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Designing With You in Mind

Cindy Montgomery (Showhomes, Stage by Design, LLC) — Wed, 06 Feb 2013 13:12:11 -0800

Valentine’ Day is just around the corner so this year I am going to talk about designing with you in mind. Romantic designing in a home for sale in Wayzata, MN is capturing buyer’s hearts to see how elegant a home can be without being pretentious. I chose a soft cream palette with a monochromatic swing. Some pieces of distressed metal, pottery, a mirrored coffee table, anchored with a blocked sofa table mixing styles and textures.

Clean, straight lines and Asian inspired mixtures of techniques in chairs, end tables, woods, colors and artwork. Cowhides add a little “country,” and are placed strategically throughout the home in almost every room in cream, brown and cream, browns and black. The Wayzata property has a warmth of it’s own and has taken on a mixed arena of styles, standing in a class of it’s own. See below visuals that may allure you to want more.

Cowhide strategically positioned under a Room and Board Espresso Bamboo table with chocolate brown silk parsons chairs. Atop the table are three large bowls from Restoration Hardware approximately 30” round. Drapery is designed in silk cream sheers and swaging in the dining room area. The artwork is framed in black and pottery rounds mounted on linen matting.

Designing a romantic Master Suite is essential to my clients so I decided nothing is more rich than the hot “Cream on Cream” – I found a 600 fill Hungarian Goose Down Comforter inside a West Elm Duvet, Floral Pillows atop a king sized bed from my wholesale line. A mixture of styles and textures anchored with a deep brown, black and cream cowhide centered in the middle of room. A lot to look at, but in real life – it is stunning!!

Cozy master seating and built in cabinetry.

The master bedroom has an outdoor seating area that I had re-covered the seating in cream. The little coffee table doubles as a fire pit. I will be adding between the pillars, sheer cream drapes to soften the look of this space and bring in even more romantic elegance.

The study has that punch of color in orange and sparkle, again anchored with a cowhide in reddish brown and cream.

In the lower level family room I designed this contemporary space with traditional and contemporary elements of design. I had this room painted Night Horizon by Benjamin Moore – I added a half moon sectional in chocolate brown and accessorized with horses in wood and bronze. A splash of red pillows and a multi colored throw – ties it all together. This Valentine’s Day you could be living in a romantic environment.

Whether you want to entice your spouse, lure a friend, a buyer, or want your own visual senses tackled we can help. For your next design project, whether you are for sale or not, we’d love to assist you! Give me a call at 612.226.8044

Happy Valentine’s Day and live your life beautifully designed – Cindy Montgomery

Getting Ready to Entertain | The Dining Room

Cindy Montgomery (Showhomes, Stage by Design, LLC) — Mon, 05 Nov 2012 09:30:01 -0800

As the holidays near, it is time to get your dining rooms ready to accommodate your guests.

The era of “matchy-matchy” furniture is now over. It is all about the eclectic attitude of your space that is hot. Truly, be creative and see just how elegant and beautiful your space can become. You can take your dining room table or buffet and distress it, change the hardware, add some texture. Just remember, you do not have to spend a lot of money changing what you have and making it new again. As seen in the photo, I am using cream accents on an older (mahogany) pedestal dining table hued with gold or you can hue with silver tones to the edges and base; distressing this table gives the effect of casual and simple elegance.

The buffet, (from Belgium) is one that is traditional in style and grace – I left this piece in its original condition. I decided to use a very strong element of jute-type rug woven with a tight weave, thus, giving a casual, more approachable entry. The texture added on the table is burlap, and a bread trough along with cream on cream candles that continue giving elegance to this space, welcoming your guests in. The large mirrors were all distressed from black to cream. I flanked two matching live plants to the left and right side of window set. The black and white, black-framed artwork with a European print is a nice compliment to this room. Lastly, wallpaper (bold and graphic) are now IN – or use a decorative stencil pattern on your dining room wall. Bold, graphic stencils are the rage right now, no more stuffy dining rooms. So as you can see, this room is traditional, contemporary and has warmth, it is not only welcoming but elegant.

As I prepare, I find myself searching for the perfect linens. This year the hot tones are what you like! As we are nearing the holiday’s red and umber colors will be a definitive influence in our color palette. You may want to add depth and dimension to your space using all the warm colors, including golden tones and yellows. Earth tones are always in, along with the addition of neutralized greens and blues. I may add some antlers and rustic elements of the outdoors to the table along with some gold or brown (earthy). I like mixing the rustic elements along with nature to bring in some more texture and character to the table.

