can paint, then stencil or decoupage one yourself. They’re handy for frequently used cooking items, or for bar gear.
canvas, wovens, paper, metal and wood slats. The windows
Curtains or blinds can bring texture, color and privacy. If there are no rods already installed, springtension or twist-and-fit rods The furniture adjust to various window Gita Mirchandani, a public sizes and have protective relations executive in New rubber ends. Kwik-Hang’s York City, has gradually brackets can be tapped into added colorful and the window trim, without a meaningful pieces from her drill. Or look for Redifavorite designers to her Shade’s peel-and-stick overall-white apartment. window treatments; some There are Eames chairs, a also provide enhanced light George Nelson bench, control. Jonathan Adler screens and Finishing touches Philippe Starck dining chairs. “Each one serves as Paint – especially spray a significant landmark for paint – is an affordable way moments in my life,” she to upgrade a space. Some says. kinds can be used on rugs, She’s also personalized and on decorative fabrics on her bedroom, and honored furniture or curtains. her heritage. “My headboard Buy some builder-basic is a colorful, hand-painted cabinet hardware or switch Indian screen that reminds plate covers from a me every day of my hardware store and paint fascinating background,” them in your favorite hues. she says. Follow product instructions Convertible furniture lets on preparing and testing you create defined spaces surfaces before painting. that weren’t there. MurphyChanging knobs and style beds fold up into a handles is another easy way cabinet, with options like an to change the feel of a room, attached sofa or table. and there are many creative Tables like those at options out there. Resource Furniture Jazz up your bathroom by transform into dining, office changing out your or coffee tables, or consoles. showerhead to a colored And a simple room screen one, or one that sprays like can be a workhorse. There rain or in colors; Sproos!, are rigid framed panels and SparkPod and DreamSpa are folding screens in colored some brands.