46 The Queens Courier • at home • AUGUST 13, 2015 for breaking news visit www.queenscourier.com LIGHTEN at home UP By Tresa Erickson want? Get rid of it! Have a yard sale or make a donation. Pay particular attention Generally, the lighter the paint color, to the furniture in the room. The the airier and more open a room will more pieces in the room, the tighter feel. Some rooms, however, look dark it will feel. Donate or sell what you no matter how light the color on the donÕt need and give the room space walls. Basement rooms, in particular, to breathe. can be dull and dreary. How do you lighten up a room when the paint on the Let there be color walls in not the issue? You may have a light color on the walls, but what about elsewhere? Let there be light Caramel-colored sofas and chairs set Light is one of the easiest ways to against caramel-colored walls will make make a dark room brighter. Study the the room look dark and drab. While lighting in the room. Where could you replacing the furniture might not be add more? Could you light up a dark in your budget, adding some colorful corner with a floor lamp or add more accessories should not cost you too task lighting with a table lamp behind much. You can shop for inexpensive the sofa? If youÕve got the budget, accessories or pull them from other you might want to replace all old light parts of your home. Sheets make great fixtures. At the very least you should slipcovers and a vase of flowers from replace the light bulbs with brighter, the yard will really perk up the fireplace more efficient ones. Does the room have mantel. Add some colorful throw pillows, windows? Use them. Throw open the books and prints, and a rug underfoot, blinds or drapes and give the windows a and you might be surprised by how good cleaning to let in as much natural light as possible. You might also want to look into adding some skylights to the room. Let there be space Nothing can make a room feel darker and more closed in than clutter. Take stock of the contents of the room. Is there anything you no longer need or much lighter the room feels. Let there be personality Does the room speak to you and your tastes? Could someone walk into the room and learn something about you? No? Time to change that. Think about what you love most and find a way to incorporate it into the room. Do you love to travel? Display some vacation mementos or photos. Do you love animals? Bring in some of your favorite animal photos or statues. Give the room some personality, and it will feel brighter. Let there be music Music can dramatically change the feel of a room and help you see it in a different light. Bring in a radio or stereo and turn it on often. Making a room feel brighter doesnÕt always require a complete remodel. The simplest of changes can make a world of difference. Give these suggestions a try and see what happens. That once dark, unappealing room might just become your favorite place to be. KITCHEN AND BATH SPECIALISTS AT GENERAL WOODWORKING At General Woodworking, customers can construct their perfect home with the finest materials all available at affordable prices. “We give special attention to our customers,” said owner Simon Viner, who has been in the business for 35 years. “This business is a family thing – I got it from my father and brothers.” Located at 182-12 Union Turnpike in Fresh Meadows for the past 15 years, General Woodworking is a full construction business specializing in kitchen and bath. They offer customers a wide selection of everything from custom-made kitchen cabinets to bathroom vanities. The family-owned business also specializes in European cabinets, which Viner said gives customers a “different” feel of elegance and beauty. In addition to full construction projects, General Woodworking also offers refacing services for customers hoping to revamp their cabinets at a lower cost without the inconvenience of removing and replacing existing cabinets. “This way you go from an old kitchen to an almost new kitchen,” said Viner. “This is good for somebody who doesn’t want to spend much, but still wants to get quality and value. It takes us two to three days from the time we walk into the house to get the job done.” Viner added that his business stands out from other similar businesses because they are very flexible when it comes to pricing and offer a large selection of products to choose from. “We can give great prices to any budget,” he said. “We have lots of different products with different varieties and can match it to any budget.” He also added that General Woodworking works closely with customers to ensure they will be happy. One can order just cabinets, do complete installations or both. For a limited time, customers who order full kitchen cabinets will get a free stainless steel under mount sink and faucet as part of a spring special. Interested individuals can call for a free estimate or visit the showroom from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Monday through Friday or on Sunday from noon to 4 p.m. For more information, visit generalkitchens.com or call 718-969-6525. – Alexa Mae Asperin 9
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