August 20, 2010, "Kendra"

Kendra,

It was a pleasure and a privilege to assist you today. I thank the Lord for His creativity that flowed as we committed my hands and limited creativity to Him who is limitless in ALL things!

The following are before and after photos; there are also suggestions of what can be purchased for your home from furniture to accessories. I also wanted to make sure I left you with the sketch for the valances to place in dining and living room, causing fluidity throughout both spaces.

Living Room Before:

Living Room After:

Living Room Before:

Living Room After:

Replace the wall decor in the living room with a large, masculine mirror.

(Mirrors enlarge the space)

Size:

No less than 50" and no more than 55 " wide

and no less than 40" and no more than 45" in length.

Purchase Love seat:

replacing the two chairs

Color suggestions:

Solid brown, taupe or cream microfiber or even leather

Throw pillows

Size: 20 x 20.

Colors: Burgundy and gold...burgundy can be a solid soft material, and the goldish yellow, textured material, adding a splash of femininity...it would be a good choice to purchase up to 8 pillows...

Round throw rug

~ Along the same color as the rug that is currently in the living room

Round coffee table

Size: 36"

Dark wood or leather

Sofa Table

Size: 27" - 29" in height

Color: Dark wood

Accessories for the sofa table:

Something similar to the decor in your niche by the front entrance

Diffuser

Artificial topiary

Artificial small green leaves

Small glasses (Like we utilized today) adding water

Great discount stores for home decor:

~ Hobby Lobby

~ Ross'

~ TJ Maxx

~ Marshall's

~ Burlington Coat Factory

Before Vinette in Dining Room:

After Vinette in Dining Room:

In dining room you could possibly add a buffet table and large mirror.

After Vinette Zoom In:

Unfortunately, I did not take before pictures...this is the

after results:

The greenery on the buffet are from the plants outside,

Vases are drinking glasses we found in your kitchen...$0

After:

Did not take before pictures...

After:

Helpful Staging Ideas

Written by: Teresa Criswell

Three essential factors in assisting the sell of your home:

* Replacing smelly, repelling odors with inviting aromas

* Reducing clutter and distractions

* Staging music

Have you ever walked into someone's house and before walking through the threshold, you can smell a distinct odor? Does the odor invite you to come in or does it chase you away? These are questions to ask yourself as you sell your home. We all have an odor in our home. We are accustomed to our own distinct odor, yet in regards to the selling your home you must become impartial and transform the atmosphere of your home into a potential buyers home.

If you want the 'for sale' sign to be a permanent fixture in your yard, a smelly and cluttered house will accomplish this goal. All kidding aside; the sense of smell is a tool used to your advantage or disadvantage. Have you noticed that your sense of smell recalls memories? For example, the smell of corn dogs reminds me of being a little girl going to the state fair. The smell of vanilla, pies or cookies reminds me of home. A warm place; a place of comfort.

Now, if you have animals, or smoke, most likely as mentioned before, your sense of smell has been 'deafened' to the odors. Let this be a reminder that the potential buyer is not only 'looking' at your home they are also 'smelling' your home. The solution to this is a deep cleaning. A great investment in regards to deep cleaning is to get your carpets cleaned. If you smoke, begin smoking outside...not in the garage, as most of the time the garage is a sponge for odors.

An essential idea for a beneficial aroma is to bake cookies or a pie before a showing. It is a great way to say, "Welcome home". If you don't want to go through the baking process, you can purchase the attractive diffusers:

If you do end up purchasing diffusers or candles, it is a good idea to purchase the same scent, as you don't want the different fragrances to compete. Remember your goal is to compliment the home; don't waste the potential buyers 'eye gate' or 'nose gate' with unnecessary distractions.

In addition to complimenting your home, the most essential part of staging is removing clutter. Any tiny knick knacks, family portraits, appliances on the counters, they should be removed and/or packed away. Although the potential buyer knows that your things will be removed in the moving process, it is still a distraction from the goal that you are trying to accomplish. Your goal is for the potential buyer to see the qualities of the house versus the quantity of 'stuff'. An easy solution to this obstacle is removing if possible, ALL distractions. A great example in what I call a 'distraction' is removing those bathroom rugs and mats. These are all distractions from the space. Click virtual tour to see a home that I was able to stage a few weeks ago.

Lastly, playing soft classical piano music is a great 'accent' to the selling of your home. If you can purchase a CD and have it playing in the background, this is a great tool in bringing the senses of smell, sight and sound in harmony as you compliment your home. When playing the music, make sure it is background noise; which is played softly toward the minimum volume.

These helpful links may also be of great assistance in the selling of your home:

http://homestagingreview.com/Articles/odors-and-scents/does-your-home-pass-the-smell-test.htm

http://www.life123.com/career-money/real-estate/selling-home/open-house-ideas.shtml

http://www.homestagingpartners.com/whatis.php

Bill and Heather May 27, 2010

(At the end of this post, click on virtual tour to see the AFTER).

Artwork to go above bed in master bedroom:

Duvet cover and shams for King bed in Master bedroom..

Master Bedroom

After implementing what was seen online:

It would be important to purchase two more king

pillows to add luster to the bed...