Now that we covered all of the design sense of the dining room you now deserve a relaxed, simplified and informal way of living with your friends and family. Make your gathering spaces this holiday season eventful, meaningful filled with memories, love and great food. I am wishing you a heartfelt holiday season.

If you need help designing your spaces for the holiday please feel free to contact Cindy Montgomery as we are Designing the Senses throughout all seasons of life. 612.226.8044

What's Your Showhomes Story? | Home Manager Testimonial

Cindy Montgomery (Showhomes, Stage by Design, LLC) — Fri, 05 Oct 2012 08:55:17 -0700

Cathy has helped sell 5 homes with Showhomes Minneapolis.

Showhomes adds value by transforming vacant houses into stunning, cared-for homes that encourages potential buyers to linger.

Owner and design director Cindy Montgomery designs each home from top to bottom, maximizing its appeal to buyers. Home managers keep each home in show-to-sell condition seven days a week.

Home managers are carefully screened and qualified, they're hired to live in and manage each home throughout the sales process.

Entertain with Style

Cindy Montgomery (Showhomes, Stage by Design, LLC) — Fri, 31 Aug 2012 11:19:53 -0700

Some will say that creating an impact with food is not their style and would rather buy it than make it. For me, cooking and creating is part of my make-up plan. I especially like to cook with you (my guest) in mind. Whether it is for a large crowd or intimate gathering, I have some ideas that may make you rethink how easy it is to entertain with style.

The first thing I do after the event and date has been set is work on a guest list and send invites out. Next priority is a menu. Will there be a theme? Such as cultural cooking with a mixture of flavors (Italian, Mexican, French, Asian, American or a fusion of all). Several ideas to this menu will be deciding how you will display the food. Will it be a sit-down casual dinner, a full buffet line, a casual setting of food all around the entertaining area (which works well with large groups of people)? Other than the easy entertaining of an intimate dinner party and knowing exactly how many guests you are serving, a set menu of time, space and calculation is much more apparent than working with the unexpected "open house" where food may be prepared with guests in mind but not knowing how many guests will be eating or arriving. The number obviously will fluctuate if I extend an open invitation with no RSVP required. For the purpose of this blog, I will focus on serving a large group of guests coming to your home for an "open house" for, let's say, a friendship gathering.

Recently, I had a large group of guests come to an evening open house that invitations had been sent out, we called it "Small Plates" with no RSVP was required. Most people know that when I cook, it is big and for an army. We served around 75 guests arriving at different times during the evening hours. The "small plates" idea would allow someone who could eat as little as possible (grazing) or have enough for a full meal if they wanted (heavy appetizers). It was very important to prepare a menu that would allow room-temperature items so that I could enjoy the party and guests too.

Let's start with the menu: Don't repeat a main ingredient. For example, don't serve a shrimp appetizer and shrimp main dish. Consider the colors of the food that will be served together and make sure there is variety, like leafy green, yellow (corn for instance), red could be bell pepper or strawberries; brown could be meat, bread, pastas, etc. or white for potato or desserts. You can have a lot of fun with this in your preplanning notebook. Offer both hot and cold foods on a buffet. Go ahead and mix textures such as a crisp potato galette served with a soft vegetable puree as side dishes. I usually prep the food the day before to allow an easy plan of action the day-of. Many foods can be made a day in advance and heated with ease a few minutes prior to serving.

This was the menu:

Salmon- poached with light cream, mushroom and leek sauce, topped with dill

Savory Tartlets - Leek, mushroom, gruyere and fontana cheese; Sundried tomato, spinach, basil, fresh tomato and feta cheese; and Southwestern, black and pinto bean, Pico di Gallo (fresh tomato, onion, cilantro, salt, jalapeno and lime), fresh corn, black olives, hot pepper jack, and sharp cheddar cheeses.

