A Very Rustic Luxe Christmas Finale

Play this first. 

Okay here we GO..... 

Ahhh  the up-cycled pergola with a gauzy scarf and blinged-out chandelier--also chalkpainted in Paris Grey with a silver gilding wax + german cut glass glitter finish...totally works!

  The dresser was painted specifically for this display: ASCP French Linen base w/ Old White wash.
The antique door was painted in Milk Paint, again specifically for this display. Did you know that in France, a blue door is a sign of hospitality? 

I am very fortunate that my bosses at Shades of Amber

fully supported me

and gave free reign to create

the Christmas Room of my dreams.

It was a little bit of inspiration on my part

and a lot of perspiration on theirs.

A Rustic Luxe Christmas: Sneak Peek

I have been working on our first Rustic Luxe Christmas Room,
getting it ready for the "big reveal" next weekend.

My Staging Partner, Kelly, came in and helped me get the tree up,
and the rest of the team at work are helping
to bring my plans (scratched out on a piece of paper)
to life:

Here's a Peek:

 Artificial White Flocked 7 1/2 ft. tree

Burlap and newsprint garland

Variety of poinsettias

Large metal reindeer in center of tree

Two metal-tiered christmas trees on lower l and r bottom

Glittered "Merry Christmas" sign

Assortment of glittery birds

Floral picks and stems for the top

Rumpled paper balls in 3 sizes (fillers)

We added 450 additional lights to the Pre-lit tree

Plastic metallic-painted acorns and pinecones

 A small variety of large ornaments 

Jingle bells in gold

Burlap fabric as tree skirt (no sewing, please)

Blinged out Nativity

Oh and one more thing:

No Bows.

Not even one.

You're Welcome.

SOLD!: The House Lucy and Ethel Staged!

Remember this post?

Like a homerun,
it is OUTTA HERE!


Got a house on the market?
Use a stager.
Do what it takes,
and get the results you want!

It's Hard to Smile with Clenched Teeth

Mother's Day weekend was awesome.
AWESOME!
We took a little road trip to visit Dean
in northern Colorado.

I wish so much I'd had my camera in my hand
when his caregiver led us to him--
he was out in the pasture petting their horse
all by himself.
When he turned and saw us,
his face, indeed his whole countenance was so calm and happy.
I haven't seen him look that way in a very long time.
He hurried over to us all smiles and gave us all big hugs.
Then, very purposefully, he said,
"I'm staying here."
I understood exactly what he meant.
"Yes, you are."

He took all the kids on a tour of the grounds--
introducing them to "Lucky" the horse,
the pigs, the chickens,
the dog,
and back around a couple more times.

We just all hung out with his caregiving family,
and it felt so relaxed and genuine.
We asked if they'd be our caregivers too.

We took Dean into Fort Collins to his fav restaurant--
Red Robinnnnnn....YUMMMMMMMM.
And over to a park to hang out for a little bit.
Fort Collins has a lovely Spring--
they're lower in elevation than Colorado Springs,
so all of their trees are blooming and the grass is already green
everywhere you look.
Mr W and I talked about moving back up there someday
once the yahoos are out of school.
We prefer the school system here which is the major reason
we moved back down here
when we left Idaho.
Anyway, our Saturday afternoon with Dean was perfect.
I love that boy.

Clenched teeth.
Well, before we left to see Dean Saturday morning,
we went to check out a house in our area.
It's a house I've had my eye on since last Fall,
but it was outta our price range.
Then, there was a contract on it,
so I just forgot about it.
mostly.
Well, on Friday night, it popped back up on the MLS
and I emailed my realtor to get the details.
Not only was it back on the market,
but
it's priced 30k less than before!
She set up a showing for us Saturday morning.
We took the yahoos with us b/c we're on our way outta town
anyway, and they went nuts.
Loved the house.
It is pretty darn cute.
We talked about it,
then last night, Mr W and I prayed about it,
and have gone forward and put an offer on it.
That's why my stomach is trembly,
I can't sleep (it's a little before 4am)
and my teeth are clenched.

I hate buying a home.
It has got to be one of the most miserable experiences in life.
I'd rather have a root canal.
I'd rather have three root canals.

I'm self-talking/coaching all day long inside my head:
"it'll be okay."
"if it's meant to be, it'll work out."
"be patient in the process."
and on and on.
I get sick of listening to my self so much,
that I talk back--
"What if it's not okay?"
"Are you doing everything you can?"
"I feel sick to my stomach."
"The MONEY!"

Ugh. I'm pathetic.

I'm focused on other things--
in fact,
you could say I have many irons in the fire...
the yahoos are at the end of the school year--
which means concerts,
dance performances,
recitals,
plays,
ceremonies,
finals, etc.
We're talking about summer plans
with the house;
with family;
Dani and Mr. Idaho's summer internship in Houston
and their baby boy that'll be born there;
and
I'm pitching my home staging business to
an entire Keller Williams real estate team
this morning,
in exactly 5 and a half hours.
Power-point presentation even.
Daisie helped me make it, of course.
She likes it when she knows how to do something that I don't.
Whipper-snappers these days.
I need to go back to sleep,
but I can't for all the noise in between my ears!

I hope the presentation goes well.
Mainly, I hope I can smile with clenched teeth
and don't pass out or puke in a room full of strangers.
Cuz, ya know, noone wants to see that.

Cross your fingers and toes for me, please.

