Southern California Home Staging Blog

Eggnog French Toast

Sun, 12 Dec 2010 15:27:20 -0800

I love eggnog. Eggnog ice cream, eggnog custard, eggnog coffee and eggnog in my Brandy. This morning I used it in my french toast recipe and it was delicious! The measurements don't need to be exact by any means. Here are two cooking options:

thick sliced challah or french bread

Mix together:

1 1/2 cups eggnog
2 eggs
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon vanilla

Option 1: Dip bread in eggnog mixture. Heat large skillet, melt butter and cook soaked bread slices on medium/high heat until golden brown on both sides and firm in the center.

Option 2: You can also bake the entire batch by placing the bread slices in a butter coated baking pan and pour eggnog mixture over the bread. Cover and soak over night in refrigerator (it helps to dry the bread out for a day before beginning). Before baking sprinkle with 2 tablespoons of sugar. Bake uncovered in 350 degree oven for 40-50 minutes until cooked through and golden brown. Note: Double the eggnog mixture if baking to coat all of the bread. I also add a few pats of butter among the bread slices before baking-calorie content also doubled...

Serve with butter, syrup, and sprinkle with powdered sugar.

Traditional to Modern Design

Sun, 12 Sep 2010 13:06:45 -0700

Updating your design doesn't have to be expensive. You can re-purpose old items to change and update them.

In this case it only took spray paint. I had an traditional wooden pedestal table that I wanted to lighten up and use in a modern house I Staged in Hermosa Beach, CA.

I spray painted it silver for an instant lift. You can spray paint almost anything- I've painted mirror frames, crown molding, patio benches, and even a fireplace mantle. I'd love to see your pictures of spray painted transformations.

Twitter, really? Yes!

Sat, 19 Jun 2010 15:56:54 -0700

I avoided Twitter for a long time, I just couldn't find the appeal. I didn't want to post my every move for the world to see- I don't expect everyone to care that "Gina is painting today!" I just as equally didn't want to see everyone else's daily tasks. Or so I thought.

I recently gave in and joined. A friend was telling me how it had helped his wife's Graphic Design business, and so I decided I'd give it a try. I created an account and just started typing random design thoughts, adding design links, and began following others- mostly design friends, magazines, stores, etc. It felt ridiculous at first because no one was following me. Who was I talking to? But soon, I had my first follower! I looked up her profile. If I emailed her, she'd give me a password I could use to see the recent pictures she'd taken of herself. Not a promising start. Although, relaying this story to my younger brother, he was suddenly very interested in Twitter.

I was ready to give up, Twitter seemed as creepy as I'd originally thought. But as I looked at Tweets of people that I was following, I found some really great links. I found furniture stores, design blogs, magazine articles- in short, cool resources I wouldn't have found otherwise. I now loved Twitter!

My biggest misconception was that Tweets would come directly to my email inbox, but this isn't the case at all. I check Tweets only when I want to. I use Twitter to find new design ideas, to see quick links to magazine articles and to see what other people that I find interesting are talking about now. I haven't received any new Staging business through Twitter, but I don't expect that. I'm sure there's much more to be found on Twitter, but I'm happy enough with the value from the new resources alone.

What have been your experiences with Twitter? Do you have any tips or follow suggestions? Nothing that requires passwords please...

Shining Fixtures

Fri, 09 Apr 2010 19:49:18 -0700

I recently worked on an older house in Palos Verdes, CA in which the faucets, tub and shower fixtures were in really bad shape. I was able to replace all the Kohler fixtures with no problem, but I was unable to find replacements for the shower knobs because the trim pieces were discontinued.

In a case like this, the best option is to have them re-surfaced. It wasn't inexpensive, but they turned out beautiful and it saved the trouble of hiring a plumber to replace the valves in the wall.

An excellent tip for caring for bathroom and kitchen fixtures is to periodically wax them with car wax and maintain them with regular cleanings using lemon pledge. It makes perfect sense because these products protect the metal finishes from water and soap build-up.

Updating the bathrooms with new fixtures was an excellent fix for this old house. Call us today and we can help you prepare your house for sale or for enjoying.

Home Updates You May Have Overlooked

Fri, 09 Apr 2010 01:16:47 -0700

We get so used to our homes, we often overlook easy updates that can make a big difference. As a Home Stager I often hear my clients amazement at what a quick transformation a few new items can make.