Fava Bean Wonton- served with yogurt dill and cucumber sauce

Five Tomato Salsa- (very chunky) cherry red and yellow tomato heirloom, mixed lightly with jalapeno, red onion, lime and cilantro

Grilled tenderloin- warm to cool, thinly sliced, served with horseradish

Bowtie pasta- with mini shrimp

Chicken pasta- with grapes and poppy seed dressing

Chicken skewers- marinated chicken with a choice of curry coconut tomato sauce or sweet and spicy peanut chutney

Salad - Three bean, cilantro, corn, onion and cumin

Brie cheese- with a hot pepper jelly overtop

Rolls, chips and crackers - served to compliment some of the dips and meats provided

Desserts: Pound cake- with sliced strawberries and fresh whipped cream

Chocolate cake -with ganache chocolate fudge cut in 2" squares

While prepping for this event, I made a quick video to show you exactly how to make my original Savory Tartlets:

The leftovers were picked up by my area Police Department who sent a squad car over to pick up and share with their precinct. That way, nothing was wasted and everyone can enjoy a party- also showing some appreciation for what they do for us.

Transforming Spaces | Creativity in Design

Cindy Montgomery (Showhomes, Stage by Design, LLC) — Wed, 01 Aug 2012 08:11:11 -0700

Peaceful and elegant with huge impact, this client’s space went from boring to spectacular. This loft project was literally a blank canvas with much to do to create a “turn-key”, “move‐in ready" product. This is what we did to transform the space...

Living room (right) and Dining Room (left)

The walls were green and taupe with a center island that was white painted sheetrock. As we worked on the space, the first thing we did was change the paint color to Night Horizon – by Benjamin Moore in a flat finish.

Living Room (left) and Master Bedroom (right)

We wrapped the center island in aluminum that was fabricated from a local steel shop. I brought the dimensions in to their shop and picked out the big sheets to cut. The fabricator cut it immediately.

Once installed, the boring island took on a very high-end commercial kitchen look with great texture. I softened the look with 3 stools from Pier One that have cream rotatable seats and espresso stain on the legs.

Transitioning from cold and sterile to rich and comfortable, I used a double pedestal table by Hooker that has a base painted to Lenox Cream with a distressed look with a natural distressed top that extends easily to 137”and can seat 10‐12 chairs comfortably. (See below)

The TV unit was custom installed pieces of lit glass, glass shelves, espresso floating drawers and cabinet system, mounted flat screen TV, and stackable drawers on right (not shown). The unit was approximately 140”. The contractor also made the lighting to be turned off and on from the wall outlet making it easier to dim, turn on or off. This unit was the most time consuming adventure – built right to the wall with exact precision. (See below)

Installed conduit was used to hand cream sheer drapes from the copper ring hardware - still emphasizing texture used throughout this space.

The master bedroom boasts a glass wall/door system that shows off the cream on cream inspiration throughout the home. The bed was designed with a curved charcoal/espresso headboard, wrapped with feather down pillows and comforters and a tightly enveloped mattress with a charcoal coverlet, creating a nice blend of masculine and feminine. Coordinating larger end tables that were distressed in the same wooden tone were placed on either side of the bed.

Matching credenza dresser extends to 160" on the opposite wall with a flat screen TV above (not shown).

The cream sofas are slightly over-stuffed with straight lines and a soft contemporary look with West Elm pillows in different textures of cream on cream gracing the sofa. The coffee table was a special cut sheet of glass from Room and Board with two-clay pebbled texture bases to rest on.The table rests on a large Pottery Barn jute textured rug. We took photos of local downtown commercial buildings, hotspots and had our prints enlarged to become stunning artwork mounted in black frames with crisp white matting. (See both photos below)

As you can see, using different textures and materials - aluminum, granite, maple, paint colors, warm lighting, local artwork, cowhide, tables with rough hewn and steel, the formal dining room and living spaces combine rich and simple to achieve a highly sophisticated look.

Clean lines, high style and class

Cindy Montgomery (Showhomes, Stage by Design, LLC) — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 09:37:50 -0700

Monochromatic space with cream leather chairs, high style sofa with nail ticking detail, beautiful wool rug with brown, cream and turquoise. Eclectic texture and detail throughout the home. Various textures, mirror tables, glass elements, silver nail, animal horns and hides provide the high style effect.

Living Room

Cream leather chairs that are strapped in the back - a relaxing, contemporary style in this traditional home due to the elements planting around in texture

Dining Room

Caribou horns add a touch of whimsy - scratchy burlap and three black bowls grace the table. The mix of the chandelier, warm wood tones, rough textures and tufted chairs with chippendale chairs in walnut and animal print seats is unique yet inviting. Mixing and matching the chairs lends to that eclectic touch, adding interest through cream tweed fabrics alongside classic tufts.