Remove jewelry box and we will accessorize.

Remove the clutter out of the shower...we will stage

the shower with a loofah, shampoo and conditioner in

clear bottles with pumps for a sleek, clean look.

Wall Niche

Before:

After:

Center the artwork that is staggered above:

Center the top piece of art work in the niche and place

the other piece above fireplace (If you cannot find an appropriate

piece for the fireplace wall).

Dining Room

Need to add large round table and chairs with a

large piece as centerpiece...

Half Bath

Remove the clutter:

Guest Bathroom

Before:

Simple After:

Guest Bathroom

Before (Floors):

Remove yellow rugs, it is a distraction and 'chops' up

the floors...

After:

Guest Bedroom

Before:

After:

Final After (Adding color)

This is a beautiful art piece from ZGallerie that the client

already had in her living room. We moved this gorgeous

piece and placed it in and behind the bed.

The live greenery we cut from the outside and brought in.

Essentially bringing life in the midst of all the metal.

After:

Master Bathroom

Before:

(Remove rugs...)

After:
(After removing the rugs it definitely enlarges the space):

Front Entry
Replace the 'Welcome Mat' with something similar...

Replace with similar mat:

Cobalt blue vases (2) Medium size with grass
and zenia's (red):

Garage Doors
The garage door color...go a shade lighter
than the trim on house.

Living Room

Place the canvas artwork that is on the wall near

the entry...it must be at least 40" wide...the existing

artwork above the fireplace is too small in comparison

to the room. Must have a bold piece with some weighty

pieces on the mantle.

Breakfast Nook

The breakfast nook is good, just need a piece

of artwork to go on this wall...tying in the colors that

are throughout the other rooms. You want to do this

because of the open floor plan of your home.

You will need something large to balance out with the large

breakfast table...

(Large Square Wrought Iron Piece)

Before we moved the furniture, the love seat was closer to

window and off balanced...we simply moved the couches together

and changed the arrangement of the decor on sofa table.
We already moved the couches to the proper place, however, below is

picture of the decor on sofa table before it was retouched.

Client removed the personal pictures in the

'cubby hole' of entertainment center

Final After:

Place the grass in the three 'cubby' holes of entertainment center.

Regatta
Pillows for couches

To Do that are not mentioned above:
*Enhance the front foyer

*Move desk at an angle in office
*The towels in the guest bathroom are currently yellow...

~ It is too bland with the beige...go with the Regatta blue family (example in pillow above)

*Clean and if possible, repaint fireplace

*Dust

*Remove the appliances on the countertops

~ You can leave coffee pot and mugs out...creating a small vinette

*Place vibrant vegetables (mounting) in the wooden bowl and use as centerpiece on island
~ Tomatos

~ Green peppers

* Doing great on organizing closet space...keep it up!

* Find a 7 ft. ficus tree for your bedroom or for the corner next to entertainment center in living room and office
* Try to find rectangular boxes with manicured grass...Target, maybe even department stores...

to place in rectangle shelves beside the fireplace

AFTER: VIRTUAL TOUR

Karen's Current and New Home...

Update, August 5, 2010:

Hi Karen,

It was great working with you again! Working with your existing furniture and accessories, we were able to provide a bit more fluidity throughout your space.

Some pointers to consider on the front exterior:

Clear out the shrubbery in front lawn...especially around the mail box.

Add your two pots by the front door to the right, with a layering effect...add red flowers and green grass:

Place the pots in a staggered position where the one closest to the door is set up higher than the other pot (See how the pots are positioned in the picture below...this is how they need to be positioned, however with one layered above another.

Clear out shrubbery...

Back patio, this is the after, I did not take before pictures...

The space now flows as one space flowing together.

It is also a great extension from indoors to the outdoors.

Before 1/2 bathroom:

After 1/2 bath:

Before dining/breakfast nook:

After:

Before Living Room:

Before Living Room:

After Living Room:

May, 2009:

Hi Karen,

It was wonderful meeting you this afternoon. I am very glad that you were able to utilize your gift certificate for my services.

Pictured below is your console table and decorative vase...please keep both pieces and move to new home.

I know you are needing to utilize most of your furniture...so don't worry...we will work with what you have and wait until you are ready to purchase new furniture...

The new house and large living space (two photos)...

(32'x17')

The other side of family room (32' x 17')


The 'rough sketch' of how I will place furniture and artwork...
The left bottom side of page is the front entry:

From your current home..please bring the end tables

and lamps...could use end tables for a different function...

You are a minimalist, so let's utilize these pieces in a different

way with a different purpose. We may use the existing lamps for

a completely different area.

Your current home's fireplace and chairs...

the chairs will need to be replaced with chairs that

have more sleek lines...in the meantime we

will work with what you already have...

In addition to all the furniture you are keeping,

please keep the small table which is on the left
side of the photo...

I know you want to keep this wicker love seat,

it would be a great piece to place on your deck...

but not in your bedroom...especially if you are
utilizing the Edo Platform Bed (pictured below)...

Thos. Moser Edo Platform Bed

This is what I have analyzed thus far...if you have any questions, please contact

me via phone or email. You are greatly appreciated!