New kitchen and bath faucets- sometimes it's just the shower knobs.

Replacing old light fixtures, ceiling fans and fluorescent kitchen and bath lighting.

New Paint colors. White paint walls are boring. Choose a cohesive color palette for the whole house- warm tans, yellows, blues. White is good for trim and ceilings to help the new colors stand out.

Oil the Cabinets. Using lemon oil or a tinted oil polish can really revitalize dull wooden cabinets.

Re-upholster the dining chairs. New fabric gives old chairs a second life. Faux leather is a good seat choice because it can be easily cleaned and looks good with most any decor.

Call or email Fusion Design Consulting for more Home Staging and Decorating ideas.

Holiday Decorating

Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:16:51 -0800

Choose a theme – Having a theme organizes the look and feel of your decorating. It helps you keep the decorating under control and prevents it from looking cluttered. You can choose a theme based on colors- red and green, turquoise and silver, or pink and gold, purple and green are a few examples. The colors don’t have to be traditional Holiday colors. Or you can decorate based on a style such as traditional, modern, Victorian, country, etc. These images are from Country Living Magazine, you can see many more at their site.

Carry through to wrapping paper- Choose wrapping paper that matches your theme. You could use plain brown paper with a colorful ribbon for a country theme or all silver paper with any color of ribbon to match your decorations. Quality ribbon makes a big difference in the look of your wrapped gifts. You can find ribbon by the yard at craft stores or online. Lastly, handmade tags are a nice finish that personalize the gift.

Tip: instead of using tags for your children, wrap each child’s presents in their own gift wrap- green for Jack, red for Lauren.

Use clear lights- Plain, simple, festive.

Use what you have in different ways- You don’t have to buy all new decorations to make a change, create a new look by using what you have in different ways:

· Ornaments in a bowl for a centerpiece

· Garland around windows

· Table runners on coffee and side tables

· Gather fresh greenery from the garden

· Decorate with fruit, flowers and food- ok, not such a good idea if you have pets or small children...

For Help with Holiday Decorting or more tips call or email Fusion Design Consulting.

Home Staging makes a Big Difference with Small Updates

Thu, 05 Nov 2009 23:25:31 -0800

The seller of this 1960 original beach house called me after trying unsuccessfully to sell his house in Redondo Beach.

We went through the house together and discussed the strategy for Staging for the best ROI. We decided it was best to concentrate on updated lighting and paint, scraping the popcorn ceilings, and removing old draperies to let in light.

The transformation took just a few weeks and the house sold and closed in 6 weeks.

Home Staging makes a big difference even with small updates!

We created a plan for updating and decorating that helped this house sell.

Is Your House Show-Ready?

Sun, 02 Aug 2009 11:39:46 -0700

Home Staging provides many benefits, a designer's touch and inspiration, professional referrals, guidance and help with preparing your home for sale. Home Staging also provides one more key element: an objective eye.

Our homes are functionaly and comfortably suited to our lifestyles. We know where everything is and we're also strangely oblivious to where everything is. It makes sense to us that the kitchen counter is filled with items needed for everyday life- the toaster, knife block, can-opener, mixer, mail, canister of utensils, coffee, tea, flour, sugar..., look in your kitchen, I'm sure there are more things you can add to the list.

How's the bathroom counter looking? Your nightstands and dresser? How about the kids' toys- I could swear they really do walk around on their own and spread throughout the house when your not looking.

When your opening your house to buyers you need to see your house through their eyes. Imagine what impression buyers will have when they walk into your house for the first time.

Most times the first impression begins before they even step foot into your house- it begins with pictures on the internet. How does your house look in pictures? Do the pictures showcase a model home or your clutter?

By Staging your house properly you create a great first impression that attracts buyers to your property.

A Home Staging consultation will guide you through all of these issues and help you create a great first impression in pictures and in person. Home Staging is the first step in marketing your house for sale.

Pack it up

Wed, 01 Oct 2008 13:14:42 -0700

One of the key pieces of advice all Home Stagers impart on home-sellers is to pack early. A clean, clutter free house is the starting point for Home Staging.

By packing up seldom used items, cleaning out storage areas, closets, cabinets and garages you create open spaces that home buyers are seeking. By packing early, you are better prepared for your upcoming move. There is so much to do when buying and selling your home, it can be very stressful; but, you don't have to do it alone.

