Hi ACTIVERAINERS,

As you will see the budget on this one wasn't huge but it certainly made enough difference to influence buyers.

This home had multiple offers,  SOLD in 14 days and exceeded asking !  What more could you ask for?

  The homeowners are convinced that STAGING did the trick ... I like to think so ;o)  

Noticed the artwork from the dinning area makes for a suitable piece in the guestroom below

(Piano to the left of the doorway in "before" was dark and shrunk the room considerably)    

The homeowners had an extensive collection of sailboats so we pared them (packed some) down and created a room to display some finer pieces. 

The master was looking less than "masterly" with furniture side by side by side!  We regrouped, found art and added bedding. Although not a high-end look it's a great improvement over the original condition of the room.

(not visible: personal boat pics and sailboats throughout) 

Some hand towels and art spruce up the space ... bathrooms are way too important to ignore.

LG HOME HARMONY - MONTREAL STAGING COMPANY

as you can see ... no budget is too small to make a big impact!

Liz Gallagher

Hi fellow ACTIVERAINERS,

Once again, I have been absent from the blogging scene but with good reason. February continued to be another record breaking month for us here at Home Harmony in Montreal. I am happy to report we took a morning off ( good bonding time) to have some professional photos taken of our Team. We got to dress up and put on a little makeup ...

We had realized the importance of  "good photos" sometime ago with the need for good before and afters of our projects and how many times have you heard the phrase " A picture is worth 1000 words" 

 With new staging companies cropping up all around us we thought it's time to have some professional shots taken for advertising and our website so people could put a face to the name. Admittedly we all have those photos we take ourselves ( reach out, up and click) or ones that our friends tag us in on FACEBOOK and that's ok too but we wanted a little more.

With Home Harmony being in business since 2007 our "mugs" have been quite visible in numerous Realtors offices, at open houses, trade-shows and in and around our communities. We are very serious about the services we offer at Home Harmony, we are not a fly by night company, we have survived and were not going to hide behind those little pink and green houses anymore! 

So friends ... here we are Home Harmony's Team.    

Louise Garai, Michelle King and me, Liz Gallagher  

Harmonie au Foyer

http://www.remax-quebec.com/en/inscription/M/8453675.rmx

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Hello to all my ACTIVERAIN neighbors.

I've been meaning to get on here and blog before now and wish you all the very best for 2011.

Happy belated New Year!

I remember my folks saying when I was a child  "where does the time go" and "there just aren't enough hours in a day" as an adult I now know what they were talking about!

Time has been flying by. Home Harmony has been busy planning, Staging and redesigning around Montreal and there just isn't time lately to sit and chat/comment with my ActiveRain friends. 

I seem to be caught up in a whirlwind of activities and don't have time for anything ... I will find balance soon ... I hope ;o)

Stay well my friends and I wish you all the LOVE , HEALTH and HAPPINESS possible in this New Year!

Hello Fellow Activerainers, 

Hope everyone has been well and productive during my absence.

Traditionally the fall months have been slower staging months here in Montreal but not for Home Harmony this year!  Home Harmony's Elves have been busy staging steadily since September. I can tell you these Elves are looking forward to a little R & R during the holidays. 

Here is one of our recent projects. This A frame home housed a lifetime of memories for the family that was raised here for 40+ years.  It is to become someone elses' dream home soon. Ideal year round home, or rental property. This property would be a great couples or multi family getaway with 4 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms on two floors. Recreational room with additional insert fireplace on the ground floor which walks out onto the view of the waterfront.

  Home Harmony went to work with these Realtors to produce a desirable less abandoned look. Painting the fireplace wall added warmth to the washed out white walls of this living area.

WANT TO HAVE A SLEEPOVER?                           HOW ABOUT NOW?

This is the Master bedroom, tired and dingy                  becomes bright and beautiful!

Minty green to ...                                                                CRISP AND CLEAN!

Situated on Lake of 2 mountains, only 10 minutes from the island of Montreal this cottage lifestyle could be a year round dream for the fortunate buyer. Long walks on a private island setting, boating or fishing off your own dock! I even saw a fox on my drive home!  Just so beautiful. 

Ooh just had a thought ... maybe the Home Harmony Elves can catch some well deserved R & R that this little hideaway on the waterfront!

Equally beautiful in the winter

I am sure that many of us as home stagers have encountered this same scenario, young married couple have inherited a collection of family heirlooms, furniture, accessories and art and set it up in their home as you see here. Unfortunately upon entering the home it looks like your going to visit Grandma and not this young expanding family's home. 