Thoughts on House-Hunting, Home Staging, Short Sales and Other Trials

I stepped inside the house
and could smell chocolate chip cookies.
Finally! I thought, this homeowner really wants to sell their house!

The main floor was clean and tidy.

I went downstairs to the basement--
to find

nothing
but

carpet tack boards sans carpet,
a drop-in ceiling with brown-ish water-stained  tiles,
holes in the drywall, exposed plumbing,
and a stinkin' mess everywhere.

Ugh.

This house is NOT ready to sell.
Cookies or no.

I'm even dreaming about house-hunting these days.
Where, O where is my perfect house??

Yesterday, another house.
I was crossing my fingers all the way there,
that my house-hunting would end!
It's exactly the area I want to live in,
and the price is right for the square footage.
But sheesh.
Another disappointment.
What is it with homeowners and their realtors
thinking they can sell a house
without lifting a finger to clean it up
and make it beautiful?

Truly, I started giggling when I drove up--
lawn art.
Everywhere.
Gnomes, squirrels, signs, toads, decorative flags,
fake flowers next to real ones--
all cluttering up the yard--
and the yard was a great yard!
It has tall pines and aspens
that frame it nicely--
but oh my hex,
the lawn art was distracting.
There was a fake arm hanging out of a window.
Not kidding.
My realtor, Cathy, just sighed and shook her head.
"What are they thinking?"

I couldn't help but think the neighbors are probably
crossing their fingers that this house sells quickly
and someone comes and cleans it up.

Inside the house was just as chaotic:
Did you know that "Victorian-Style" is a pseudonym
for "clutter"?
Lace and roses, lace and roses
everywhere.
And cherubs.
tea pots and tea cups.
doilies,
and the colors burgundy and evergreen,
with just a dash of ivory.
ugh. ugh. UGH!
And cats.
Tho' I didn't see a real live cat,
there were signs about cats,
food bags and cans for catfood,
climbing towers,
and pictures of cats.
Hand-written signs begging
"Don't let the cats out!"

Ugh.

I don't like Victorian stuff, can you tell?
Especially when it's done a la Walmart.


In fact, I don't like "themed houses" at all.
Put away your 65 roosters, your 600 porcelain dolls,
your African zebra/cheetah/giraffe/monkey collectibles,
your lacy doilies and animal trophies,
I don't wanna know that you {heart}green frogs or gargoyles.
Pack that stuff up and save it for your next home,
I beg of you.

And your collection of 347 clay pots
all over the yard and porch--
empty or full,
is toooooooo much!
Fill one or two, even three
with lush real plants,
or don't have them at all,
Please.
I can't see your house
past your stuff.

Berber carpet is a cruel joke
that the carpet industry played
on innocent homeowners in the 90's.
That's all I'm gonna say about that.

Alot--nearly 3/4's of the homes I've been looking at,
are "Short Sales or Pre-foreclosures".
Obviously, I'm looking for a deal in this economy, right?

A Short Sale means that this is the last-ditch effort to sell a home
and come out of it without complete financial devastation.
Why not put all you can into presenting it at it's best??
Yes, this is a difficult experience--
to have to sell under these conditions,
but if you wanna get every stinkin' dime outta the house
you possibly can,
take advantage of the opportunity and STEP UP!

Too many people are letting the situation beat them up
and define the moment.
Job loss, health issues, divorce--
that's typically what brings a home into a Short Sale.
However, trials pass oh yes they do!

Bring out your competitive spirit and get in the game!

Show your kids that you don't give in to tough times,
that you step up and give your best.
They're going to go thru trials in their lives,
guaranteed--
so show them how to deal.

I'm not kidding.
Stage your home.
It takes all I have to not stop being a "home buyer"
and ask if I can help and be a "home stager"
when I walk thru houses that so clearly need help.
Seriously, I would do it gladly.
But how do you do that without being asked and not sound like a
conceited jerk?

Anyway, to home sellers, I say:

Spruce up the house
 like you love it.
Your love for your home shows
in how you live in it.
Let the memories you've made within those walls,
motivate you to clean it up
and show it at it's *Best*!


I have two more homes to view tomorrow.
Two more possibilities
that my search will be over.
Cross your fingers
n' say a little prayer for me,
will ya?



On a totally different note, I have to share this blog I found:
Favorite Paint Colors
You will love it!
Promise Promise.

When Lucy and Ethel Staged a House to Sell....the missing episode

Yesterday morning I went to a house I recently staged
to help the homeowner (Hi W.!) get ready for a showing.

W. has a beautiful home--
six bedrooms,
five bathrooms,
thousands of square feet so noone's standing
in front of the theater screen
across the room.
Ever.
Gleaming wood floors,
granite countertops,
winding staircase,
huge landscaped lot--
seriously,
this home is a great one!
The only thing standing in the way
of my purchasing her home
is that her asking price is above what I can afford by
$250,000.00
give or take.

I showed up just a little bit before the showing
to see W.'s hard work--
and lemme say,
that Momma W. done worked her bum off!
Everything shines like a new penny.
Bedrooms are perfect,
bathrooms are spotless.
We turned on the lights,
cued up the music,
and
the final touch:
chocolate chip cookies
and water with fresh lemons.
It looked great!

Just as I was about to slip on my shoes
and head out the front door,
the doorbell rang--
ACK!
it was the Realtor and her clients
seven minutes early FCOL!
W. took off for the backdoor to the garage,
as I greeted the guests as I made my Ethel-like getaway:
"Hi there. I'm not the homeowner. Nice to meet you.
The house is beautiful. Have a nice day."--
wondering if W. was gonna get out before being noticed.