Home Sweet Home is a packing and unpacking service available throughout California and other states.

They offer professional and customized packing and unpacking services. They take the stress out of moving by doing the hard work for you.

Home Sweet Home services include:

•·         Packing materials
•·         Sorting
•·         Packing
•·         Un-Packing
•·         Organizing
•·         Mover and Storage Referrals

Home Sweet Home "packs intelligently"- their staff is experienced, careful and caring. They efficiently organize, pack and label your belongings, making your move smooth and easy.

By hiring Home Sweet Home to pack and unpack for you, they know where everything is packed and how you had it placed before, making it easy to unpack and organize everything in your new home.

They offer "Jump Start" packages beginning for only $399.

I always recommend them in my Home Staging consultation reports and have worked with them several times with excellent results and satisfied customers.

Whether it's packing only some items as advised in the Home Staging Consultation, or packing and un-packing the whole house during re-location, they can help.

You can contact them directly at: 310-984-0543 or 877-UNPACKME or visit www.unpackme.com

Helping Sellers Understand Home Staging

Thu, 21 Jun 2007 02:56:27 -0700

In preparing for a Realtor office presentation, I created a handout for Realtors to help their clients understand how Home Staging works and what services we offer. Here is the flyer with some Home Staging basics for sellers.

SET THE STAGE TO SELL

You only have one chance to make a great first impression.

Staging creates a Show-Ready house that stands out from the competition.

The bottom line is houses that show better, sell for more money and quicker.

Top Home Staging Tips:

Look at your house objectively- see what buyers will see.
Work on Curb Appeal- clean-up, repair, weed, paint, trim, and plant.
Start packing early- make your upcoming move easier.
Clear clutter- Pack, store, donate, recycle or discard unused items.
Clean house- Hire a cleaning service to deep clean your Show-Piece.
Fill in the gaps- “set the stage” for buyers by decorating empty spaces.

A Home Stager gives you a clear plan to guide you through this often overwhelming process and makes sure your house shows at its best.

Professional Staging Services include:

·     Create a Staging Plan
·     Color-Consultation
·    Sub-contractor referrals
·     Coordinating all aspects of rental furniture and accessories

FUSION DESIGN CONSULTING

Gina Dougherty
310-375-0795
www.FusionDesignConsulting.com
gina@FusionDesignConsulting.com

Paint Colors Made Easy

Fri, 01 Jun 2007 13:41:34 -0700

Choosing paint colors can be a very tricky. Even tried and true colors you've used successfully before may not work on any given project due to lighting variations, different flooring or finishes, etc..

I and many others have written about paint colors before. Many of us have our favorite brands- mine being Benjamin Moore, Eggshell finish. But even with all Benjamin Moore's great choices and samples available it is difficult to narrow down just the right color until now... I have discovered a new favorite color palette selection at Restoration Hardware.

They have a small fandeck for $7.00 with 32 fabulous colors. There are 8 fabulous color groups with 4 colors in each. The colors are all soft and subtle, perfect for Staging (for brighter accent colors in reds and oranges the Ben Moore Pottery Barn Collection is a good place to start). My favorite group is the Flax collection, all beautiful browns in varying shades perfectly coordinated and balanced. Each color is available in a 4oz. sample for $3.95.

Silver Sage is an amazing, barely there green that feels more like a glow than a color. The Rose and Hyacinth groups are best suited for a nursery or little girl's room but still stunning.

Whatever colors you are looking for the Restoration Hardware collection is a great source!

When the NEIGHBOR'S House Needs Staging

Thu, 31 May 2007 21:20:49 -0700

Last week I arrived at a Staging consultation appointment and immediately encountered a new problem. The curb appeal for the home I was hired to consult on was AWFUL, but not because of the home itself, but because of the NEIGHBOR'S house. As I drove up to my clients house, the first thing I notice is the neighboring home looks like a junk yard or at the very least, an abandoned construction site.

I inquired with my clients on the neighbor situation and it is a touchy subject. Apparently , it has slowly deteriorated to this state of disrepair for the past year. My clients have spoken with them already and they say they are working on it but it never looks better, only worse.

This eyesore can be a deterrent to potential buyers as they don't want to "inherit" these problem neighbors! I've advised my clients to inquire with the city if anything can be done to encourage the neighbors to clean up their house, so we'll see if that helps.