Master Bedroom

Restoration Hardware Maison bed - propped mirror and soft sheers makes this room a warm and inviting master. Switching the dark red drapes to flowing sheers softened the room tremendously. The cream on cream makes this room restful and peaceful.

Please contact me with all your design needs! -Cindy, ShowhomesGirl cmontgomery@showhomes.com

Spring Sales Are in the Air

Cindy Montgomery (Showhomes, Stage by Design, LLC) — Fri, 27 Apr 2012 09:35:28 -0700

Spring home sales are in the air. NO SLOW MARKET IN REAL ESTATE FOR US! This year, 2012, has been a fast-paced hit-the-ground-running year. Right out of the shoot we pended 6 homes in January, February with 15 and March 13 homes – the count is still running in April. What’s everyone complaining about?

"Photo with compliments of Showhomes Minneapolis Design Team – Woodland home"

I believe that a well-designed space evokes emotion to a buyer; resulting in a home that stands out among the other homes on the market. This house in Woodland (near Wayzata, MN) pended in less than two weeks after it was designed and staged by Showhomes and successfully closed two weeks later. The homeowner did their homework and had the wood floors refinished, painted the walls and trim work with a warm current color, new carpeting and then the icing on the cake was to get the home staged. Staging works! Wouldn’t you like to be one of the many homes that are selling fast due to how they look? Obviously, location, price and many other factors attribute to a faster sale – but the one who wins the beauty contest ultimately takes the trophy!

According to the Minneapolis Association of REALTORS^® “Job growth, low mortgage rates, rising rents and a relatively inexpensive housing stock. These are just some of the playful teases in the burlesque revue that is today's market recovery. Another week passed with buyers displaying no signs of slowing down. In general, sellers are discovering a less-intimidating scene, and buyers are reveling in the showy marketplace. As expected, spring's warming glow continues to fuel optimism and consumer activity. But that won't necessarily be the case in every area or segment, so do your research before making that move.

In the Twin Cities region, for the week ending April 14:

• New Listings decreased 9.5% to 1,637
• Pending Sales increased 25.5% to 1,170 • Inventory decreased 27.8% to 17,384

For the month of March (as of March 24,th 2012)

• Median Sales Price increased 7.1% to $149,900
• Days on Market decreased 9.6% to 145
• Percent of Original List Price Received increased 3.8% to 92.1% • Months Supply of Inventory decreased 38.0% to 4.7

The National Association of REALTORS^® is predicting existing-home sales will jump 7 to 10 percent in 2012 to the highest level in five years, based on an "uneven but higher sales pattern" so far this year. Pending home sales fell a seasonally adjusted 0.5 percent from January to February, which was up 9.2 percent from the same time a year ago.

My companies remain strong, doing what we love. Our average day on market is 20 days. We accommodate a buyers request for occupancy and fast closings. We always design your home to detail with full house staging – every time. So for you interested home sellers out there, who are holding off selling your home – don’t be shy – MAKE YOUR HOME SHOW ABOVE THE REST AND USE A DESIGNER TO MAKE IT HAPPEN FOR YOU! Check out many ways to show above the rest and get that sale before anyone even knows you were on the market.

For more information give us a call at 612.226.8044 DESIGN . INSPIRE . SELL

Welcome to my world of design

Cindy Montgomery (Showhomes, Stage by Design, LLC) — Thu, 15 Mar 2012 09:33:01 -0700

Welcome to my world of design! This property is a 2084 square foot home in South Minneapolis. In this video, I create visual impact for a potential buyer in under a minute! Showhomes Minneapolis transforms the living room, creating visual impact for a potential buyer in under 1 minute!

This property is currently for sale! Check out the rest of the house here: http://www.cbburnet.com/property/details/1811818/MLS-4123429/5016-16th-Avenue-S-Minneapolis-MN-55417.aspx

Designing the Month of Love

Cindy Montgomery (Showhomes, Stage by Design, LLC) — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 17:01:31 -0800

February is the LOVE month, so with that being said, lets talk about designing with red, romance and something sweet. For holidays and various occasions, I love designing my rooms festively with roses. After all, aren’t roses one of a girl’s best friends?

