Tips for Staging Your Home

Selling your home can be a very stressful time, I want to help you with some ideas to help ease that stress. Staging your home has been a proven way to sell faster and make your home look more desirable to the potential buyers. The first thing to remember is that you have decided to put your home on the market, now its is time create the space so that others can imagine themselves making fantastic long lasting memories as you have done. I'm going to give you a few tips for each room that will help get you started.

A few tips for the kitchen,

• Clear items off the counter tops, this will show off the counter top space. All buyers want a great work surface.
• Clean off the top of the refrigerator, a cluttered to gives the appearance that there is not enough storage
• Clean appliances, under and behind. Remove photos and items from the refrigerator.
• Stack dishes and items in cabinets. Remember if you have not used it in a few months. Pack it away.
• Clean up the cabinets, wash down, and use cabinet cleaner to bring back the luster.
• Clean up the counter tops, repair scratches if possible. If needed replace the top.
• Put out some cookbooks, the buyer can visualize himself or herself cooking.
• Add some color to the kitchen with fruit and veggies in a bowl
• Make sure it smells nice, this is a very important tip! If a potential buyer thinks that home smells it will be a no go for a sale.

A few tips for the bathroom,

• Hang fresh towels, keep your used bath towels out of the way
• Keep the toilet paper roll full, not for buyers use but for visual.
• Keep bathroom smelling fresh, no odors
• Be sure that the bathroom fixtures are clean
• Remove items from vanity tops
• Keep the toilet seat down
• This is a very private room, you want to make the buyer feel that no one has ever sat on that toilet or used that shower.
• Small space? Be sure to show off features and any architectural details

A few tips for bedrooms,

• In your closet, if you have not worn it, pack it or donate it.
• This one sounds silly but, make sure all the hangers match. It is a visual trick and helps to make the space look bigger.
• Keep clothes organized, hang like items together, shirts, pants, dresses.
• Organize shoes - you can hang them on the door or use shoe boxes, just make sure they look neat and organized. This also helps create a visual for lots of storage space
• Buy a new comforter, something you like and can take with you to your new home.
• Make sure the bed is always made
• After you de-personalize buy a few items to replace pictures or personal treasure, you don't want the shelves to look too bare, you want a warm welcoming feel.

 A few tips for dining room / breakfast nook,

• Set the dining table with linens, place mats, cloth napkins, china, and crystal glasses. Check out magazines for ideas, purchase new items that you can take with you to your new home.
• Fresh flowers
• Burning a candle during showings (if you are home) or use the flameless candles
• Set the breakfast table with casual place mats, fruit bowl and breakfast dishes.
• Leave the lights on during showings.
• If throw rugs or area rugs are on the floors be sure that they are clean and odor free.
• Remove any extra furniture pieces that might be too big for the space and make your dining area look smaller than it really is.

 A few tips for office space / bonus rooms,

• Keep your papers organized, invest in a filing system if you do not already have one; you can take it with you to your new home.
• Keep you computer off while not at home.
• Leave the lights on during showings.
• Keep area free of toys and clutter.
• Pet areas should be clean and smelling fresh. (If possible remove for showings)
• You want to sell this space, if it is an empty space consider borrowing items from other rooms or from friends to create a "look". You want this room to have an identity. Sometimes empty space can be confusing for a buyer.

And remember overall to keep your home clutter free and neutral so that the potential buyer can visualize themselves in the home.  I also want to mention that when buyer come into your home they are looking at everything, If there is a chandelier or other fixtures that you will  be taking with you, it might be a good idea to remove and replace those items. You don't want the buyer to think that he or she will be getting that family heirloom chandelier.

Good luck selling your home!

Building a design scrapbook

I'm always telling my clients to make a scrapbook of ideas for their home. As part of my consultation I go over pictures and such that they have collected and really get to know who they are, what they like and don't like. It is a great way to find an inspiration if you don't already have one.

I like to section off the book to include fabrics, paint colors, design elements, furniture, patterns, places of inspiration, it really can be anything. You don't have to use only pictures, having a sample of the real thing is better. A few months ago I worked with a home owner who had her design scrapbook from when she originally bought her home. It was great! She had pictures and notes of things that she put into her home, for her it was like a memory book as well. It can also be a life saver if you need to repaint! You have all your colors and brands right at your finger tips. I tell clients and I do it while talking with them, add notes right on the pictures, circle, star, do what ever you want to show and remind you why you liked it or didn't like it.

I pretty much always carry my camera with me when I am out and about. You never know when you will see something that you love. I snap a shot and keep it in my file for use later, either for myself or it may work for a client. Inspiration comes from every where, you may see something that strikes your fancy but you cant bring it home with you, so snap a photo or two and build your design around it.

 I have recently been told about this great website: pinterest.com, where its a virtual scrapbook. I have already started building my design library. I warn you it is addicting! But you can upload pictures from websites and upload your own as well. You make boards and keep all you ideas together. There is spot to make notes on what you have pinned. You can look at what other have pinned as well and get ideas from them. Very similar to other social media sites you can follow people with good design style or bad.