Does anyone else have a similar experience and/or suggestions?

Step Staged

Mon, 14 May 2007 11:16:26 -0700

Thank you all for the advice on Staging the Steps. Here is a picture of the finished project. The rug is very well coordinated and although it doesn't look like much of a contrast in the picture, it really does the trick.

I first put the rug below the step, but it wasn't as effective. Moving it to the top step makes people take notice as they walk up and down the step. Whenever I walk in this house now I am extremely cautious!

Staging Steps

Tue, 01 May 2007 01:17:33 -0700

Last week I met with an agent at a vacant spec house regarding Staging. Although the house was beautifully built, it has been on the market a while and needs furnishings to warm it up. One area that the agent was very concerned with was a sunken family room.

The room is off the hallway from the formal living room and connected to the kitchen and breakfast area. The family room is one step lower than the adjoining rooms but all of the flooring is the same dark hardwood. If buyers are busy looking at finishes they could easily miss the step as the floors blend from one level to the next.

I went back to the house today on my own, to pick up the key and take some pictures and prepare for Staging on Thursday.... and it's a little uncomfortable to type tonight as my shoulder is sore from- wait for it... the BIG HUGE HEADER I took down that step today!! I was on my way to the step when I was distracted by a niche in the island that I hadn't noticed before. I lifted my pad to jot it down as I continued walking and next thing I knew my pen and pad were in the air and I was hopping and skipping to regain my footing, but to no avail. I must have looked hilarious stumbling and squealing all the way down. But it WON'T be funny if anyone else trips and falls.

How can I Stage this step to help buyers notice it better and avoid falls?
The only solution I have thought of is to place rugs just under the steps, in the family room. Any other suggestions?

Clean House Faster

Fri, 30 Mar 2007 01:57:23 -0700

Yesterday I bought a new floor mop at Target that is made by Real Simple magazine. I realize I'm more excited about this mop than any sane person should be, but I'm writing about it anyway.

It's a sponge mop with a microfiber cloth attached to it. The mop is for wet or dry mopping and the whole spongehead can be removed and washed in the washing machine. It is really easy to wring out and it has a hand-held scraper housed in the handle ready to be deployed when needed. What I love best about this mop is that it doesn't leave a wet residue behind once the floor dries, since the microfiber picks up most of the water- plus the floor dries much quicker.

This mop makes it easy to quickly clean floors and have them dry in no-time. This mop, along with the Swiffer Duster and Clorox wipes for the bath and kitchen are perfect for homeowners to ready their houses for a last minute showing.

Let There Be Light

Tue, 27 Mar 2007 19:12:57 -0700

Picture from the MLS- a great lighting example.

I can't over emphasize how important Light and Lighting is when Staging your home for sale.

Natural light is always a first choice because it is a beautiful resource to be shown off in any home. Large, sunny windows are an asset. Curtains and blinds need to be opened when showing your house. Dark, heavy, outdated drapes are best removed altogether. Hopefully the windows open to a nice garden or scenic view, but this can't always be the case. If the views are less than optimal, sheer drapery panels in flattering colors add to the decor of the room. Natural woven shades are another smart choice because they provide cover while letting in natural light and adding a warm feeling to the room.

But even when there are plenty of windows and natural light, artificial lighting needs to be added as a back-up for gloomy days and evening showings. You cannot always rely on natural light or even on central lighting in the house. This is why lamps are a Stager's best tool. Floor lamps, table-top lamps and desk lamps are decorative and effective. They add ambiance, enhance natural lighting and brighten spaces when natural light is not available. Even when you think you don't need to add a lamp, you should. There needs to be a Staged lighting plan whether there is plenty of natural light or not.

Everyone enjoys a bright, light space- it lifts the mood, opens the room, and shows your house in, well, its best light.

Living and Working Lofts in Santa Ana, CA

Mon, 19 Mar 2007 02:36:00 -0700

I love the idea of Live/Work spaces as I've seen them in Europe- a business below with living areas above. Fortunately we are seeing more of this concept in Southern California.

Last week I began a model home project at the Lofts at City Place in Santa Ana, CA. The first phase of the project is a work/live loft concept in the heart of Santa Ana. There are 4 Loft floor plans to choose from ranging in square footage from 1600 to 1800 square feet. Each loft features a retail/office space on the first floor with an open, airy loft townhome above. They are located directly across from the Main Place Mall giving your business a great storefront location.