I jumped in my big honkin' Sub and went home--
thinkin' that W. had also jumped into her big honkin' sub
and left her house.

Only she didn't.

She got in her car, intending to leave--
but realized she didn't know where the Realtor parked--
was it in the driveway or on the street?
If it's in the driveway,
there was no way she was going back into the house
and ask them to move their car.
Why?
Because she didn't want to make any sort of impression
on the buyers.
And,
she'd been too busy to fix her hair and make-up!


So channeling Lucy,
W. did what any awesome-house-selling-momma would do--
she got into her car and hid inside there
until the Realtor and buyers left her house.

While in there,
she remembered that a breaker switch had flipped,
so she waited until she could hear them going upstairs
and jumped out of the car to flip the switch
(I'm guessing it was in the garage!)
and jumped back into her hiding place.

She heard them come into the garage,
and hid under a big coat of her husband's--
and held her breath for dear life
until they left.

****

And this, dear people, is one of the many many reasons,
Mothers like W. have secured their place in heaven.
Lucy woulda been proud.
I know I am.

House Hunting With a Slingshot

We've been house-hunting the last week.

And I just gotta say,
some people have no freaking clue
how to sell a house!

I have a method to finding a home,
much like everyone else's--
I look at homes online,
forward the MLS's to my realtor
so she can make the appointments,
and I show up expecting to be
"AWED" by the experience.

Most home buyers WANT to be "awed"
every time they pull up to a potential home sale.
They're crossing their fingers and toes
that the house they're pulling up to
is
the house.


If you're selling a house,
you have the ability to AWE someone!
All you really have to do,
is exceed their expectations.
And believe me,
it's not impossible to do that
even in this home market.

For example,
we looked at a home,
that, when I saw it online looked really nice--
backs up to a natural preserve
with walking trails--
already this home had something special going for it--
location.
BUT, upon pulling up to the house,
I realized within the first 7 seconds
that it wasn't going to awe my senses
in the slightest:
the yard was overgrown,
and mostly weeds.
It got no better inside:
a rug-cleaner at the entry,
worn-out, old, entry rug,
laundry on the staircase,
and a haggard homeowner saying,
"We're still doing projects to clean-up the house."

I walked around each corner,
hoping to see evidence of a finished "project"
somewhere--
but only found more clutter and mess.
The floors especially concerned me--
three different kinds of (dirty) carpet on the mainlevel--
even Berber (ack!) in the family room.
Wallpaper borders in the kitchen and bathrooms--
which basically screams "out-dated".
Countless dead or half-dead plants lined the windows.
All of the woodwork was in need of a fresh coat of
polyurethane,
the walls were also dirty.
A bedroom painted Navy Blue.
Sloppily painted navy blue.
Each room took only one step inside
to discover it wasn't a room you wanted to go inside of,
without at least a slingshot.

I could go on and on,
but the point is obvious:
The house was NOT ready to sell;
not for their asking price at least.
I was definitely not "awed"...
more like "ewwww-ed".

As we left,
my "home staging" instinct was to turn around
and go back to the homeowner with some major counsel
to take the sign out of the yard
until
the house is cleaned up,
painted,
and updated
120%.

Home sellers can "awe" potential home buyers
by just exerting some 'awesome' efforts--
your hard work really will pay off.
Go the extra mile, Do the extra stuff--
clean the yard up,
update the fixtures,
make the house shine like a new penny,
get rid of the clutter,
open the windows and blinds,
have cookies or home made treats waiting for each showing.
Remember, the realtors are your partners too!
They want your house to AWE their clients--
and if your house shows great,
it will get alot more traffic!

Too many home sellers have a defeatist attitude--
"it's a buyer's market", blah blah blah...
All that means is you have to bring your best game on!
Get competitive!
Showcase your home like your rich Aunt Milda's coming over--
spit-shine the flowerpots,
make every room pass the white-glove test,
and treat every potential home buyer
like a welcomed guest
not a Wildlife Ranger.

Your Welcome Mat should translate into:
"Welcome Home".

Fillin' Up My Life Bucket

Do you ever get so busy livin'
that you lose track of days?

The entire last week is a blur of activity to me.

I was supposed to be OFF work
but ended up going in 2 1/2 days
because another gal was sick.

I worked on some window treatments
for a friends' new home...
she is a doll,
has a gorgeous house
with fabulous views of a golf course and the Rockies.

I'm also working on another house re-design
that got into full gear
Friday
by painting a large great room
with vaulted ceilings--
we painted until 12 midnight;
then I went to my friend, Nan's
daughter's wedding
where I stood up for 3 hours and 55 minutes
(took 5 minutes to inhale a chicken salad croissant down)
helped set-up, serve, and take-down,
and then went home,
crashed for two hours,
and headed back to the paint job
for another 5 hours.

It looks great!
I did take Before pictures,
and once we get the window treatments done,
I'll get some After pics to show.
The paint is awesome!
We both love it.
Paint gives you more bang-for-your-buck
when it comes to updating your home.
Window treatments are next.

Tonight,
a very sweet expecting couple
came to the house
as we discussed the upcoming birth
of their first little one.
I am so stinkin excited to be their Doula
and share in their miracle come June!

Mr W and I are looking at homes for sale
in the area.
So far, none have really fit our needs.
I hope to be in our own home come June.
That would just fix my life.

