TRANSFORM THE HUMBLE SWAP HOME

In one month we have transformed a somewhat decrepit tenement apartment from the late 1800's into the perfect swap home.


All it took was some paint, a few carefully chosen accents, the willingness to throw away as much junk as possible, and a lot of elbow grease.


Editing clutter is at least as important as adding decor. Most crucial is cleaning, then cleaning again, then hiring a cleaner.


Differences in cleanliness standards are the number one reason for disappointment with a home swap.


After cleaning areas the previous tenant had never bothered to touch, like the tops of the kitchen cabinets, it was time to add some style.


We used our decorating budget on a few high-visibility items like cabinet handles, decorative mirrors, area rugs, curtains and dining chairs.


Now that the place looks better there is one more crucial step before we can hope to swap homes....