Even if your not planning a redesign right now, to the future when you are going to buy a home, rent a new apartment. Having a scrapbook of design ideas physical or virtual is a handy tool to get you started.

Now get out there and start design scrap booking -

From good design to GREAT Design

I wanted to share with you a few ways to make your house great!   Your home should be a place that you are proud of, a place that you can relax and enjoy life. As I always say it doesn't matter if you rent or own your home should reflect you and here is a list to help you do just that.

* Bring the outdoors in! Use plants and flowers inside. If you rent and cant plant them out in the yard have indoor flower boxes.

* Take pattern and embrace it - don't be scared to mix and match a pattern. Remember it adds depth, texture and visual stimulation.

*Contrast - build your room with layers. This way even if the whole room is white you have contrasting colors of white. Again gives you depth and interest in a room

* Small place or big use it all! be creative and look at spaces differently. Don't forget the stairway and halls are a great assets to a home

*Define your areas, open concept homes can be tricky. Use area rugs, furniture, screens or fabric panels to divide the space and give you more intimate areas in your layout.

*Keep the background simple, trendy purple couch? Keep it neutral and add the splashes with accessories

*Mix a lot. What I mean from this is, it is okay to mix a streamlined modern sofa with an antique coffee table. When you walk into a furniture store done buy the whole set, it can be too matchy matchy and may not reflect who you are.

*Play with scale. For example, have a blank wall? Try using a very large print and lean it up against the wall, resting on the floor. Adds a little drama and whimsy to your space. Mix and match heights and widths when dressing your shelves. You want to create visual interest to bring the eye to your possessions

*Remember kids appreciate good design too! Don't  leave the kids out. Let them help in the design process, specially important in their spaces. check out  this website for some great ideas to dress wall in a child's room or play room.   customizedwalls.com

*Honor the history. Many of us rent or buy homes with lots of character from years past. Take the historical architecture of a home and bring it to life again. Show off quirky angles and small niches.

Just making some little changes in your home can take it from a good design to a GREAT design.
Happy Designing

Local Photography

Looking for some great local photography? Eric Ouellette of Photography by Eric Ouellette has a great collection of photos from music, landscape, architecture and some really great abstract ones.
Check out his website for a selection of his work. Feel free to contact him, he has many other photos that he does not show.
http://www.ericouellette.com

I can assure you that many of his prints will help to add a  little something to your home and give you the little change that you are looking for.

The cost of Artwork!

Just had this thought as I was working on a design for a client. She saw a piece of artwork that she loves but the cost is outrageous. I have been trying to figure out a way to give her the art she loves but in her budget. Finally, I asked an artist friend to see if they would be willing to recreate the piece BUT put her own spin on it. What a great way to get an original piece of work for a reasonable price and help local artists.
Another option is to visit local galleries and see if you can find something similar, in the Manchester area the New Hampshire Institute of Art is here and the student sell their artwork in galleries all over town, another great way to find original pieces at a great price and help student through school.
Visit some of the second hand stores, you never know what you will find. If the frame is ugly or not what you want you can just have it re framed.
My last thought is be brave and paint it yourself! ha ha I'm not so sure I'm brave enough for that.

Any other thoughts?

White Mountains

My first camping trip of the year was a great success and I was able to really take some time to sit back and just relax. It is great when we all have the chance to do so.
As you know finding inspiration for a design or color scheme is really the basis to a super, functional and show stopping design.
Whether you are trying to find the inspiration for a color scheme or a whole design looking to Mother Nature is one of the firs places that I turn.
The White Mountains have plenty of inspirational moments and objects. Have you ever noticed the beautiful copper color in the river beds? The contrast between the copper and the deep greens then topped with crisp blue gives an automatic feeling of relaxation. Sitting in a beach chair along the Swift River with my toes in the water, I was able to close my eyes and listen to the sounds.
Now I just need to find a room in my home to create this wonderful escape.
As I always say when getting ready to plan a redesign in your home from the smallest space to the largest make a plan, draw it out, and focus on the inspiration no matter what it may be.
When ever you feel like your design is moving off target or away from the feeling you wanted, regroup and revisit that inspiration.
Its your space and it needs to be designed for you!
Happy Designing :)

Happy Fourth

Hope that everyone had a great Fourth of July! I will be away for a couple of days camping in the White Mountains! Sure to finds some great inspiration out there.

Happy Summer

Wanted to Share

I have recently joined a networking group with some really great people. One member of the group suggested that I visit The Casual Cat in Amherst. I took a ride to visit The Cat. It was very easy to find and such a great shop.
The reason he sent me there was because they do custom framing and have some really great items for home decor.
All of the framing is done in house and as Cindy the owner said it is done with love! Cheesy but true.
A bonus to the framing being done there is that if  they can reuse glass from an old frame they will.
I asked many questions about cost of framing and it is hard for them to give a ball park for the pricing because it really depends on what you choose for your glass, mat and frame. They have over 100 frames to choose from and they will help you narrow it down.  I was so impressed by the friendliness and personal attention they give to each customer.
The home decor items were beautiful, they had hand blown glass balls and pottery. Along with jewelry and hand bags. I hope that you all with take a trip out to The Casual Cat.
www.casualcat.com

Happy Shopping!