Spring Break is this week,
and I hope to have some great time
with the yahoos...
catch a matinee,
maybe hit a trail,
definitely have some homemade sushi and fondue!

Also, have to work a few days too,
but Nana is leaving for Provo on Thursday,
so this will be a tough one too.
I'm going to miss her.
And we're gonna try to have Dean down for a visit
around the weekend.

It occurs to me at this late hour
that I am incredibly blessed.
I have wonderful children who own my heart.
A loving husband.
Super friends.
Tailor-made opportunities to share my talents and interests.
A great place to live--at the foot of Pikes Peak.

I'm doing pretty good, I guess.

What about you?--what are you thankful for today?

UpStaged! Tips for Updating Your Home

Spring's a-comin'--
being cooped up
during the winter months,
forces us Mother Hens to look closer
at our little nests--
and our noggins start cookin' up ideas
to change the looks of our nests, right?

Here are some ideas to give you a starting point:

Stand in your Entryway.
Look around at everything you see
from that viewpoint.
Take pictures from right there.
And get out your measuring tape
for wall spaces you want to fill,
window spaces,
walk ways, etc.

Alot can be decided from right there--
start with the paint--
when was the last time the house was painted?
If it was more than 5 years,
chances are the color is dated
or could use a fresh coat.
Note the textiles--
window treatments,
rugs,
carpet...
if you love 'em,
have them cleaned;
if they're faded or dated,
start shopping around to replace them.

The trend in the U.S. right now
is natural fibers:
linen
burlap
jute
raw silk.
The look is called
"Sanctuary"--
which brings words like
relaxed
calm
soothing
to mind.
The heavy Tuscan-inspired-blacks
are on the sidelines these days
as more and more people are creating
their own
"havens" to get away from the world.

Okay, so back to the Entryway--
look at the lighting sources from where you are--
the one in the entry
over the diningroom
table lamps
kitchen lights, etc.
It's amazing how much a difference
an updated light fixture adds to any room.
And replacements are usually very budget friendly.

The entry is a great place to start,
and it's the first glimpse our visitors get into our homes--
just after our Welcome Mat--
which could always be freshened up too!

I'll add some more tips this week
and pics of the home we're working on.
Don't forget to take your own Before and After pics
of your projects!!
It also helps to take the camera with you when you shop,
so you can visualize the space you're buying for with more
accuracy.
ALSO, take a notepad and measuring tape with you shopping,
I can't tell you how many shoppers come into the store daily,
and ask to use one of ours--
which is fine, because we have them readily available,
but it might be harder if you're in a store that would be
difficult to track one down.

Anyway,
if you're working on a project right now,
I'd love to see your post and share it here with everyone else.
So let me know!

Happy Updating!

Friday Confessions

* I haven't made a meal menu in weeks.
Because of that,
and the fact that I've been working
and running Dean up and down I-25 to Loveland--
my yahoos were ready to hold a mutiny
and shove me overboard last night
because, as they claim,
"there's no food in the house!"--
(specifically, cereal)
which wasn't true.
There's food...the kind you have to make.
But it was true,
there's no cereal.

Anywho,
the crew demanded it, so
I went to King Soopers with the Boof-dawg
and got some groceries and stuff for dinner.
When it came to dinner--
(and honestly, I've been so tired lately,
cereal sounded good for dinner,
but guilt wouldn't let me do that)
we got the stuff for chili-dogs instead.
And chips.
You know, healthy stuff.
Nothing green in there, I noticed as we checked out.
Well, I did buy a Bag O Salad,
but we didn't even open it.
And I burned the hot dogs.
Not all, but half.
I put them on the stove and walked away,
thinking,
"Hey, the kids are all in the kitchen, they'll watch 'em."
Which was stupid on my part.
Because as soon as they eyeballed what I'd gotten,
they all retreated to the basement to watch the last of the
"Buffy" series.
Man, if David Boreanz were a cologne,
he'd be CHANEL POUR HOMME...
good stuff there. just saying.
He could give Kevin Costner a run for his money.

ANYWAY

So I heard crackling coming from the stove,
yelled out to noone--
"Guys? --those hot dogs finished yet?"
No reply sent me flying downstairs
to find the hot dogs charred on the bottoms.

Hot dogs.
I burned hot dogs.
Are there fewer calories in burnt food?
***
I love being a Home Stager--
I was that kid that was always rearranging her bedroom;
and the kitchen cupboards too.
My mom used to say she couldn't find anything
once I'd been in a cleaning mood...oops!
And my grandma, bless her heart,
allowed me free rein in her tiny
bedrooms,
more often than I can recall.
I'd go to my friends' houses,
and talk them into rearranging and cleaning up
their rooms too.

So home staging was "invented" for Me.
The housing market has tempered the call for home staging,
I know this because of the number of designers/ home stagers
we work with at the Showroom.
But that'll turn around eventually, with the housing market.

Our designer is taking on another Parade of Homes project.
I've heard the process is grueling and soul-sucking
and I don't know if I'll be around for that.
On the one hand,
I'll learn ALOT.
On the other,
I may end up running nekkid down the street
with my hair on fire.

Wanna see where I work?
Here ya go.

*********

I was grumpy the other night
when I came home from work.
And when I'm grumpy
I clean.
So I chose the messiest room in the house--
Boofus' bedroom,
and I cleaned it spotless
despite his protests:
"I.m a kid! I like my room like this!
I want to see all of my stuff on the floor!
I know where everything is!
Why do you hate me?
This is my room!
Mom's aren't supposed to move kids' stuff around!"