The most exciting aspect of Staging the model for the Lofts was executing the builder's modern, urban living concept. The Lofts offer a lifestyle of modern city living and working in the comfort and convenience of a hip, stylish home.

Within this planned community, City Place, there are 2 other model phases- the Courtyards and the Park all varying in size, floor-plans and amenities. Restaurants and shops such as McCormick and Schmick's Seafood Restaurant, Geisha House, Pinkberry Yogurt, a Coffee house, a Nail and Beauty Salon, and Bank of the West are among the shops also within City Place's planned downtown hub.

I find it really appealing to be able to have a retail business and storefront directly below the living area- what a great commute! But not only can you run your own business from this convenient location, there are other businesses just steps away - even a grocery store.

Contact the City Place Sales Group for more information: Christy or Beth, 714-953-1353, sales@livecityplace.com or visit their website at www.livecityplace.com

Design Services by Fusion Design Consulting.

Marketing Home Staging to Real Estate Agents

Sun, 18 Mar 2007 17:05:26 -0700

Time is Money. Stagers save Agents so much time by ensuring their listings are show-ready. A key difficulty Stagers' encounter and talk about often, is effective marketing tools to get Real Estate Agents' attention.

I participated in a tele-conference recently about marketing Staging Services to Real Estate Agents. The focus of the seminar was ways to develop lasting business relationships with Real Estate Agents.

The key marketing approach presented in the seminar was for Stagers to prove ourselves as reliable, knowledgeable and effective resources for the Agents. Agents build and maintain clients by being a "Go-To" professional who can handle or refer all aspects of any Real Estate transaction. By showing agents how we Stagers can benefit them, we can build a lasting and lucrative relationship that works for all.

The first objective is to gain face time with Agents.

Use a creative approach
Answer their question "What's In It For Me?"
Be Consistent, Persistent, Patient
Understand the Agent's challenges and help them solve them.

Ideas to obtain the goals listed above are:

Provide a list of Staging tips for Agents to use in their newsletter and listing packages. Keep the tips short and simple and focus on one area each month,ie : one month focus on Curb Appeal, another month on How to add Light and Color to each room, anther on Presenting the Master Bedroom, etc.. Give them catchy titles that grab interest and ensure clients will benefit from the information.

Educate Agents about Staging and how by partnering with a Stager enables Agents to differentiate themselves from the competition. Show Agents how Staging can showcase their listings by eliminating distractions, highlighting features and improving the buyers perception of the Staged listing.

The tele-seminar gave ideas for getting Real Estate Agents' attention by:

joining local Real Estate industry associations and volunteering on committees and groups.
Attending RE Trade Shows.
Teaching continuing education classes for the Board of Realtors.
Visiting Open Houses and then following up w/notes and tips for the Agents.

Again, the bottom line is being consistent, persistent and GREAT at Staging- Become a valuable resource that Agents can use.

The lecture was presented by Judy May of Show House Marketing featuring Sandy Dixon of Interior Arrangements, Inc..

Don't Throw Out the Couch- Add Throw Pillows!

Thu, 08 Mar 2007 12:36:19 -0800

Accessories are an excellent way to update the look, feel, style of any house. Without the expense of replacing furniture, accessories can change and freshen up decor. Throw pillows are especially effective in changing color schemes of rooms. They can add contrast or complement colors from the rugs, art and other accessories.

Here are several pictures of the same couch with different looks thanks to different throw pillows!

Finding Self Help at "Ross Dress for Less"

Sat, 03 Mar 2007 14:51:12 -0800

I've often written and commented on what a great Staging resource Ross is. There is one very close to my home and I check there regularly whether I have a specific need or just looking to see what's new in stock.

Last week I only needed a table runner so I was not in a rush, for once, and I took the time to look through the books. One problem with Ross is that the checkout line is often unbearable. I try to go in the morning before it gets too crowded. More than once I've been forced to "abandon cart" when the line is too long and I am short on time. The other dilemma with this is that if you pass on something once, you most likely won't see it again- it is sure to be snatched up by another savvy shopper.