Let’s start with the master bedroom and bathroom—treat the rooms as one. The scent of roses not only caters to the sense of smell but also initiates the feeling of romance. Float some petals in a hot bath scented with mineral salts, sprinkle the rose petals on the counter, floor or even the bed. I will also put roses in vases…

If you are in search of roses and don’t want to pay full Valentine’s Day prices, then seek out distributors – easily found on Google! Search “roses for less” and your area of residence and a nice list should come up for you. You will want to put your order in ASAP because they may sell out by Valentine’s Day. When I design my own arrangements, I buy about four dozen roses and design about 3-5 vases at a time.

I place the designed vases all over the house, making fragrant and beautiful spaces. Remember, if you buy the roses, you have to do all the work… cutting the stems, removing the leaves and thorns and arranging the roses in the vase. If this sounds like too much work, the just go to your local florist and have them design for you. Just remember that most of the florists will have to have your order in at least a week prior to Valentine’s Day because it is not unusual to run out of roses, especially red roses!

For all of you out there who really want to make your Valentine something really special then make this sensational creamy cheesecake. My own creation of sweet, tart, and creamy dessert that will leave you wanting more.

Cherry Liqueur Cheesecake www.youtube.com/showhomesgirl

Happy Valentineʼs Day!! Love, Cindy Montgomery – Designing the Senses For all your designing needs, give me a call at 612.226.8044.

Gathering Around the Table and Designing Intimate Surroundings

Cindy Montgomery (Showhomes, Stage by Design, LLC) — Mon, 05 Dec 2011 13:48:05 -0800

November is the month that reminds us to be thankful. It's alarming that I often busy myself with more things than there are minutes in a day and sometimes it's easy to take thankfulness for granted. Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays because it's a time to slow down and express gratefulness for life's many blessings. That said, I’d like to invite you to some of my spaces for the season– in hopes that you can create intimate surroundings at your own tables.

This year, let's dress tables with elegance and grace, create feelings of peacefulness and add color, texture and warmth. Here’s a few examples to help you create your lovely and festive table that will welcome guests to relax and sense the meaning in this season.

On this table, I used wicker place mats atop a lovely yellow/gold toned tablecloth. The plates are by Emile Henry (France) and are brown/copper in color. I used cloth napkins in a rich multicolored pattern and design. I added a bronze/rust see-through silk runner, complemented by amber water glasses, a vase filled with fall-colored roses, eggplant candles atop crystal candlesticks. Lastly, I brought in a rustic touch by placing curly willow along with a few maple tree branches in the center of the table.

Take it a step further; don’t just dress your table– dress your whole house! Bring the same touch of fall colors to your coffee tables, bathrooms and even bedrooms. These seemingly small details will bless your heart and your senses. I know it certainly does for me!

Lastly, grab a comfy throw, snuggle up by a burning fire for added warmth and for you and your guests. May I be the first to wish you and yours a happy and blessed Thanksgiving.

Cindy Montgomery

Design. Inspire. Sell.

Cindy's Famous Spring Rolls

Cindy Montgomery (Showhomes, Stage by Design, LLC) — Fri, 21 Oct 2011 19:40:01 -0700

I'm sharing my recipe for my Famous Spring Rolls! Showhomes Minneapolis is about designing for ALL the senses, that certainly includes TASTE!

This video is set in a home designed by Cindy Montgomery with Showhomes Minneapolis. I love to share my recipes and show off beautiful homes on the market (this particular home is located in Golden Valley, MN)! Hope you enjoy!

Cindy's Famous Spring Rolls Recipe:

Yield: makes 125-150 spring rolls 2 lbs ground lean beef 1 small head chopped cabbage (approx. 3 1/2 C) 1 onion chopped 3 small zucchini chopped 4 C carrots shredded 2 C fresh bean sprouts 1 bunch of green onion chopped 2 t salt 2 t black ground pepper 1 egg 4 packages of Spring roll wrappers (buy at Asian grocery stores only) Make sure they are the non-stick. 2 C canola oil to fry Spring rolls in 350-400 degree electric skillet.

First brown the beef completely, then add the cabbage and chopped onion and cook until tender (approx 2 minutes).

Turn off heat then add carrots, bean sprouts, green onion and zucchini...

Roll 2 tbsp of the mixture in each sheet of spring roll paper (folding in each corner at a time), dip the final corner in a beaten egg and close the roll.