I countered with the fact that I've been asking him
since THANKSGIVING
to clean his room.
Not straighten it.
Not shove stuff under the bed
and in the closet.
But clean it.
And if I had to go in there,
it was gonna get done my way.

Seriously,
since Thanksgiving.
What do you do when you're grumpy?
**************

I'm in the mood
to discard 3/4's of what we now own.
What does this mean?

**************

We got more snow last night.
The kids were equally divided
about the prospect of another Snow Day.
The Boofus wanted one,
but the girls didn't.
The girls' hopes won out.
No Snow Day.
For which, I am grateful.
Did you see Lake Shore Drive on the news?
Holy Hannah! --as Kelly says.
What a nightmare.
Was the National Guard called in to help?
I'm grateful we don't get that kinda snow here.
In fact, the weatherdude says it's gonna warm up
before it cools down again
today.
It's 16o right now,
and up to 47o today!
Yesssss!
Are you digging out from snow too?

***********
Okay, that's it for today.
Nothing else is rambling around my brain
so I'm callin' it.

Plans for the weekend?
I'm working again and thinking about which team to cheer for
at the Superbowl--
which, we all know,
is based on my favorite colored-cupcakes,
so I'm leaning towards the Packers
because Green is my most fav color.
What about you?

p.s. I did remember to get the cereal.

Interior Design...What's In, What's Out 2010

 I got a personal tour of the Parade of Homes last night
by the 11-times Design Winner, Karen Jones.
It was fabulous!
She decorates with classic tastes,
enduring, timeless style
to fit any budget
and promotes an easy lifestyle.

As we went thru three of her Parade homes,
she shared awesome insights,
tips, and the why's and how's she did things the way she did them.

I learned alot--
some of which I'll share here:
Choose a color palette from something that inspires you--
from a fabric or textile like a rug.
A home should feel like it has continuity through-out,
not chopped-up room by room.

Two color schemes she used:


 Benjamin Moore/Wheeling Natural (Main Paint)
Benjamin Moore/ White Chocolate (Trim)
Benjamin Moore/ Prescott Green (Hall and Stairs)
Benjamin Moore/ Gray Cashmere (Powder Room/Guest/Girls' Room)

Those colors were soothing, calm and accessorized with chocolate browns, a touch of red, and light blue--not baby blue, but that aqua-kinda blue that's everywhere.  The kitchen cupboards were a mix of cream and a deep walnut color.  I'm hoping she puts pics up on her site so I can show you.
*****************
In another house, she used this *color-scheme:

Devonshire/ it was a custom mix similar to Desert Sand by? shoot.  It was a warm gold. (Main Paint)
Kwal Paint/ Swiss Coffee (trim)
Sherwin Williams/Red Tomato (Powder bath)
Sherwin Williams/Wheatgrass (Kitchen Nook/ Guest Room Suite ( I just painted my familyroom that color!--and it was awesome to see that she used it too in a 1.8 million dollar home!)
Those colors were cheerful, but not overdone.  She accessorized with oranges, yellows, black, dark lime greens, deep browns and creams.

Trends that are Out/ What 's IN:
Veined, multi-colored real stone/ faux-stone countertops are OUT.
Solid-colored countertops are IN. And you don't have to use the same material on every surface in the kitchen--if you've got an island for example, you have have it made of a solid wood or travertine or something that contrasts but doesn't clash.
Animal Prints OUT.  Botanicals IN.
Short-loop (think Berber) carpet OUT.  Lush short shag is IN.
Matchy-match fabrics in any room OUT.  The Look of "collected or gathered" with a similar color is IN.
Raw woods such as Alder wood OUT.  Smoothe painted cabinets are IN.
Rustic is not as IN as French Country is IN.
Chandeliers are IN...and are what she calls "character pieces".
As are different types of doors...don't make every door in your house identical.  Add some variance to give the house character.
Keep your foundations neutral...like tile backsplashes, flooring, bathroom tiles--nothing dates a home like teal tiles in a bathroom--that screams 1990!  (I've seen that more times that I can count...IF you do have teal tilework and want to update your look but can't afford to rip out the tilework just yet, match it with chocolate brown and cream to tone the teal down.)
Faux-finishes and accent walls are OUT too.  Paint the whole room the same color. To change up a color, find a "dying place" like around a small corner to let the color die.  Or if you don't have that option, tape a straight line to cut it off.
Some of the places she shops for accessories/linens are around town: TJ Maxx, Home Goods, Hobby Lobby, Target, Marshalls.  And she gets some of her fabrics from even JoAnn's.

It was a great tour.
I asked Karen where one should Start with a home makeover...
she said, "The entry, the place guests see first, and then where your family spends the most time.
And don't start in one area and go to the next. Finish one room completely before moving to the next. It'll make your husband happy."
I'm thinking about painting the front room and entry that Desert Sand color because I saw it in the 1.8 million dollar house where my wheatgrass was and I loved it.

*Karen's website has not been updated with pics from this years' Parade of Homes b/c it doesn't end until the 22nd.  But check back for her wonderful ideas!

Home Staging Basics

This is Us. Cute, hunh?

Okay, so you asked, and I'll answer.

