Blending Country with Contemporary Styles with Accessories
November 23, 2011
When I first walked into this house I was confused with the conflicting styles. The kitchen cupboards were very country but the furniture was all contemporary and the fireplace was ultra modern with the smoked glass and the white metal. I had to instantly decide which direction to go. The simplest way to bring everything together is a quick shopping spree for accessories or renting Styled & Staged Inventory.
The homeowner had just painted the walls white at the suggestion of his painter. Tip #1 – Most painters are not interior designers! Painting all the walls white does not make it look bigger and brighter – it just makes it look cold and boring!
With a limited budget and tight timeline Styled & Staged had to quickly pull the room together for an exciting and cohesive look. Staging is all about prioritizing the budget to give the ‘wow’ factor for the photos in order to attract more potential buyers.
Before
Removing all the country spindal details above the cupboards instantly took the ‘country’ look out of them. Showcasing the eating counter also adds valuable space and function to the kitchen.
Before
Exchanging the ceiling fan to a chandelier and adding some attractive colourful table lines also defines the dining area and makes it more inviting.
Before
All the surfaces were hard – wood floors, leather couches, marble coffee table, bare glass windows, smoked mirror and metal on fireplace.
Adding an area rug gives instant warmth. Hanging artwork with the same brick/orange and wood tones as the cupboards really help blend the two styles. Adding textured soft pillows breaks up all the white walls and white furniture. Dark brown drapes in both the dining and the living room anchor the rooms and gives the two rooms the continuity. Lower table lamps also give warmer lighting and another pop of colour.
The fireplace is a feature that stays with the house so we had to make it look it’s best. Before the fireplace was out of proportion to the room. Hanging artwork above adds height and warmth to the smokey mirror. The homeowner also painted the white metal with a fire retardant tan textured paint. Adding trees and greenery also give life and warmth to the room. Adding wooden blinds on the front door as well as the door going out to the garage also adds texture, warmth and privacy.
‘After’ pictures were taken by: www.ontariovisualhomes.com
Quick Easy Centrepieces for Free
October 12, 2011
Never underestimate what you have right in your own back yard to create a quick and beautiful centrepiece that’s completely FREE!
For our Thanksgiving dinner I just cut a Hydrangea ball and a couple vines of Virginia creepers and literally threw them in a festive pedestal bowl. All the seasonal colours looked festive and fresh.
Have fun setting your table. Somehow the food always tastes better when the table looks pretty. All the rich sumptuous colours triggers the appetite. The evening becomes an ‘experience’, not just meal.
Styled & Staged always sets the dining room or kitchen table when staging a house to sell. Not only does it make the dining room more appealing with textures and colours, but it’s also a symbol of where people gather to share food and their stories of the day. Another good selling feature of a house. Remember, people are buying a ‘perceived’ lifestyle!
24 Hour Transformation
August 18, 2011
This very busy and active family needed their house staged within 24 hours! Obviously with the time frame certain things like painting were not possible. Styled & Staged worked very hard bringing in rental inventory for a complete transformation.
- After
Your home should be a very personal space where you can showcase your personal and sentimental items. However, when selling your these items should be removed so buyers are looking at the architectural details of the house instead of your ‘stuff’.
Moving the furniture around really opened up the space and made it feel so much larger. Adding the ivory area rug brightened up the room and gave some relief to the saturated colours on the wall.
- Before
- After
- After
Moving the couch really opened up the hallway and expanded the width of the room. It also allowed easier traffic flow and almost created another sitting room in the hallway.
- Before
- After
Adding soft lights gives a warm ambiance to a room. Bringing in bold artwork makes it easy to incorporate more accent colours for texture, layers and interest.
- Before
- After
Less if more. It’s calmer on the eye to have a couple large pieces of artwork instead of lots of little pieces. The camera doesn’t pick up details in little items so it just looks like clutter which can be distracting.
- Before
- After
- After
Adding large artwork gives this room more drama and impact to the dining room. Continuing the same colour scheme makes the two rooms blend well. Since there aren’t any drapes I gave the illusion of a wider room by hanging matching wall sconces and I balanced the room with side chairs. Fabric runners and flowers add more texture and softness. Adding a tall centerpiece gives height to help fill the space since there isn’t a hanging chandelier
- After
This is a great eat-in kitchen and it just needed a bit of interest that was easily acheived through artwork and setting the table with complimentary colours.
- Before
- After
When selling your house you want it to appeal to the masses and showcase permanent features of the house. Neutral accessories show off the fireplace and the beautiful slate hearth. The ivory rug enlarges the space. Using a toy box as a coffee table disperses the red throughout the room.
