Archive for January, 2008

31
Jan
08

Valentine’s Day

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I love Valentine’s Day. I have scoured the Internet for — as our friend Martha says — a few good things to share with you.

I once heard someone say that adding the colors red or turquoise to a room is like adding jewelry to an outfit. In honor of this Valentine’s Day, consider doing the same. Exchange a plain paper lampshade for a gorgeous red silk shade. Add a red throw, pillow, or coffee table book to your living room. I love red vases too – they’re a great punch of color even when they’re not holding flowers. Red is classic and sexy.

I’m a big fan of Pottery Barn’s new pension for color – brand new for this spring. Bright neons that do not remind anyone of ’86, awesome pinks, reds and aqua fabric, frames and bath towels.

Happy Hunting!

29
Jan
08

Re*Purposing Your Tired Things

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I got a fantastic email today from a favorite friend. It was an interview with a 26 year old stylist/decorator in the UK who is already wildly successful with her flamboyant designs and use of color. Her new book comes out in April called “Bazaar Style.” Her name is Selina Lake. I’ll be browsing B&N in April.

One thing she mentions is how flea markets inspire her design. Flea markets house tons of novelty items – most are dated, worn and have seen lots of love or better days (depending on how full your particular glass is). How many of us have used things in our homes that look tired and have “garage sale fodder” written all over them. All of us right?
It’s often amazing to me how you can breathe new life into a room by re-arranging furniture (my step mother understands the science of this and my dad’s house looks fresh and exciting every time I walk through the door), painting walls a great color, re-hanging and re-arranging photos, swapping lamps or spray painting an old birdcage hot pink perhaps?
Consider putting a different lamp shade on that old lamp and painting the base a high gloss finish in a great spring color. Sand and paint and old desk, dresser or frame.
I recently recovered the cushions on my wood frame dining room chairs. It took me 30 minutes (and $27) to cover 6 chairs in a heavy leopard print. They’re very Kate Spade now and pretty fabulous. And they feel new.
Take a look at your home and your things and before you start hauling a bunch of stuff to the garage or to Goodwill, ask yourself what other color it could be. If you screw it up, no harm. Tag it for the garage sale and move on. I know you have some gems in there. Happy Monday!
22
Jan
08

I [heart] Clarksville

A small break from real estate and home staging… to: a memory of two great times in ’07:

1) My very very small apartment in Clarksville:

I painted the walls like I owned the place and spent a quarter of a paycheck to do so. It was the most charming place with old wood floors, tall ceilings, a steel oven and counter tops, zero storage, the best neighbors ever and easy access to downtown, Whole Foods, Z-Tejas, Sweetish Hill and a myriad of well-known (and not-so-well-known) shops and boutiques.
2) Finding just the right wedding gown and trying it on for my friends who came all the way from everywhere to spend a weekend with me in June.
This is a snapshot of both my best living room and my best gown all at once just before it got really really hot outside and my aloe plant died. RIP old friend.
21
Jan
08

A Few of My Favorite Things…

From Domino Magazine… Today was a day inspired by kids. I’m not sure if it’s because today is a school holiday (Happy MLK Day to you) and it’s just pouring rain outside (poor kids on their day off) or because I’ve been around a few more children than normal lately but regardless: some great ideas from my very favorite magazine – hail Domino gurus – you are my inpiration bread and butter!

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21
Jan
08

Oh Boy (or Girl)!

This post is inspired by a recent visit to one of my very favorite baby boutiques here in Austin called Baby Coco. If you’re in the area, I highly recommend stopping by this charming little shop that harbors sweet organic duds for your little bud as well as beautiful furniture and chic diaper bags.

But I digress…

Preparing a home for sale will inevitably mean that your child’s room will be part of that process. I have seen some of the most beautifully customized children’s rooms as a Realtor and know it must be so difficult for home owners to part with (or even paint over) customized paint schemes and murals.

While this process can be hard to initiate, it is recommended that pastel or brightly colored walls and murals be painted a muted neutral shade.

Children often have lots of small things: stuffed animals, art accessories, books, etc. Consider involving your child in the packing process and seize the opportunity to weed through things in their room and hand down or donate toys and books they no longer use. Pack away at least 2/3 of items on bookshelves and desktops and only leave out things used regularly. (See the before and after photos courtesy of a fellow ASP).

If you find the task exceptionally difficult, consider your long term goals:
- Do you really want to sell your house?
- Are you willing to part with your home emotionally so that it can be a competitive product (a house) like the other comparable properties in your area?
- Are you willing to make short term commitments that will help you reach your long term goals?

Also consider that a customized child’s room will make it difficult for a potential buyer to view the room as the office he or she may be looking to find space for. It’s a common fact that buyer’s know what they see, not the way it’s going to be.

Remember after all, that home is where the heart is and you’re taking your heart with you when you leave.

13
Jan
08

Prepping Your Property for a Home Stager

Consider the clean-up prior to listing your home a great way to get started on packing up. Doing a little at a time but at a steady pace will inevitably ease any stress associated with moving and selling. It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Think: the tortoise and the hare.

Your real estate agent is also a great source of information about the listing process and should be able to guide you through each step of the listing process smoothly.
Remember that the way you sell a home is not the way you live in one.