What I do as a Home Stager:

First, I do a Curb to Fence Inventory--starting from the street, I do a curb-appeal check. How does the house look from across the street? What could be done to make it show better?  Lawn, Front door, numbers on the house, stains on the driveway?  How does it all look?  I write it down. Take a picture.

Then, inside the house--take a tour of the house. Look for the BEST selling features that we can work with--take pictures. I make notes of each room--what can stay, what needs to go.
Since the GOAL is to Sell the house and MOVE--we have our clients pack up ALL non-essentials and thin-out every closet, cabinet, drawer, space.
I want a clean canvas, so-to-speak.  It's easier to add things back in once that is done.
Finally, I walk out back and do the same thing.  Most people need to trim bushes, plant flowers, add fresh mulch, etc.  And we plan on how to stage the patios/decks.

Most folks have more than enough "stuff" in their home to stage it.  I try to use as much of their own things as possible, to save on costs.  Which they always appreciate. But, all those teeny-tiny knick-knacks you got from Hawaii or Acapulco or your mission or college years ago, 99% of those, I don't need and won't use. I take nice, up-to-date items from one room to another; rearrange furniture, just get really creative with what we're trying to accomplish.  But I also like to keep it as simple as possible.  The family still has to live there, right? 

The items most people have to buy? 
*Lamps.  Every room should ideally have 5 sources of light, says my partner, Kelly. 
* Healthy Plants...we all have this "nurturing bug" to keep barely living plants around.  But when staging a house, that won't do.  Toss 'em out and get new ones! Full, lush, healthy living plants or nice Dust-free artificial ones.

* New bed linens for the Master suite.  Two rooms sell a house: The kitchen and the Master Suite.
That tie-quilt you've been using since your honeymoon or first child was born, is going to be put away for safe-keeping.  Go out and purchase new bedding.  Choose something romantic, soothing, luxurious.  You can find great deals at Ross, TJ Maxx, Marshalls, or even KingLinen.com. 
*Pillows---lots of fluffy new pillows on every bed.  Those pancake ones can be kept, hidden away for sleeping if you want, but to SHOW a house, we want pillows that look fresh and fluffy.
*Towels.  If you don't have nice towels in complimentary colors without holes or they're threadbare, invest in some new, big ones.

And that's really it for the basics.  Now if the home is older, your appliances may need to be updated, or light fixtures, carpet, paint, etc. also updated.  But that's another post.

We have a light inventory of art, candles, lamps, froo-froo accessories that we can bring in to tie stuff together, and we keep track of it and it's returned to us once the house sells.

How did I get into this?
You know that friend that always came to your house and rearranged your bedroom for fun?  That was me!
I've always enjoyed that...and so I determined to learn more.
Using techiniques I learned from a designer, online classes, and my own creativity & results from selling our own homes in less than 2 weeks; I know what works and developed my own take on staging.  I started my own biz in Idaho and when we moved back to Colorado, I knew Kelly had wonderful experience working as an interior designer's store manager and designer, so I asked her if she'd join me.  We play really well off of each other, and almost read one another's minds when it comes to staging.  I love having her knowledge and style alongside mine.  Kelly also works on the Parade of Homes here in Colorado Springs and decorates  Christmas trees every year in Salt Lake City's "Festival of Trees". She is awesome!

Money stuff:  We charge a flat-fee which includes the initial consult, Before and After Pics, and two hours each of hands-on staging. (that's 4 man-hours.) Time after that is an hourly fee.  We'll work until it's done and the customer is pleased.

Living in a Staged Home is easier!  Why? Because at least half of the house is packed up and ready to go!
The clutter is gone. 
I leave a check-list for the Sellers to go over before showings, so they know they can be ready to show their house in a moment's notice. 


Any other questions?

Home Staging Pics Before and After

Entry Before

Entry After - We moved the table. Removed everything. Used a picture she already had,

added the lamp, candleholder, and plant. Simple but eye-catching.

Mantel Before...little souvenirs and random nic-naks...don't make a statement or show the architectural structures.

Mantel After

After-- Keep it simple, but bold. Use the space you have.

Bedroom Before--one lamp, nightstands filled. Worn bedding. Dark frame above headboard. 

Does this look restful or romantic like a master suite? 

Bedroom After--new linens, lamps,

iron filigree above bed, large floor plant to give balance,

we borrowed the bench from another room to make the bed feel bigger and "finished"...

After

Floral detail in bedroom After. Now it has a great feeling to it. Inviting, restful, calm.

Office Before...busy, busy, busy.

Office Before

Office After--a place where you can go and think and get some work done! 

Orderly, neat, open. 

Office After--the other side. Excuse the realtor's papers.

The home owner and the realtor were pleased with the results too. 

~~

Living in your home is different than Staging it.

But to Sell it,

it has show

at it's Best!

My partner, Kelly and I have a blast

working with our clients

and each other!

Remember:

                                                                   Before you put that

FOR SALE sign

in your yard,

Stage your house

First!

Weekend Wrap-Up

The weekend was busy
as always.

