Do your photos look blurry or grainy when you try to showcase a home you have listed, or staging work you have completed?  Are you trying to build your portfolio of before and after photos to show to prospective clients?  Do you want to improve your skills with the camera to help list houses?  Then this course is for you.  The Canadian ReDesigners Association has arranged an Architectural Photography workshop for Realtors, Home Stagers and anyone who wants to improve their photos.  For more information, click here.

Last week a colleague and I staged a property in Gastown on the second hottest day ever recorded in Vancouver.  Lucky for us we began early in the day!

The property was a bachelor apartment with a lovely brick wall and some interesting features.  We used some of what the tenant had and brought in some rentals.  We would call this a "redesign" staging - usually more cost effective for the client.  We were pleased with the results, see what you think...

Before Staging:

 After Staging...

Hope you like it ~ we were pleased and so was the client!

Have a good one,

It has been busy and I have been remiss at keeping up with my blogging.  But recently I assisted a family prepare their townhouse for selling.  They are busy people with 2 young boys.  They have bought a house and need to sell quickly.  They really needed help.  The Realtor called me in and together with my painter, we made a difference!  Tanja Powell of Powell Painting did a fantastic job, in a very short time, so I could stage the townhouse last weekend.  The Realtor Open was today and we received many compliments and are hoping that the Open on the weekend will bring quick results for the family.

Below are the Before and After photos, you tell me - Do you think we made a difference?

Hope you have a good week!

Well, it has been a while, however, with the weather etc. it hasn't been dull!  The market is beginning to turn for staging here in Vancouver with more listings and solds occuring.  We are moving forward and it is time for people to think about preparing their homes for the spring real estate season.  What do you do to prepare for selling?  Is it the same as Spring Cleaning, or is it different?  Let us know!

According to the Colour Marketing Group, the new colour for 2009 is Mimosa!  A bright, zesty, fun colour which inspires confidence and is full of life.  Expect to see this colour paired with white in cushions, candles, throws, and other accessory pieces for the home.  In the summer we may even see the 'little, yellow, polka dot bikini!"

I can see this for accessory pieces and splashes of colour.  How do you see this colour?  Do you like it?

Phew!  What a busy day!  We just completed the decoration of two homes involved in the Holiday Home Tour setting out from Burnaby's Deer Lake this Sunday, November 23rd at 10:00.  We had a great time decorating two of the twelve homes involved in this year's tour in support of Ovarian Cancer Research.  In home number one we built on a red and white theme to complement the homeowner's neutral creamy white carpet and sofas.  In home number two we went a bit more classical with a cream, gold and burgundy theme.  Both homes turned out very well and both homeowners were thrilled.  If you get a chance to visit the homes this weekend and/or need more info regarding tickets you can either call Sacha Lehto at 604-675-8242 or slehto@bccancer.bc.ca or go online at http://www.bccancerfoundation.com/aholidayhometour .

Enjoy the photos below and have a great weekend!

Living Room Before Decorating

A fun and festive space for the holidays!

Dining room before.

Dining room after.

These photos are before and after in a child's bedroom in a townhome where Twiques completed a Redesign Staging ~ using what they had and repurposing pieces from within the home.

Before the staging this child's bedroom was packed with stuff.  There was hardly any floor space and the room appeared tiny.

After staging...

the bedroom was more open and there was a huge amount of floor space for playing.  Also, once the canopy came down the visual space increased dramatically as this room had a cathedral ceiling which was lost previously.  Bonus was that the little girl who lived here loved her room in its' new configuration!  We even had space for a rocking chair and the bookcase for a reading corner with mom!

Prospective buyers loved the space and the realtor was thrilled!  Another example of Redesign Staging without spending a lot!

What a difference a colour makes!

This was a condo which was being placed on the market and  the realtor called me in for a colour consultation.  The purple colour on the walls made the cabinets have a pink hue, when we repainted the walls, the cabinets took on the maple hue they were supposed to be.  Once the clutter and counters were cleared the space appeared more open and workable.  The owners were thrilled with the outcome and it sold quickly!

On November 23, 2008 several CRDA members (Canadian Redesigners' Association) will be showcasing decorated homes for the holidays in support of Ovarian Cancer research.  The tour will showcase 12 homes in the Deer Lake area of Burnaby followed by refreshments at the Burnaby Art Gallery Fireside room at Deer Lake.  Tickets  Can be purchased from Sacha Lehto at 604-675-8242 or slehto@bccancer.bc.ca or online at http://www.bccancerfoundation.com/aholidayhometour.  Register early as there are limited tickets available.

 This promises to be a great way to get into the holiday spirit and support ovarian cancer research.  The event is supported by the Rotary Club of Burnaby Deer Lake, hosted by the Ovarian Cancer Support Group and benefits the BC Cancer foundation.  There are many event sponsors like:Garden Works, Home Outfitters, Homesense, The Bay, Sears, Save-On-Foods, Authentic Wine and Spirits Merchants in addition to the Canadian Redesigners Association.  Plan on attending to see some of the new decorations showcased for the holidays, visit with friends and have a relaxing refreshment in the Fireside Gallery.

Hope to see you there!

Are you looking forward to getting your home ready for the holidays?  I know I am.  There are so many colour choices this year to focus on.  Should I go Robin's egg blue, white and silver - with some fluffy feathers?  Or, do I go more traditional with the reds and greens?  Hmm, whatever you choose it should be something you love, whether you are pulling out favourites from years past or want to 'take it up a notch' this year and try some of the season's fun colours like the above mentioned blue and lime green, or, maybe the rosy pinks with some light pink and gold mixed in.

Oh, and how about those new artificial trees - they are coming in colours like white or pink or have all the lights built in - too bad I prefer a real tree ~ especially the fragrance! 

Which do you prefer?  Whatever it is have fun planning your holiday decor!