Check the “Our Ideas” section for inspiration. Enjoy!

Turquoise! You read it correctly, Turquoise. This year’s color has an easily recognizable name and immediate color association, unlike last year’s bold yellow choice entitled “Mimosa”. In my opinion, it also is a much more practical color, both in interior design and home staging as well as fashion.

Turquoise as a color has both warm and cool undertones, and it is the perfect match for neutrals such as beige and brown, offering a variation of the popular blue and brown color combination. We’ve seen it for years in jewelry and fashion, both as a statement of casual sophistication, earthy charm, and now as couture.

In staging, I recommend using it as an accent color, to bring depth and dimension to rooms, as it has just the boldness needed to provide the much needed “pop” in online photos. I can see using it as a throw, in pillows, and decorative accessories.  I love this boucle throw from Crate and Barrel, also available in green.

For practical application as a paint color, try Benjamin Moore’s Turquoise Mist or a bold accent, Tropical Turquoise, also from Benjamin Moore.

Photo courtesy of Jerine

Color affects us in many ways. Our responses to color range from subliminal, physiological to emotional. It impacts how we feel when we enter a room, what products we purchase, and even what foods we choose to eat.

Have you ever been shopping and suddenly noticed that every store seems to be carrying the same color options? All of a sudden everything from salad tongs to skirts is that “new trendy color”? If you ever wondered how a color trend began, then read on.

Every year, a company called Pantone selects what they consider to be the “Color of the Year”. While the name may be unfamiliar to you, Pantone is the global authority on color and provider of professional color standards for the design industries. Their choice of colors influences everything from graphics to fashion, to home décor. They set the stage, and the rest of the world follows, right? Well, sort of. We all don’t necessarily need to run out and re-paint our walls and update our wardrobe just because a world authority on color predicts a trend, gives it a name, and proclaims it to the world.

Pantone Color of the Year 2009 Mimosa

First of all, not every color of the year translates to everyone’s taste. Take this year’s choice, Mimosa. This is a strong, vibrant, yellow with orange undertones. I’m not sure I could pull it off either in my house, or in my wardrobe. Michelle Obama certainly did, though. The dress she wore to the Inauguration Ceremony was a retro take on the upbeat yellow tone. By the way, it’s no surprise that Mimosa is a vibrant, optimistic color, which is what we all need right now, given the current state of the economy.

As for Home Staging or Interior Design, you may see this color as an accent; a pop here and there, such as in pillows or artwork.

Should you decide, however, that the bold optimism of Mimosa is perfect for your home, Benjamin Moore translates its interior color trend as St. Elmo’s Fire 362, from its newest Aura paint line.

In addition, Benjamin Moore publishes a yearly color report title “Color Pulse” that offers several neutral hues appropriate for Home Staging from their “Urban Silence” category: Rattan AF-375 and Wasabi AF-430, both from the Affinity collection.

Try them out if you’re feeling trendy. If not, rely on a tried and true standby such as Lenox Tan, HC-44, or Toasted Pine Nut, from Sherwin Williams.

And lastly, if you are ever attempting to find out what color goes with what and happen find yourself without your handy-dandy color wheel, try this little parlor trick:

Take a sheet of black paper or cardboard, and cut out a two to four inch square.

Look at the color of your outfit, or item in question through this “window” for about 30 seconds and then look at a blank sheet of white paper.

The color that appears on the paper will be the after-image; a complement of the original color.

It really works!

Leigh Newport is Owner and Principal Designer for Staged by Design, providing Home Staging and Interior Redesign services for all of Northern Virginia. If you want to sell your home quickly, Stage it! Visit us online at www.staged-by-design.com, or leigh@staged-by-design.com. 571-291-0614.

Even though Home Staging is in the news almost daily, and HGTV is inundated with Real Estate shows about Staging, I find that I’m still asked some of the same questions again and again. I thought I would post the most frequently asked questions, along with my responses to help shed some light on the philosophy behind Staging, and help you to better understand how I work.

1. Why do I need to remove or replace some of my existing décor? I LIKE my things, and I like the way my house looks!

The way you live in a home, and the way you market and sell your home are two completely different things. Most of us decorate our homes with our personal, specific taste in mind, and our home becomes an extension of our personality. When Staging your home to sell, the primary goal is to provide a warm, inviting environment that appeals to the broadest range of potential buyers, so that anyone walking into your house can envision themselves living there, regardless of their personal taste or style. Remember, as soon as that “For Sale” sign goes up, your home is now a house; it is a product to sell as a whole, not a showcase for your belongings, and Staging is the best strategy for marketing it.

2. Why should I remove all my personal photos?

One very important element of Home Staging is the process of de-personalizing your home. Removing personal photos keeps potential home buyers from feeling as if they are invading someone else’s home. It is also a safety measure for you, the homeowner.

3. Why should I paint some or all of my home? I’ve put enough money in it already.

Painting your home is the biggest impact you can make for the smallest amount of money, particularly if the current colors are strong or overly bright, and even more so if they are stark white. Often for as little as $40 or less, you are changing the look and feel of each room. Creating a neutral palette is another step in making your home appealing.

4. Do I really need to replace items or make updates? Can’t I just put an allowance in so the new owners can do that themselves?

With so many homes currently on the market, your best option for a full price offer and quick sale is to set yourself apart from the competition.