Once you've made all your roll ups, heat a skillet with your canola oil to 400 degrees and cook the rolls until they're browned. Then place each one on a drying rack to cool.... and ENJOY!

Dip the spring rolls in a sweet chili sauce (also available at Asian markets)

"DIY Network" Project | Before & After

Cindy Montgomery (Showhomes, Stage by Design, LLC) — Thu, 14 Apr 2011 14:14:36 -0700

Last month we (Showhomes Minneapolis and Cindy Montgomery) were featured on the DIY Network's "Rehab Addict." Since then, I received many questions via email, private facebook messages and phone calls about the furnishings used in the home after the remodeling was completed. In attempt to make this simple, I'll go through room by room with photos and explain the inspiration.

Upon viewing this beautiful renovation, I first noticed the stunning colors: pewter walls and warm cream with antiqued woodwork around the fireplace. Keeping that in mind I wanted to try to find something that would not distract from this focal point. Here's what I chose.

Two matching white linen sofas, with feather down pillow inserts and silk pillow covers that were tight on the ends. The coffee table was purchased at West Elm - simple, yet elegant. I used the largest platter (concrete) from Restoration Hardware with three floating balls with a rope texture. The fresh flowers add even more elegance and are cut to the same length (after first taking off all thorns and leaves to achieve that clean and fresh look). The glass vase is from West Elm along with natural fibers from Pier One Imports. The throw is a cream with a cotton yarn. The lamps are pottery base with a chocolate brown lamp shade. The rug (6x9) is also from West Elm - it's texture made for a perfect balance.

STUDY When I first saw this space I immediately thought it would make the perfect study.

I always float the desk in the room - you do not want anyone walking to the back of the person sitting at a desk - so we placed the desk at an angle in the room, accessorized and put two really hip chairs across from the desk.

This room is opposite of the study - so I used two matching accent chairs in cream and then anchored a side table with a hip lamp.

MASTER BATHROOM I like to use elements that invite a spa like atmosphere. So, in the master bath I brought in rich towels, two matching robes, and some chocolates - Godiva of course!

MASTER BEDROOM When I took this photo, it was facing the entrance wall where the bed would go. Because I always like to use a king sized bed in the master, it was really important to see the space and use the full expanse of this incredible room. The opposite side of this room has a fireplace, sort of separating the room...

I placed a Room and Board chocolate sofa, a Pier One coffee table and end table, two contemporary lamps, a transitional headboard and footboard - a style that could go either way: contemporary or traditional. I dressed the bed with linens, a duvet from West Elm, full and fluffy feather down comforters and pillow inserts.

This room turned out to be one of the most romantic rooms in the home. We did not hang any artwork on the walls, instead we propped the artwork on the fireplace and accessorized the coffee table.

FORMAL DINING ROOM This table is from Room and Board- a rough hewn and distressed table in an oil finish, closed legs with 6 chairs tucked inside (from my wholesale line). Elegant statement.

KITCHEN We steered towards a gourmet kitchen style in the furnishings for this room- cafe table, four black chairs, center island and the accessorizing which works beautifully, making this quaint room more of a sunny experience even on the coldest of days.

GUEST ROOM Normally I wouldn't put a bed in front of a window. But in this room, it was clearly the longest wall- so it made sense as the best placement of the furnishings due to how a person would walk into the space.

I chose a white bed with two matching night stands from my wholesale line. Since the room was a greener tint we accented with green and used mostly white linens to balance and bring in softer and calming colors.

BOYS ROOM This room is long and narrow - but big enough for a twin bed, a nightstand and a desk!

Custom bedding in sail boats and matching coordinating pillows of sailboats and cream and blue strips - black headboard and footboards (my wholesale line) as well as black desk from Hom Furniture.

Being a part of the DIY Network and tackling this home, it was fun to see the transformation of the space and the furnishings finally in place. We focused on enhancing the features, class, integrity and style of the home while maintaining a model home atmosphere. We expect this home will sell quickly once it hits the market - a well dressed and appointed space.

For answers to your questions, recommendations on what you should to do when you are furnishing your space, call me anytime or facebook me: Showhomesgirl.

Vacant houses face many risks, especially this time of year.

Cindy Montgomery (Showhomes, Stage by Design, LLC) — Sat, 16 Oct 2010 08:48:08 -0700

Are your vacant listings ready for winter? With Showhomes, broken pipes, wet basements and funny smells become worries of the past! Cindy Montgomery of Showhomes Minneapolis has helped Realtors and their home owners sell over 50 homes since January 2010. Let me help you help your clients.