So, back to the books. The book section is fairly small, just a section on a couple of shelves. I love this about it. In one small section is a cornucopia of knowledge on various subjects! The books are all new hardcovers. Ross's book selection isn't fiction or novels, it's always educational and enhancement books. In one small area you can find books to improve any area of your life. Cooking, Exercise, Travel, Organization, and Decorating- all priced $3.99-$8.99.

I always buy cookbooks here for Staging kitchen counters, but this time I looked through each of the books and really came up with some excellent finds at excellent prices. I found a Yoga book that teaches how to "Yoga for Life". I bought a book entitled "How to Draw Anything", to help me sketch interiors and put Staging concepts to paper. I found a Mediterranean cookbook with Italian, Greek and French recipes that I can't wait to try. There were books on Outdoor Grilling, Pottery Barn decorating books specifically for Outdoor Living, Bedrooms and Kids' Rooms. There were many organizing calendars and guides, Gardening books, Religious Studies, Sewing, Crafting, Trail Guides across the U.S., and many others. If all else fails in my quest for Self Improvement at Ross, I also bought the "Cocktail Bible"...

Newsletter Marketing for Home Stagers

Tue, 13 Feb 2007 11:13:03 -0800

Weekly newsletters are a worthwhile way to stay in contact with past clients and to keep in touch with contacts made at Open Houses, Real Estate offices, etc. Especially since Staging is relatively new, a newsletter serves as an informative venue to help explain the concept and benefits of Staging. A weekly newsletter is both a marketing and educational tool. Someday I hope to have my very own.

However, a weekly newsletter requires a large time commitment. An effective alternative is to contribute articles for newsletters of local Realtors, Mortgage Companies and other Real Estate Industry professionals. I did just that for Jim Lisi of Shorewood Realtors. Here is the Staging article I wrote for him. (I'm having trouble figuring out how to link his newsletter because it is via email, not on the internet. Any suggestions here would be helpful. Thanks)

Using Home Staging to Show and Sell
Home Staging is an important marketing tool to help sell your house faster and for the most money. Home Staging means preparing your property so it shows at it's full potential and attracts the most buyers. A Staged house outshines the competition.

Here are some important Home Staging tips:

1. Get Your Mind Right. Home sellers need to detach themselves from their house. It needs to be viewed not as their home, but as a valuable asset to be marketed and sold quickly and at premium value. Look at your house through the eyes of potential buyers- is it overcrowded, are there maintenance issues that you have come to overlook? Only by looking at your house objectively is it possible to see what needs to be done to prepare it for showing.

2. Pack It Up. Before you put your house on the market is the right time to begin packing. By packing early you not only clear clutter and help your house show better, you also help yourself make your upcoming move much easier.

3. The White Glove Test. Houses on the market need to be spotless clean. Hiring a professional to scour every nook and cranny is highly recommended. Buyers want to see clean, fresh smelling houses.

4. Pretty on the Outside. Curb appeal attracts buyers. When your house looks great on the outside, buyers will be excited to see how it looks on the inside.

5. When Less really is Less. The majority of home buyers cannot see beyond what is there, or not there, in the case of vacant houses. By Staging empty properties, they show like model homes and buyers can easily envision themselves living there.

You may want to consider a professional Home Stager to guide you through this sometimes overwhelming process and ensure that your house is in show-condition and ready to command top dollar.

by Gina Dougherty, FusionDesignConsulting.com

I "Got Discovered" on AR Part 2-The TV Auditon

Thu, 01 Feb 2007 10:58:58 -0800

Monday was my interview/audition that I told y'all about here.

The interview took place at my house. Prior to the Field Producers arrival my daughter (who was home sick from school) was very anxious for me. She was surprised that I was so calm. I assured her it was only on the outside. The Field Producer, Tom, arrived at 3 and explained the entire interview process.

We began with a mock Home Staging consultation. A friend came over, Kelly McColgan an agent with Shorewood, and pretended to be the Agent selling the house. We went through rooms in my house and I gave my professional assessment of how to Stage them as if my house were on the market. The only way to do this was to look at my house objectively but since I'm really not selling, it took a minute to get in the right mindset. This is an extremely vital step in Staging and this is where a Professional Home Stager is a valuable asset to give an objective opinion. Anyway, the purpose of this was to "see me in Staging action". This was the easy part, I had the work to focus on and I was interacting w/Kelly. We did a couple of takes and it all took about 40 minutes.

