Our team recently completed Staging this amazing home in McLean, Virginia and it has just been listed! We had a huge crew of 4 movers and 5 Stagers to assist this home owner in preparing her home for sale, as well as downsizing for the upcoming move. Working amongst the most luxurious of furnishings, this project was a complete pleasure from start to finish.
Such a comfortable space.
Staged by Design recently Staged this lovely vacant town home in Reston. We made recommendations for upgrading fixtures and lighting prior to Staging to create a more current look. We utilized rental furniture, but provided all the accessories, artwork and linens. Knowing that the home would appeal to first time home buyers, we used transitional to contemporary furnishings to really make this property shine. We are pleased to report that this home had a ratified contract after only 5 days. Staging works! Read More
I recently discovered a “Staging Savvy” quiz on the National Association of Realtors website. The quiz was created by Barb Schwarz, the founder and owner of www.StagedHomes.com, the leader in industry for Home Staging training. Read More
Kitchen Counter Before Staging
De-cluttering.
It is one of the most crucial steps prior to putting your home on the market, and an essential element of Home Staging. For home owners, however, it is often easier said than done. What is clutter really, but the by-product of the way we live in a home? It is the accumulation of life’s daily activities, creeping into the corners of our home, creating a never ending “to do” list.
Preparing your home for sale can be a daunting task. The following are tips to help you gain perspective and assist you in achieving your goal of selling your home quickly. Remember that a house well lived-in reflects a house well-loved. De-cluttering is the beginning of the transformation that allows your buyers to love your home as much as you do.
1. Begin with the end in mind. Visualize the look on a perspective buyers face when they walk into your fabulous home once it is Staged and ready to show.
2. When tackling your priority list, always begin with the task that will take the least amount of time.
3. Only tackle one room, or section at a time.
4. If necessary, break large tasks into smaller ones by setting a time limit, and complete all that you can in 15 or 30 minute increments.
5. Think seasonally when packing items for storage. This goes not only for clothing, but décor, kitchen wares, etc. If you’re not wearing it or planning on using it in the next few months, pack it.
6. Instead of putting items in closets or behind closed doors, pack them up and label them well. You will need to pack before moving anyway! Be specific in your labeling, just in case you should need an item that is already packed, prior to moving.
7. When downsizing, de-cluttering, or moving, ask yourself the following qualifying questions:
· Is it worth it to pay the additional cost to move these items?
· When was the last time it was used?
· Do you have multiple items that serve the same purpose?
· If so, what is the benefit of having multiple items?
· Is it worth potentially losing equity in my home to keep it?
8. Don’t be afraid to ask for help. Call in the professionals to take on a project that turns out to be larger than you anticipated. Staged by Design, based in Northern Virginia, can assist you with this process every step of the way, either by providing additional manpower to help you accomplish your Staging goals, or by recommending professionals best suited to your specific needs. We can do as much or as little as you like!
Visit us online at www.staged-by-design.com.
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.