Please click the youtube link below to find out more!

Turning Cold and Sterile into Soft and Calm Contemporary

Cindy Montgomery (Showhomes, Stage by Design, LLC) — Wed, 16 Jun 2010 18:54:33 -0700

ANOTHER ONE SOLD! After Showhomes designed this home, it sold in 42 days! Prior to Showhomes, this home sat vacant on the market for 410 days... Staging works!!!

This home was an over-the-top contemporary modern home with furnishings that were cold and dated with too many curves. The walls were a stark white with an entry of "car dealership" red. Even the banisters were a shiny red! Overall, the home felt cold, sterile and impersonal.

The home did have great black/charcoal grey carpeting which was a really nice compliment to the home. This gave us something to work with. We had the walls painted with a soft grey tone and accented with my new favorite color "Night Horizon" by Benjamin Moore. The idea was to take the cold, sterile feeling and make it into the soothing, calmness of a spa.

The cold, shiny marble flooring in the family room warmed up with a grass rug. Using pottery, wood, upholstery and suede also had a phenomal effect in this home. These elements created a soft contemporary home that will appeal to much more of our midwestern buyers.

419 5th Street SE, Minneapolis, MN

Cindy Montgomery (Showhomes, Stage by Design, LLC) — Wed, 09 Jun 2010 10:53:32 -0700

MLS# 3931580

http://www.cbburnet.com/CustomModules/Property/PropertyDetail.aspx?SearchID=14607996&PropertyGUID=65E94EF3-A26E-432F-AB2B-05DBF61BA953&TotalRows=92&CurrentPage=4&SortValue=0&LastResultsPage=1&IsSold=False

A Day Exploring Oregon

Cindy Montgomery (Showhomes, Stage by Design, LLC) — Sun, 23 May 2010 13:26:14 -0700

Just a fun video I put together of my Dad and me in Oregon...

Killer Brownies by Cindy Montgomery

Cindy Montgomery (Showhomes, Stage by Design, LLC) — Wed, 05 May 2010 13:27:11 -0700

I am revealing my coveted brownie recipe... Showhomes Minneapolis is all about designing ALL the senses, which of course includes taste... ENJOY!!! Let me know what you think!!!

In and Out Within 2 Months!

Cindy Montgomery (Showhomes, Stage by Design, LLC) — Mon, 05 Apr 2010 11:25:24 -0700

What's Your Showhomes Story?

John's house sat on the market for 497 days without any offers before Showhomes designed the property on December 7, 2009... once Showhomes came in, it was sold in 60 days!!!

Showhomes works! Contact Cindy with Showhomes to sell your next vacant property. email: cmontgomery@showhomes.com

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Home Managers Testimonial

Cindy Montgomery (Showhomes, Stage by Design, LLC) — Tue, 09 Mar 2010 10:43:32 -0800

Chris and Jennifer were Home Managers with Showhomes for 4 years. In this short video, they explain how Showhomes helped them save $50,000, learn the housing market and ultimately determine where they wanted to buy a house.

New Video Tour 20240 Cottagewood Ave Deephaven MN, 55331

Cindy Montgomery (Showhomes, Stage by Design, LLC) — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 07:39:14 -0800

TOUR LINK:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q25pK3XNP8U

$499,000 4 Bed, 2 Bath | 2,614 Sq Ft | MLS #3882333

Property Features
Single Family Property
Status: Active
Area: Lake Minnetonka
County: Hennepin
Year Built: 1958
4 total bedroom(s)
2 total bath(s)
Approximately 2614 sq. ft.
Single story
Style: One Story
Basement
Laundry room
2 fireplaces
2 car garage
Attached parking
View
Lake view
Approximate lot is 117x113x120x97
School District: Minnetonka

New Video Tour 1308 W 24th Street Minneapolis, MN 55405

Cindy Montgomery (Showhomes, Stage by Design, LLC) — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 08:43:01 -0800

During the month of February, we gave away a free video tour with all newly contracted homes. Over the next few weeks, we will feature a new video daily. Please check back often to see the latest and greatest from Showhomes Minneapolis!