Home Harmony was called in to put a spin on this decor to make it appeal to a wider spectrum of potential buyers ... I think we achieved it with a Shabby to Chic style to suit any family.  

BEFORE

    AFTER                                                             

Everything we needed was found within the home. Removing extra panels of the curtains and the rug help to lighten the room and show off the hardwood flooring.     

BEFORE

AFTER

 Furniture was moved between the two rooms to free up the space and create purpose.

                                            Home Staging Consultant

                                                   Liz Gallagher (514) 927-0700

Montreal     West- Island   South Shore

    www.HarmonieAuFoyer.com

www.HomeHarmony.ca

Sharon is dead on with her advice in this recent post.

Just this past week Home Harmony was faced with this very situation. Difficult to say the least.  The homeowners just couldn't get this message ... I finally asked " how long has your house been on the market?" Reply. " a 1 1/2 years " to which I replied " then it's time to try something new"  With much resistance they painted with our recommendations and we staged a few days later. The Realtor who we were hired by,  was very pleased that " THIS PRODUCT "  was finally showing to it's potential ... now she can do her job and SELL THAT CASTLE! 

HOME HARMONY was called in once this listing changed hands ... I think you will agree this home had to make the leap out of the 80's ... 

Something as simple as chair cover and a change of paint colour can make this big a difference.

Home Harmony was given a real challenge ... but I think we pulled it off ... the Agent was sure pleased. This home had been on the market for 1 1/2 years ... not much actions ... but now there are already viewings booked! 

Montreal and area homeowner and Realtors, are you having trouble selling your home? Call Montreal's experts in Home Staging and let us put a little Harmony in your life!

Remember me?  Yes, I'm still alive and staging here in Montreal. It's been some time since my last post but I have been keeping busy and enjoying the beautiful summer we are having.  Hope you are up to the same.

Although the summer months are typically a little slower for the staging industry, Home Harmony has managed to keep busy with staging and organizing for Montreal area residents.

Here are a few pictures of a recent project. These home owners are relocating to the Toronto area and their Realtor called us in to stage their lovely home. Having 4 teenage children made it difficult for this Mom to get anything more than laundry done!  Home Harmony was able to wrap things up in a 1/2 day staging.

Removing the wallpaper border in this kitchen made a HUGE difference. The colour of the paper was only enhancing the orange tone of the wood which was not a good thing for this somewhat dated oak kitchen.

Although this family room is quite large the dark furniture and accessories were srinking the room. We added the rug we found in the dinning area, drew back the curtains and removed the lacey ones under that didn't with this model look. We also removed some wall deco that was visually cluttering the space.

Using what we removed from the family room below we were able to enhance this beautiful bedroom with more jewel tone accessories. We relocated the dresser to the far side of the room because it was hindering the bedroom door from opening wide. 

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 Home Staging Consultant

Harmonie au Foyer     Home Harmony

West Island: 514-927-0700

www.HarmonieAuFoyer.ca

www.HomeHarmony.ca

Bathrooms can make or brake the sale of a home.  Here are a few simple tips that can add life to an otherwise tired or dated space. Creating the illusion and richness doesn't have to be expensive and it's often enough to create a diversion. 

Today's trend for staging bathrooms is to create a "SPA LIKE " bath area. 

To achieve this look start by purchasing some new thick and plush bath and hand towels. Preferably in white to add the richness and "pamper me" feel of a spa. Reserve the old thin worn out  towels for everyday.

  A nice touch is to roll and stack the towels on the side of the tub or place in a wicket or sea grass basket. We often find Wal-mart and Home Sense to have the best prices and selection.

It's VERY IMPORTANT to clear everything from the counter tops during a viewing. Toothbrushes and other personals should be hidden in a drawer. Excess on the counter  leads buyers to think there many not be enough storage.    

Bathroom musts.

• good scrubbing (whiten the grout)
• CLEAR the counter top (remove toothbrushes, hair brushes etc.)
  
• remove shampoo and conditioner bottles from around the tub and shower. 
  
• if ceiling or walls are revealing mold ... PAINT!

Even older bathrooms can be revived with crisp towels and a new shower curtain. The bathroom below still has the original tiles! Look how intentional they seem now with the dark accessories and added greenery.

Remove old area carpets and add candles around the bath to create an inviting retreat.

Did you happen to notice the carpeted floors in this bathroom? It becomes less noticeable when a coat of paint 

freshens the oak cabinets and some greenery adorns the space.