- Before
- After
- After
Adding hits of gray and black through accessories and artwork enhances the all the granite in this area. A few pops of red carry the couch colour throughout the three areas for interest.
- Before
- After
You never know who your buyer will be so you just want to have large, clear spaces so they can use their imagination of how they will use the room.
- Before
- After
Replacing the TV with candles and a plant soften the room and add atmosphere. The leather chair fills in the corner nicely and entices buyers in to a comfortable room.
- Before
- After
Wall decals are adorable and amazing for kids rooms since they add so much personality. However, when selling your house it is better to have simpler walls. This room still has a lot of the ‘wow’ factor even though it is toned down a bit.
- Before
- After
Simply moving some furniture around and removing extra tables and chairs makes this room clean, cheery and appealing and makes it feel so much larger.
- After
When rooms are painted a dark colour and there isn’t enough time to paint a simple trick is to add light colour accents or chairs in the corners to help the space or it can look like a dark hole in the photos.
From Drab to Fab
August 11, 2011
This week Styled & Staged had a big challenge of giving a spacious town home a make-over for a quick sale. This transformation was done in 4 short days. Home staging is all about tight time lines and a tighter budget!! With a bit of creativity you would be amazed what can be done.
Before
After
A $15 can of paint gave the fireplace an instant boost and created a focal point. Adding the splash of colour through the artwork and the dramatic red area rug gave the room warmth and personality. All the accessories, artwork, linens, lamps, small tables and area rugs are part of Styled & Staged rental inventory.
Before
After
Adding end table and lamps help define the space and gave to balance the room. Continuing the same colour scheme throughout the whole main floor enhances the flow.
Before
After
Adding artwork really helped brighten the kitchen and continuing the same colours keep everything looking spacious. Adding some black accessories beaks up all wood.
Before
After
After - view from the stairs
This room was instantly transformed by adding a $100 chandelier and replacing the vertical blinds with soft drapes and rods for only $60. I brought the wall unit down from an upstairs bedroom to show just how large the room is. Placing the units on the far way not only creates a focal point but it expands the width of the room. The wood also adds warmth. Now it feels more like a formal dining room. The artwork and table settings also adds interest with colour and texture. Adding plants in a room always brings good energy.
Before
After
This beautiful bedroom set was not being shown to it’s fullest potential. Adding some lush linens (on sale for only $49) and a few decorative accessories and artwork make this room a true master bedroom. Continuing the same colours in the en-suite enlarges the space as well.
Before
After
Candles and plants always make a room feel relaxed. A bold piece of artwork helps tie everything together.
Before
After
The wall unit was put to much better use in the dining room. Adding drapes and new linens give this room a complete make-over. I was able to use the existing shelving unit to give the room some proportion since there was no real bedroom furniture. Canvas artwork makes a great illusion of a headboard.
After
I don’t have any ‘before’ pictures of this room since it was empty. I brought in one of the Japanese screens from another room to use as a headboard. It also adds colour to the white walls. The screen gave the direction for a peaceful zen bedroom. Paper lamps and simple linens help create the mood.
After
This basic white bathroom was give a jolt of energy by adding playful shower curtain, towels and bold accessories. Much easier and faster than painting!
Call Styled & Staged for your Home Staging or Decorating needs 613-302-4020.
Amazing Staging Transformation!
July 20, 2011
After a week of de-cluttering, moving furniture, removing wallpaper, painting, and removing carpet this house is now ready to hit the market for a quick sale at top dollar! To keep costs down I used all the homeowner’s furniture. Bringing in my inventory of accessories was the icing on the cake. Thanks to my amazing painters who were a huge help.
Before
After
Removing the wallpaper border and painting the walls a neutral tan make the room appear larger and cleaner. Replacing the blinds with soft drapes give a quick update. Moving the homeowner’s furniture around creates a better traffic flow. Adding the area rug expands the space and adds more texture. Bringing in rental props (artwork, greenery and toss cushions) give an instant update.
Before
After
Removing a lot extra furniture allows you to see the beautiful floors. Adding the drapes in the dining room expand the room and it makes it feel so much more elegant. Moving the tall hutch to the far wall opens up the room and creates a nice focal point at the end of the room. Adding the leaves to the dining table shows buyers that a large table can fit.