TOUR LINK:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2-muAVmwePo

1308 W 24Th St Minneapolis, MN 55405

$299,900 4 Bed, 3 Bath | 2,242 Sq Ft on 0.05 Acres (2,178 Sq Ft Lot) | MLS #3873866

Property Features
Single Family Property
Status: Active
Area: MPLS-Calhoun-Isles
County: Hennepin
Year Built: 1913
4 total bedroom(s)
3 total bath(s)
Approximately 2242 sq. ft.
Two and a half story
Style: More Than Two Stories
Dining room
Basement
1 car garage
Attached parking
Approximate lot is 38.5 X 47
Approximately 0.05 acre(s)
Lot size is less than 1/2 acre
School District: Minneapolis

Showhomes Minneapolis has a SWEET deal for you!

Cindy Montgomery (Showhomes, Stage by Design, LLC) — Fri, 05 Feb 2010 16:30:01 -0800

For the month of February, Showhomes Minneapolis is giving away a FREE video tour of all homes staged. We supply the photos, music and can add your graphics and portraits to make it your own. We will host these on youtube and will also post links on facebook, twitter, activerain and on our wordpress blog. Please take a moment to view an example at the following link:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S4Iu5Lvpw-Y

HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY FROM EVERYONE AT SHOWHOMES MINNEAPOLIS!

Cooking with the Showhomes Chef

Cindy Montgomery (Showhomes, Stage by Design, LLC) — Fri, 29 Jan 2010 11:48:14 -0800

I would like to invite you into one of my Showhomes to learn my famous recipe for Sticky Toffee Pudding. This is a dish that is enjoyed when I entertain clients and is also something I serve at REALTOR open houses. Enjoy!!!

STICKY TOFFEE PUDDING

PUDDING: In saucepan cook to a full boil: 1 C water 1 C date pieces (coated with oat flour preferred) then cool while preparing the below ingredients

Mix and set aside: 1 C plus 2T unbleached all purpose flour 1 t baking powder 1 t baking soda ½ t salt

Cream together: 4 T soft unsalted butter ¾ C Bakers fine sugar then add 2 eggs 1 t vanilla extract then add the date mixture and flour mixture – until just blended. Pour into a steam pan (or loaf pan) bake 35 minutes at 350 degrees. Gently touch cake; it should feel firm. Reduce heat to 250 degrees and pour ¾ C of warm toffee sauce over the top of cake and back another 25 minutes.

TOFFEE SAUCE Cook the below with low heat 3 C heavy cream 2 t molasses and 1 T whiskey 2 ¼ C brown sugar

Simmer uncovered for at least 30 minutes (sauce will reduce slightly)

To serve – slice, pour some warm toffee sauce over the top and then pour a bit of heavy cream over that.

Enjoy!

Another one sold!

Cindy Montgomery (Showhomes, Stage by Design, LLC) — Fri, 22 Jan 2010 12:20:02 -0800

ANOTHER ONE GONE! According to this report from the Minneapolis Area Association of REALTORS®, with all things remaining constant, it would have taken 40.1 months to sell a property in this price range of $995,000. Just under 2 months after it was designed by Showhomes, an offer was accepted on this home. We are off and running to a fast closing on February 3rd, 2010!

http://showhomesgirl.wordpress.com/2010/01/22/another-one-sold

Another Successful Sale

Cindy Montgomery (Showhomes, Stage by Design, LLC) — Sat, 16 Jan 2010 15:03:58 -0800

October Designed, November offer, December closed.

(For the second time!) The first time we designed the property, it sold in just 2 days and the second time in just over 2 months! The moral of the story? Staged homes sell faster, and staging works!

This beautiful home (remodeled by Andy Schrader of Schrader Homes) went on the market again and in September 2009, it had been on for over 180 days. The homeowners knew their property faced significant challenges as a vacant home in the upper price bracket, so they contacted Showhomes.

When they initially fell in love with their home, the homeowners remembered that they made their offer just 2 days after it had been staged by Showhomes. Motivated to sell their home, they contacted Showhomes Minneapolis, who designed the home on October 1, 2009. (Offer received in November, sale had closed by the first week in December).

In September 2009, there were 47.2 homes on the market per buyer in this price range (according to data from the Minneapolis Area Association of REALTORS®). Designs by Showhomes caused the home to show above the overwhelming number of options in this buyer's market.

http://showhomesgirl.wordpress.com/2010/01/10/another-successful-sale/