Bring the Style to a Staged House
April 13, 2012
It’s such a pleasure when the homeowner’s are so cooperative and willing to follow through with all my home staging suggestions. The hardest part of my job is to gain the homeowners trust in a just a few minutes and before I make suggestions that require a lot of work. This is a great house with a great layout and all it needed was a few rental accessories from Styled & Staged.
BEFORE
AFTER
Adding a shag area rug was the best thing for this family room with vaulted ceilings. It instantly creates a cozy room and reduces the echo. Switching the placement of the TV and the chair made a lot of sense. The TV no longer blocks the window and hiding it in the corner makes it less the focal point.
BEFORE
AFTER
Bringing in new artwork with more colours made it easy to add complimentary accessories. The over-sized artwork and tall candles and vase enhances the high ceilings. Painting the brass trim around the fireplace instantly updates the look. It’s always better to have a few large items on display than a bunch of little things when staging your house. Little things don’t show well in pictures and just look like clutter.
BEFORE
AFTER
Adding a larger ivory area rug is an instant boost of elegance. It also compliments the rental artwork. The previous drapes were too short for the window. Adding long drapes gives the room more height and drama. Bringing in lamps and accessories completes the look. Removing both corner units allows in more light. Never block your windows with furniture when selling. Showing buyers what they are buying.
BEFORE
AFTER
Once again, adding longer drapes makes the room more formal.
The biggest difference in this room was removing the hutch from the buffet. This is much more contemporary look and it opened up the room. It also gives you a surface for decorative accessories. Notice how the same colours have been carried through all the rooms with accessories and artwork on the main floor for a cohesive look.
BEFORE
AFTER
Adding matching lamps on either side of the bed is nice symmetry in a restful room. The previous artwork with wild life is not the most appropriate for a bedroom. The canvas abstract artwork has more colours to work with and it blended with the en-suite colours. Removing the cedar chest at the end of the bed also expands the room.
BEFORE
AFTER
We changed the previous drapes from the living room since they are long enough for this window and they are brighter for the room since the walls are fairly dark. Removing one of the dressers and accessorizing the one dresser simplified the room. Before the second dresser really blocked the window since it was so tall and had the TV on top
BEFORE
AFTER
I was so relived that the homeowner agree to paint this bedroom. Although his daughter loved her pink room they realized that some sacrifices have to be made when selling your house. Now this large bedroom is suitable for any age or gender and is ready to move into. The buyers can put any colour accessories in this neutral room. Removing the upper bunk bed that was not being used helped open up the space as well.
BEFORE
AFTER
I had my carpet repairman come in to fix this stain. Fortunately the homeowner had an extra piece of carpet so the nail polish stain was actually cut out and he fused a new piece of carpet in the same area. In a couple days the pile will settle and blend together and the seams will be invisible. He also stretched the carpet in some of the high traffic areas so the carpet looked brand new.
BEFORE
AFTER
There was nothing wrong with the room before. We just added bolder linens (that they already had) to give the pale yellow walls a boost and edited the toys.
These are only a few rooms in this stunning house. Every single room had a major transformation. It’s so satisfying when everything comes together nicely and the homeowners are happy. I love my job 
Dramatic Before and After
January 27, 2012
It can be easy for homeowners to get overwhelmed with the thought of staging their home to sell but for me the bigger the challenge the more rewarding it is. I get so much satisfaction knowing that I can help make a total transformation on a low budget and in a short time line.
Before
After
Always show the rooms the way they were intended to function for the masses. Buyers want to see if their furniture is going to fit into the appropriate rooms. This combo living/dining area is the first impression when you walk into the house.The area rug helps define the space and also tones down the blue walls. Re-arranging the furniture helps buyers see if their furniture would fit.
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After
This dining room was too cluttered and didn’t have the sophisticated look that they house needed. Adding drapes add instant formality and expands the wall visually.
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The large bay window immediately gets the attention and the balance of the drapes. Creating a conversation area in the living room shows buyers how functional the room is.
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The cupboards look so much newer and cleaner with the walls painted a warm tan colour that compliments the floor. Removing the border also gave the room height and made it more current looking.
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Adding bold artwork makes the kitchen memorable and it helps tie the paint colours from adjoining rooms together for a cohesive flow.
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Painting the family the same warm tan colour as the kitchen instantly made the room feel more welcoming. The drapes frame the large window with the nice view of a private back yard.
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Remove extra furniture also lets buyers use their own imagination. Little hits of colour with artwork help make rooms interesting.
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Before: the ceiling in this master bedroom felt very low because of the wallpaper border and the ceiling fan andthe high over-powering furniture.
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After
Removing the border, painting the walls, replacing the ceiling fixture and moving furniture around was a huge immediate change. Bringing in Styled & Staged rental accessories took the room to the next level. Artwork, linens, lamps, drapes and accessories give the buyers an example of the room’s potential.
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After
Moving the bed around and adding, artwork, linens, area rug and drapes all made a huge difference. We didn’t have to paint these walls.
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Blinds are great on windows for privacy but they can leave a cold feeling (especially with gray walls) so adding the red side panels really warm up the space and showcase how large the window is.
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Showcase unique features in a house like this built in desk area. I wanted buyers to visualize themselves using it a home office since it’s the 4th bedroom or a guest room. Keeping the neutral colours give buyers a blank canvas to do their own thing. Bringing in a smaller bed also made the space feel larger.
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After
It’s unusual to have such large bedrooms but with all the ‘stuff’ buyers could not see the full potential. It was necessary to take out the ‘personal’ items in this room so buyers could imagine this for a boy or a girl of any age.
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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.
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
Ottawa Home Staging News
July 10, 2010
Ottawa Home Staging News