1) Clear the Clutter
A thorough home stager will be able to guide you through this step. (See an example right of a space as it was before the homeowner and I got to work).
You can get a jump start by packing (or downsizing) the items on bathroom and kitchen counter tops, magazine and newspaper bins, kitchen pantries and drawers, closet spaces, home offices, laundry rooms and patio spaces. Any personal collections should also be packed away.

2) Pack or Conceal Prescription Medication
Consider this also for open houses – it’s an unfortunate shame that there are folks out there who hop from one open house to another sneaking into cabinets and bathroom drawers looking for pills. Hide them.

3) If They Can’t See It, You Can’t Sell It
Replace all lightbulbs in lamps with 60 watts or higher and/or ensure that there aren’t any burned bulbs anywhere in the house. (See right – the same property mentioned above after staging).

4) Clean Air Filters
If you haven’t replaced your air filters in the last 6 months or more, now is the time to take care of this.

5) Maintain Houseplants or Give Them Away…
…and throw out the dead ones.

The bottom line is that some purposeful editing of things on your part beforehand will put you a world ahead later on.

12
Jan
08

Choosing Paint Color and Feeling Great About It

There’s nothing more disappointing than spending the time and money to paint a wall or room a color that really falls flat or worse: drives you up the wall, literally.

Some have a knack for choosing color and have a true sense of what a tiny square of color will look like in an entire room.
Some don’t and this post is just for you.
A few things to ask yourself when choosing color:
* What is this room to be used for?
* Who uses this room the most?
* What time of day will this room be used the most?
* How much natural light does the room receive?
* What important architectural features are there in the room that you might want to accentuate?
* Which large pieces of furniture are, or will be, in the room?
* Which colors are featured in the rooms directly adjacent to the room?
* What do you want the room to feel like?
Once you’ve answered these questions for yourself, you will have begun chipping away at the color families you should isolate.
Consider this:


Pinks are lively, fun, romantic, positive and feminine. (See right – This is a photo taken from my first place here in Austin. A wonderful little place in Clarksville that was such a steal. Yes, I painted the walls of a rental – again.)
Reds are passionate, daring, intimate and comforting.
Oranges stimulate creativity and are warming and cozy.
Yellows are welcoming and sunny.
Greens represent nature and are both tranquil and invigorating, as well as restful and balancing.
Blues are connected to the sky and to water, and they are associated with clear thinking and calm, meditative environments.
Violets can be stimulating and sexy, while blue violets can be cooling and spiritual.


This information and more can be found in a reference book that I highly recommend for both the seasoned and novice of interior interests.
The Color Scheme Bible – Inspirational palettes for designing home interiors…
by Anna Starmer
Published by Firefly Books
Copyright 2005
12
Jan
08

Home Staging v. Decorating

Magazine Faves – What is there without a bit of inspiration…
Home staging and interior design are not one in the same – confusion between the two is common.
Home staging is to depersonalize a property while interior decorating is specifically about personalizing a space.

The images below are not mine. They’re also not examples of home staging but January favorites from Domino Magazine instead.
Why post on a home staging website?

We’re always learning and always being inspired. That’s why.


12
Jan
08

8 GREAT REASONS TO STAGE REAL ESTATE

1. You Will Make More Money
U.S. Housing and Urban Development reports that a staged house sells, on average, for 17% more than a non-staged house.

2. Your House Will Sell Faster
The New York Village Voice reported that the average number of days on the market for a staged house was 13.9 versus 30.9 days for an un-staged house.

3. The Cost of Staging Doesn’t Cost A Dime…
In a 2006, a Home Gain Survey of over 2,000 Realtors discovered that sellers who spent up to $1,000 Staging their home recovered almost 200% of the cost in the sale of their home.

4. Most Home Sellers Cannot View Their House Objectively
If you can’t see objectively, you can’t “package” effectively. Having a staging professional give you a detailed, step by step consultation report is an effective advantage.

5. Only 10% of Homebuyers can Truly Visualize the Potential of a Home
Unbelievable, but exactly why staging is critical. You don’t want the benefits of a fantastic property left to the buyer’s imagination.

6. Studies Show that the more Days a Property is on the Market, the Lower Your Selling Price will be…
Don’t settle for less and lower your price…consider this: the costs associated with home staging are unlikely to exceed the first price reduction on a property.

7. Competitive Edge
A tastefully furnished, well maintained home creates an atmosphere of increased value in the mind of the buyer. The result is a quicker sale at a higher price. Quicker sales also reduce marketing expense.

8. Leaving Your House in “AS IS” Condition Will Help Sell the Competition and Attract Bargain-Shoppers
Right now in Austin, Texas, the number of homes for sale on the market is at a record high, competition is tough and buyers have more negotiating power now than they did a few months ago.

10
Jan
08

Before & After

Before – Vacant Living Area

After – Staged Living Area


Before – Vacant Garage Conversion

After – Staged Garage Conversion


Before – Cluttered Living Area

After – Fresh Paint, Fixtures & Accessories



Before – Dated Vanity & Fixtures

After – Updated Vanity, Fixtures & Fresh Paint




 

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Alex -- Denim Series || Explore FP 09/03/2010

Dance to the dream

tansie bennetts

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