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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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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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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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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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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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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!
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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 
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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