Before
After
Removing all the wallpaper and continuing the same tan colour gives an instant update. Buyers don’t want to have to remove wallpaper when they buy a house. Do the work for them and take their excuses of why they don’t want to buy away. Replacing the cracked Tiffany ceiling lamp with sleek track lighting not only provides better lighting and makes the room more neutral.
Before
After
Moving the fridge to the other side of the kitchen open up the entrance and makes it more functional. Adding artwork with the colours that compliment the adjoining rooms create a cohesiveness flow.
After
Removing the border and giving walls a fresh coat of tan paint brightens up the hallway. Painting the doors and baseboards white break up the length.
Before
After
Removing the wallpaper was the first task at hand! Then it was to remove the soiled pink carpet to expose the beautiful wood floor beneath. Bringing in new linens, drapes, lamps and accessories gives an immediate update. I can’t believe this is the same room!
Before
After
This room was not painted. Adding white made the room look more blue. Bringing in artwork, bed linens, lamp completely updated the room. Replacing the dated blinds with fresh white drapes make the room appear taller and larger. Removing the dated brass headboard also give a sleek contemporary look.
Pick Your Paint Colour Last
July 13, 2011
After I stage someone’s home for re-sale they often hire me to decorate their new homes. I’ve had 4 clients this week ask me to give them paint colours for their new homes. They always seem so disappointed and shocked when I tell them to wait! It’s rare that you move into a new house without needing to buy something new for the rooms.
This is the time to buy your new area rug, or new bed linens, or new artwork that you might need as your ‘inspiration’. There are millions of shades of paint, but only a few pictures that you love, or linens that you can’t wait to crawl into or area rugs that perfect for your house.
This area rug is the inspiration for the room. It not only dictates the colour but also the ‘style’ and ‘feel’ for the space.
Once you have your inspiration then it’s easy to pick a paint colour that compliments what you have. Choosing the wrong shade or tone of even a safe colour like beige can be liking ‘singing out of key’. Just one little tone can make all difference in the world 
.
Just because you love a paint colour in one house doesn’t mean it will look the same in another house. You have to consider the lighting, what colour on the floor it’s reflecting and the exterior exposure. Look at the paint colour chip in the actual room that it’s going in. Always put a paint chip vertical against the wall since it looks different than if you are holding it flat (horizontal).
Most people may only get to be in their new home a couple times for a few minutes during the ‘buying’ process. You might remember the rooms being either brighter or darker than they normally are depending on the time of day you were in the house or even the weather outside. It’s good to actually live in the houses for a bit to get a better sense of the natural lighting.
Once you’ve chosen your source of inspiration (artwork, area rugs, linens, furniture, drapes etc) then it’s easy to add accessories like vases, candles, table linens, throw pillows, and personal items in the coordinating colours. A whole ‘story’ will develop in front of your eyes and you will be so happy.
Be patient and you won’t be sorry.
December is Staging Month
December 1, 2010
January is always a great time to list a property!
December is the time to start the STAGING process!
I’m always surprised how busy I am in the month of December with Initial Consultations but it just makes so much sense if you want to be prepared and get a head start on all the other properties.
Things that can be done this month:
1. Fix-it jobs and minor repairs
2. Paint touch ups and a deep clean
3. Start to remove the clutter
4. Move furniture around
5. Take advantage of the Holiday Sales if any purchases are required (that is why I need to meet with your clients soon so they know what to buy)
If you have a client who is listing in January, let me start working with them now so that everyone is ready for the New Year. Our fees are increasing in January so you will also save $50 if I meet with your client in December.
Let me meet with your clients for the Initial Consultation so I can give them a ‘to-do’ list and a plan or even a paint colour if necessary. That way they can start crossing off their list during the holidays.
Extra Large Paint Chips Makes it Easy to Choose the Perfect Colour!
Then I’ll follow up with my second consultation to STAGE the house with the final details and you will have a picture perfect house ready to list by the time you’ve announced your New Year’s Resolutions!
Call Now to find out how you can take advantage of a $50 discount for a December Initial Consultation 613-302-4020
Country Homes Get Staged Too
July 26, 2010
I’ve noticed a change in Ottawa Home Staging market. I used to stage houses only in the suburbs and down town Ottawa but lately I’ve been staging rural homes and even farm houses.
The process is the same but the end result are a bit different. Staging is always about appealing to the buyers. What appeals to a city slicker is quite different from the country lifestyle. It tends to be more relaxed, organic and rustic but still has the modern comforts.
I always bring in some accessories to put the ‘style’ into the listings. Suddenly I had to update my inventory to include staging accessories that are more appropriate to life outside the city limits. You don’t want to put artwork of a New York city scape in a living room that is on the water front or a big field. You want artwork that has a more natural feel. You want to bring the outdoors in.