The second half of the interview was just that, a sit down interview on camera. He filmed me as I answered basic Staging questions such as, "How did I get into Home Staging?" (A. I decided to pursue my dream of a design career instead of moving to Houston for my former Oil Scheduling job. Now instead of oil cargoes, I schedule movers, gardeners, handymen). He asked several (18 to be exact) general questions such as, "What is the most important part of Home Staging?", "Do you have any Home Staging tips?", "What stresses you most about Home Staging?", etc.. This took about an hour. It was nerve-wracking. I tried to look carefree and smile a lot but I could feel myself trembling the entire time. When I finished answering each question, he would just stare at me waiting for me to say more- I would just smile and wait for the next question because this is where I would really have a tendency to ramble on. In the end he said I did great, but I'm sure he says that to all the Stagers.

Next, the footage will be edited down into a 3 minute tape and viewed by the casting group. He said they had several other interviews set up this week and he didn't know how long before I would hear anything. I wrote to the Casting Producer yesterday and she said it would take a couple of weeks to view all the tapes, send their picks to the network and get final casting decisions. Once the show is cast, it will be several months before actual taping of the show.

So now I just wait patiently. I was thinking, the only thing scarier than this interview would be getting the job and being on National TV!

Art Ideas

Wed, 31 Jan 2007 09:33:40 -0800

Finding artwork to enhance Staged homes is always a fun challenge for me. It is surprising how professional non-traditional items can look once they are matted and framed, here are some of my favorites:

Maps- I got this idea from a Pottery Barn catalogue.
Greeting cards
Photos you've taken- especially in black and white

Wrought iron, this rusted piece was originally outdoors

Children's art

Your own original work- I own this but I didn't paint it, the artist is my friend Emily Tanaka.

The back of a ROOM SERVICE MENU! This will look great once matted and framed.

Please post pictures of your favorite art ideas!

A Great Time for Gardening

Sun, 28 Jan 2007 15:28:29 -0800

In Southern California winter is a great time for gardening. Cooler, wetter winter months make it ideal for pruning, and fertilizing. But no matter the season, when you are selling and showing your house, it's a good time for gardening. Curb appeal is so important when selling your house. You need the "wow factor" to get buyers excited about viewing your house. Enhance curb appeal by livening the garden with color and texture and giving buyers a beautiful scene to focus on.

Begin by removing all dead plants and weeds. Trim back overgrown plants and trees. Trimming stimulates new growth and flower buds.

Plant perennials that have color and shape year round whether or not they are in bloom or even produce flowers at all. Don't rely on flowers only for garden curb appeal. Hardy and attractive perennial choices are New Zealand Flax, Day Lillies, Agapanthus, Calalillies, Society Garlic and Papyrus to name a few. By choosing plant varieties that are indigenous to your area ensures that your garden will thrive with minimal maintenance. Fertilizing with Miracle-Gro really makes a difference.

Adding bark to flower beds makes them look finished and professionally landscaped and maintained.

Use a detaching rake on lawns to thin out dead grass between the surface of the lawn and the roots. Aerate by poking holes throughout the lawn to help nutrients and water reach the soil. Aerating shoes are the easiest and cheapest way if you have a manageable size yard (usually the case in Southern California). Next, fertilize - be sure to do this WELL BEFORE open house day to avoid turning buyers off with the terrible smell. Water your lawn well. Now is a good time to add seed to fill in bare spots and thicken the turf. I like Pennigton's "Penkoted" seed, it is green so it blends in and grows quickly.

A professional stager can recommend plants and offer referrals to get the job done quickly. Or you can do it all yourself, but give yourself plenty time prior to the open house.

I "Got Discovered" on AR

Thu, 25 Jan 2007 19:33:37 -0800

"I'm ready for my close-up"

One of the suggested blog topics is "Who Found You". Today I received a call from a TV production company. They tell me they have seen my website and they want to interview me for a new Real Estate/Staging show they are working on. I know they found me through Active Rain because they called my cell phone and I only have that listed here, not on my main website.

I don't have much information yet, but Monday they are sending a field producer and a camera guy to tape me in action. I am really about excited this opportunity but I'm nervous too. The on-camera interview on Monday is to get a feel for my personality and look on camera- just a little intimidating, plus I talk A LOT when I'm nervous. Oh well, good thing I had my hair done yesterday, it must be fate.

I will post more details when I learn more.