Friday afternoon,
I went with Nana to pick up her rental car.
Why does she have a rental car, you wonder?
Because her cute little red convertible,
her very first car,
was t-boned as she was coming out of our neighborhood.
She's a bit sore (seeing a Chiro for it)
and her little car is repairable.
But-Ouch!
The other driver was cited, she wants everyone to know.
*****
Kelly and I worked on the house we're staging...
we were wondering what to do with the young boys' room...
it didn't have much personality
once we took their stuff off the walls--
we came across a Boy Scout picture (thx Nan!)
and using scout accessories,
it all came together.
*****

Friday night,
Nan had the family over to her house
for Navajo tacos.
Ever had those?
Her recipe is easy-peasy:
Rhodes rolls...let them rise, then smash them with a tortilla press,
fry them until browned.
Top 'em off with all the tacos fixin's you like!
So yummy!
*******

Saturday morning:
We got up early and had to
poop-scoop the yard
because the Scouts are doing a fundraiser
by aerating yards.
It was brrrr-freakin cold out,
and my fingers turned red and frozen,
but we got it done.
The Scouts didn't come.
argh.
*****
Saturday morning,
was our breakfast with the missionaries.
Instead of a big meal,
we had Panera bread bagels, shmear
and topped 'em with red onion and tomatoes--YUM!
Served up with some scrambled eggs & juice.
I didn't take pictures of this Saturday breakfast.
I have yet to put up the pics from the last one!
*note to Self: do it!
******
Mr W took the youngest yahoos out to the YMCA
for a youth orientation
and swimming
while I
had to run over to the house we're staging
and take a peek at what the owners were doing--
they had a load of mulch delivered--
which is a necessity when your spring flowers
have yet to fully pop-up,
the yard is still mostly dormant,
and you need your yard to shine like a new penny!
Today is the last day of staging for that house
I think.
And it looks really great--
the realtor's sign goes in the yard tonight!
In this market,
you really need to stage your home
with attention to details--
with so many options
buyers can be picky.
So before that sign goes in your yard,
hire a Stager!
*******

Okay, anywho--
Daisie had her bday party at a park--
the sun came out and the kids had a good time
there playing baseball, frisbee, etc.,
then they came to the house for pizza and a movie,
"Blind side"...
a totally awesome movie!
I cried. O my goodness.
******

Sunday,
we went to our new Ward.
Before we left the house,
I was feeling those feelings of
"What if?"--
What if we're uncomfortable?
What if we don't fit?
What if, What if, What if if if???

Once inside the Chapel
there were many familiar faces
and friends.
We found our place where we always sit--
on the front row--
open and waiting for us.

Bishop S. came over and greeted us
as an old friend,
as did a few others.
As soon as the meeting started,
I had a peace come over me
that just felt so right.
We are home.
Our family is going to be fine, ya know?
I knew that,
well, I hoped that,
and now,
I know it.
That's one of the most peculiar things about
going to the LDS church.
We don't pick our Wards--
we can go to a particular building
be in a particular congregation for years,
and to accomodate growth,
that can all change,
new boundaries are set
new callings extended,
and we don't skip a beat.
We all show up,
ready to build a new ward family
and do our part.
Can you think of any other 500 + persons organization
that matches that?
Pretty amazing.

Okay, and I have to share my ridiculous-ness--
In the woman's meeting,
Relief Society,
they had everyone stand and introduce themselves
and share a tidbit.
Well, I was on the last row
and was busy writing notes about each woman
next to her name
so I could remember her--
(I'm terrible with names),
then it was my turn--
I stood and this is what I said,
"I'm Dawn. I'm also a convert. I...I have a hot husband. Six, no, seven kids.
My husband and I serve as the Stake Single Adult Reps--so if you're single, let me know! Hmmm..I"m a doula and a home stager.  Oh! and I'm glad to be here!"

Can you believe I said I have a hot husband?  Sheesh.  Someone shoulda put a cork in me.
*****
It's Monday and another busy day lay ahead.
Spring is buzzing by
and the yahoos will be on Summer Break before I know it!

I've been on the South Beach diet
and I've lost 10 lbs. already...
so easy, really.
Just putting that out there for any of you who are looking
for a sane diet,
this seems to be it
for me.

Okay, that's all I got today!

Have a super week!

New Linens fit for a King!

With warm temps around the corner,
You can Welcome Spring into your home
in a very affordable way!

Whether you're putting your home on the market
or
just wanting to spruce up your life
a company I have directed my home staging
clients to for new bed linens
at a great price is
KING LINEN.COM

 

They have a sale right now.

GO have a Looksee.

  