Just because a house is in the country doesn’t mean that you fill it with the lace and knickknacks!!! In fact, I still say ‘get rid of it’. The trend is for young buyers to move out to invest in a property with some land since they know that the developments will eventually make their way out there too.
5 Quick Tips for Home Staging a Country Home:
1. Choose appropriate artwork and accessories – think comfort
2. Drapes aren’t necessary for privacy, just texture – show case the view by exposing the glass
3. Choose appropriate flooring for the lifestyle – wet feet or muddy boots
4. Choose warm earthy colours for furniture/ accessories that blend with nature – no pastels
5. Spend more attention to the exterior since buyers are buying the land and the lifestyle as much as they are buying the house
A Can of Spray Paint Saves a Fireplace
April 6, 2010
Home Staging Tip
How One $12.00 Can of Spray Paint Saved the Day!
As soon as I walked into this lovely town house I noticed that all the door handles and the cupboard hardware were brushed nickel. All the chandeliers and light fixtures were contemporary, sleek and also in a brushed nickel finish. Then, glaring right in front of me was this shiny brass fireplace surround! It just didn’t go with the rest of the house. It screamed “HELP”.
Since I was staging the house there were so many other priorities to be done and we were trying to keep the costs down and time at a minimum. We discovered it was very simple to unscrew the brass surround to remove it. After following the manufactures instructions the brass was given a couple coats of this heat resistant spray paint (outside) that is meant for BBQ’s and stoves. I can always count on the advice from my friends at Benjamin Moore.
Before:
You can see how the dining room light clashes with the fireplace surround.
This brass surround dated the fireplace compared to all the other sleek hardware fixtures
After:
Now the modern brushed nickel chandelier works with the black surround instead of competing with it. The black is more neutral for more buyers. Removing the area rug under the table really opens it up and we also had the carpet stretched. It looks brand new. The walls were warmed up with Benjamin Moore `Shaker Beige` and the accent wall in the dining room was painted ‘Wild Mushroom’. Although it’s another neutral colour, it adds some drama in the dining room and it’s a nice backdrop for the light wood furniture.
Adding contemporary artwork and accessories complete the look. The black lamps compliment the fireplace. Less clutter on the mantle make it a stronger focal point.
Linen Secrets That Sell
March 17, 2010
Home Staging Tip
Just imagine walking into a hotel room and the linens looked soiled, torn and worn out.
Would you want to stay there? No.
The same rules apply to selling your house.
I always tell homeowners to replace their bed linens if necessary. It’s a small investment towards the sale of their house. It’s also something that they can take to their new home so it’s not a waste of money. Choosing something simple also gives homeowners lots of decorating options down the road.
Through my several years of Staging, I have noticed one very important secret. Bed linens that are a solid colour look better on the MLS pictures than linens that have a busy pattern. For some reason narrow stripes just look like a blurry zigzag in the pictures. Floral converters can look like a big garden and don’t always appeal to the masculine taste. Solid linens always look fresh and clean. Buyers will notice the room instead of the bedding. Solid linens also appeal to the masses.
This small room appears larger than it is because the new linens blend with the walls. Adding a few throw pillows and artwork kept the room from being boring.
These new Zen linens give this Master Bedroom a quiet, calm and serene feel. The subtle pattern really enhances the existing different shades of paint.
Fresh white linens make this room appear large and airy. The soft accent colours create a ‘spa’ atmosphere. The white wouldn’t have nearly the same impact if it was up against a white wall. There needs to be some sort of contrast. Notice how the canvas artwork also serves as a headboard.
New crisp white linens break up the large bold blue wall. Since there is white trim, white lamp shades and some artwork with a bit of white, it all works together. It wouldn’t look right if the white linens were the only white in the room.
Here is an example of what you DON’T want to do:
Before: These linens looked worn out and faded. This master bedroom had no pizzazz. The clutter on the night tables and the different lamps just create chaos.
How we fixed it: We bought new linens since there wasn’t enough time to paint the room. Since the wall colour was so boring we chose a bold Sienna Red comforter to give the room some ‘style’ and interest. It was also the homeowner`s favourite colour and she wanted it for her next home. Bright complementary artwork, accessories and lamps were rented from Styled & Staged. Suddenly their bedroom set even looked new. We often have to stage a whole house in a very short period of time so we don`t have the luxury of making it perfect but this certainly sets the stage for buyers to see the potential.