The homes that are the most updated, and in the best condition, do stand out. Not updating your home can make the difference between your house selling in 30 days or 6 months. The decision is up to you. We can help you prioritize what might need to be changed, and provide cost effective options to meet your budget as part of the Consultation and Staging process.

5. Why would I want to rent furniture for my vacant home? It’s clean and in good condition.

Buyers only know what they see, not the way it’s going to be. A vacant home is an empty shell. Without something to focus on, it is natural for the eye to focus on the flaws of each room, such as lack of decorative molding, not enough windows, cracks, etc. Staging uses furniture, accessories, and lighting to create a warm, inviting feel, and welcome potential buyers into each room. It also helps to highlight desirable features of the home, and downplay challenging areas, such as small room dimensions, or an odd shaped room.

So now what do you do?

You may find that one or more of the above items apply to your home. If so, It is understandable to be concerned about the prospect of making more improvements or changes than you had planned.

Something to help you keep things in perspective:

· Staging is an investment in the sale of your home.

· 95.1% of all Staged Homes sell in 33 days or less. The average Days on Market for Northern Virginia is 83, as of August, 2008.

· The cost for Staging is dramatically less than your first price reduction, which is typically $10,000-$20,000 or more.

-    If your home is sold as a gain, the Staging costs may be tax deductible. (consult your tax preparer)

· Staging costs on average, less than .05% of the selling price of your home. (based on a $500,000 home)

Leigh Newport is Owner and Principal Designer for Staged by Design, an interior redesign company based in Northern Virginia. Visit us online at: www.staged-by-design.com

Do you find yourself secretly longing for the sleek, clean lines of modern furniture, while surrounded by flea market vintage and Shabby Chic? How do you deal with combining your antiques with your future husband’s love of leather sectionals? Now that the children have moved out, you can finally purchase furniture without having to attest to its stain fighting abilities, but where do you begin, and what are the rules when combining widely disparate looks?

A change in style need not be cause for a crisis, whether it’s brought on by the evolution of our own personal taste, or a change in lifestyle.

Here are a few guidelines that allow for an easy transition when coordinating the look of your home:

Scale of furniture-Consider scale as well as the shape. Be wary of paring an overstuffed chair with a petite end table, but that doesn’t mean you can’t create a sitting area in a corner that combines a smaller scale table and chair in the same room. Breaking up the grouping allows for diversity in scale.

Color- If it’s your eclectic accessories, not furniture that need to be integrated, create groupings by color to help create a harmonious look. On tabletops, use groupings of three to add visual interest.

Unifying element-These can be colors, patterns or textures. Repeating these in pillows, window treatments and fabrics will help to pull a space together, even if the pieces of furniture are very different.

Remember, this is your home after all. Modern, Eclectic, Traditional-the only style it needs to fit is your own.

Leigh Newport is owner of Staged by Design Home Staging and Interior Redesign. www.staged-by-design.com.

Originally published in the Loudoun Independent, October 29, written by Leigh Newport

]]> http://staged-by-design.com/blog/home-staging-general/blending-styles-in-your-home-what-are-the-rules-and-do-you-need-to-follow-them/feed/ 0 http://staged-by-design.com/blog/home-staging-general/looking-for-love-in-all-the-wrong-spaces-how-to-fall-in-love-with-your-home-all-over-again/ http://staged-by-design.com/blog/home-staging-general/looking-for-love-in-all-the-wrong-spaces-how-to-fall-in-love-with-your-home-all-over-again/#comments Tue, 30 Sep 2008 20:24:11 +0000 Leigh Newport http://stagedbydesign.wordpress.com/?p=20

If your home were to write a personal ad, would it look something like this?

“Charming, but lived-in SFH (Single Family Home) craving adventure. Prefers urban lofts, but open to new experiences. No Victorian, Country or Shabby Chic, please”.

Is your home crying out for a new look, but you find yourself struggling with where to begin? Don’t waste your time hoping your perfect décor match will magically appear. You’ve got to get yourself out there, jump in feet first and make it happen! Start with home magazines, model homes, and design centers to help you identify your desired style.

-Use fabric or artwork as inspiration for your color palette, choosing no more than three shades. You can then select furniture to coordinate and contrast the look.

-Does your current furniture reflect the style you crave? If the pattern or color is the biggest factor, consider re-upholstering or a slipcover for an easy update. Pre-made slipcovers are also an option for an interim fix, until your budget can accommodate furniture replacement or the hiring of a professional.

-Is the wallpaper or wall color contributing to the outdated look? Paint is the least expensive method of transforming a room with the highest impact. Select the color for your furnishings first, though. It’s much easier to find a paint color to blend with your sofa than it is to find a sofa in the right style AND color to blend with your walls. Your local paint store can also create custom blends if you are having a difficult time finding just the right shade.

-Accessories are often the easiest way to inexpensively bring a room together. Look for items that complement your color palette. When it comes to artwork, you may even be able to use your existing frames with your new art.

When all else fails, consult an Interior Redesigner. They are the matchmakers of home décor, carefully screening your options and taking your own furnishings into consideration to find your true design match.

Leigh Newport is owner of Staged by Design Home Staging and Interior Redesign. www.Staged-by-Design.com, serving Northern Virginia.

*Originally published in the Loudoun Independent, October 2008, written by Leigh Newport

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