They're having specials today!

~~~~~~~~~~~

p.s. Nope, I'm not paid to say any of this.

Home Staging Tips #4 Color

Colors. Colors evoke emotions. It's true. Blue can be calming, if it's the right color blue in the right room with the right accessories, flooring and window treatments, etc. Blue can also be nauseating, just as pink, turquoise, orange and yellow can.

Red. Red doesn't sell a house. Period. If you have a red room, paint it a nice neutral tone before you put it on the market.

Yellow...studies have shown that homes with one yellow room sell faster than any other home color. I personally have found that to be positively true. Not blaring, blinding, traffic signal yellow--buttery yellow, happy yellow.

Make sure the colors are updated. If you haven't painted in 5 years, you probably need to.

Wallpaper. No. No. No.

Borders. Ditto.

Wallies. O heavens no.

Stencilling. Not since the 90's.

And let me just add this:

Themes. As in the 80's country white geese, blue and mauve; Italian-villa with grapevine-wallpaper so that it looks like the Olive Garden; or Mexican Fiesta with sombreros and rugs hanging on the walls; Victorian, big-cabbage-roses, lacey lace lace everywhere {shudder}--um, those are DATED. Take them down if you're trying to sell your house. Oh, and dead animals or "trophies"--lay them to rest in a box to be moved to your new home. They can be offensive to prospective home buyers.

Bathrooms need to have a "spa-like" feeling; starting with the colors you use. I had to help a client whose master bath suite was teal. Teal carpet. Teal tiles on the tub, sink and counters.

My advice, replace it with up-to-date neutral tones. The carpet was hideous. I think it was circa 1993-ish. ugh.

Kitchens...the lighter the better...you don't have to go with bright white, unless you have accent tiles on the backsplash and other accessories that add color.

I actually had a white on white home...white cabinets, white italian tiles, white wood work, white walls...but the backsplash had italian blue and yellow tile patterns, I had custom blue and yellow window treatments, as well as a dining table that had matching tiles of blue and yellow in it.

So it worked.

The house sold in 13 days...it would've sold on the 1st day on the 1st showing, but the buyer had a contingency that I didn't want to wait for...but still, 13 days was good in an 11-month market.

So use color wisely. Remember, your home on the market is a Product that you are trying to sell as quickly as possible for the most amount of money. Neutral colors with thoughtful accessories can make the difference.

People need to be able to envision their belongings and their taste in your "Product"...they can't do that if there are 412 roosters sitting everywhere, or your Precious Moments collections, or any other massive collection you fancy. Pack your collections up for your next home.

Keep it tasteful, folks. Clean and Tasteful sells. Have a good HONEST friend give you HONEST critiques as you go about staging. Go to a Model Home and look around for ideas on what's updated and interesting about the home then go home and adapt your house to that. Afterall, it is your competition.

Any questions? Ask Away!

Before You Put That "For Sale" Sign in Your Yard...

Stage Your Home First!

The Selling Season is fast Approaching! Now is the time to get your home ready for the home market. Being proactive about preparing your home will pay off! I've Home Staged two of our homes and they sold within weeks. One sold in 13 days--to the first family that looked at it--in a market that had 11 months' worth of homes in my immediate area!

The key is to present your home at its' very best on the first day it's on the Market. I cannot tell you how many times I am called in to stage a home that's been on the market for 3 or more months---as a "last resort"! Home Staging should be the first thing you arrange before putting that sign in the yard and the house on the MLS.

You don't have to spend alot of money to show your home at it's best. Most energy is expended in good 'ol elbow grease! Clean Your House. Top to Bottom. Every nook and cranny. From the curbside to the back fence. Most homeowners have more than enough stuff--truthfully, we own too much stuff--so now is the time to get ready to move!

Pack away all the stuff that is filling your closets, your bookcases, your cabinets and drawers and crammed in your garage. Sort thru it--you don't wanna take unwanted items with you to your next home, do you? Get rid of it--have a garage sale! That way you can make money off the old stuff to buy the new items you will want to customize your new home.

The biggest obstacle I face as a Home Stager with the homeowner is Sentimentality. I encourage them to prepare their home for a new family. Selling a home is an emotional experience for some--especially if they've lived in the home for a long time or if it is their first home. So, disconnecting yourself is essential to staging your home to perfection. Start thinking of your home as a Product you want to sell...pack away your memories (you're taking them all with you!) and show prospective buyers how much you really loved your home by showcasing it at it's best!

I'll start a short Home Staging Tips blog once a week, now thru the summer, with ideas on how to stage your home to sell and answering questions if you have any. Staging Works!

UpStaged! new pics

This is the AFTER of the walk-out basement ..we made it into a teen gameroom.

BEFORE it was a kind of hang-out/craft catch-all room. With Staging, your rooms need to have a specific identity when they are this large of a space.

BEFORE Kitchen: the heart of the home needed some organization and filtering of non-essentials...in other words, just because it's roomy enough to hold a lot of extra stuff (like the child's desk), doesn't mean it should.

This isn't the best AFTER pic of the kitchen, but you can see it with a fresh look. You notice the counters, the cabinets and space more. Did you even notice the veggie sink on the island in the Before pic? I missed it the first couple of times I went into the house myself.

When Staging, put away all of your non-essentials so the perspective buyer can appreciate the structure and amenities of the home itself, cuz really, that's what they're looking to invest in...not your stuff.

New Bedding Evaluation

Okay, so I ordered this bed set from King Linen...it's pretty to look at...but I am dissappointed that the "fluffi-ness" is not as heavy as I am used to for winter bedding*. Still, it is a really pretty set and is worth what it costs.

I cannot wait to show the staged pics of this house once we are done! Kelly and I have worked hard on this one...7 bedrooms is alot of bedrooms! Still, the rooms we have completed are WOW!
Today should be our last day there. Ha! Okay, maybe not. But we are down to 4 rooms left of the entire house. YEA!
I have to say, I love working with Kelly. We work together so well, so effortlessly. We laugh sometimes at the uncanniness we share. Okay, I'm off to work.

* NOTE: After a few nights' use, I must say that the "fluffi-ness" is not an issue where "warmth" is concerned--it's just perfect!

New Bedding Anyone?

Okay, so this is a great place to buy linens online. You cannot beat the prices and the quality is there. My good friend, Dodee, has ordered from them and has nothing but good things to say. This week they are offerring NO SHIPPING on purchases over $49.00.

But really, if you're still using the same quilt/comforter/pillows that you've been using since you got married in 1970--it's time. I have found that many women don't think about their bedrooms as the havens they can be, and would rather buy 412 super hero action figures or Barbies for their kids, instead of spending money on something for them. Stop that. You are the heart of the home, you deserve a place of beauty all your own.