Judith Lowe, 'Twiqued homes are unique!''s Blog

Architectural Photography for Realtors, Home Stagers, etc.

Judith Lowe, 'Twiqued homes are unique!' (Twiques: The Art of Home Comfort) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 17:05:51 -0700

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.

Beat the Heat in Gastown!

Judith Lowe, 'Twiqued homes are unique!' (Twiques: The Art of Home Comfort) — Tue, 04 Aug 2009 11:21:01 -0700

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,

What A Difference!

Judith Lowe, 'Twiqued homes are unique!' (Twiques: The Art of Home Comfort) — Tue, 28 Apr 2009 19:11:27 -0700

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!

Buyer's Market!

Judith Lowe, 'Twiqued homes are unique!' (Twiques: The Art of Home Comfort) — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 12:09:11 -0700

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!

Colour Trends for 2009

Judith Lowe, 'Twiqued homes are unique!' (Twiques: The Art of Home Comfort) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 00:57:25 -0800

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?

Holiday Home tour at Burnaby's Deer Lake

Judith Lowe, 'Twiqued homes are unique!' (Twiques: The Art of Home Comfort) — Sat, 22 Nov 2008 00:38:46 -0800

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.

Before and After Redesign Staging in a child's bedroom.

Judith Lowe, 'Twiqued homes are unique!' (Twiques: The Art of Home Comfort) — Mon, 17 Nov 2008 00:36:35 -0800

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 paint colour makes!

Judith Lowe, 'Twiqued homes are unique!' (Twiques: The Art of Home Comfort) — Fri, 14 Nov 2008 17:54:41 -0800

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!

Decorating for the Holidays: Holiday Home Tour in Support of Ovarian Cancer Research

Judith Lowe, 'Twiqued homes are unique!' (Twiques: The Art of Home Comfort) — Thu, 13 Nov 2008 00:01:58 -0800

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!

Home for the Holidays!

Judith Lowe, 'Twiqued homes are unique!' (Twiques: The Art of Home Comfort) — Sun, 09 Nov 2008 00:49:22 -0800

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!

Audio-Visual Stand Dilemmas

Judith Lowe, 'Twiqued homes are unique!' (Twiques: The Art of Home Comfort) — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 17:51:22 -0700

Have you ever had to decorate your room around a rather large television? Perhaps a big, square box called a sub woofer, not to mention at least 4 large speakers for surround sound, and lets not forget the center channel speaker - which of course, has to sit on the top of the television! How do you decorate, or even set up your room with all of this equipment to contend with? Below I hope to give you some guidelines to help tame the wire mess and perhaps help couples reach a compromise in the audio-visual component department.

If you are one of those fortunate people who has a dedicated theatre room consider yourself extremely lucky! However, if you are like the majority of people who have enough trouble finding space to meet all the needs of day to day living, you will probably be sharing your living, or family, or great room with the audio system. In our house, my husband brought in a television so large we call it George. It is now part of the family! All kidding aside, finding a compromise can often pose a challenge to couples. He wants the surround sound 5.1 system with the two front, two rear and center channel speaker - oh don't forget the sub woofer! She wants to be able to shut it all away so that when company comes over the audio-visual system does not become the focal point of the room. How do you reach a compromise?

In many cases a good stand for the system can bridge the opinion gap and peace can reign once more. When you are looking for an audio stand, you really need to consider a few pertinent points. Once the client has engaged my services I usually have to work with what is there. Occasionally we are able to work together to solve the issue with the purchase of a new stand.

In order to make the most informed decision, I would need to know the following prior to making a suggestion as to which stand would best suit the space, the furniture and the client.

What is the style of the furniture, or the style preference of the client? Does the client lean toward the classic, traditional styling and an enclosed cabinet is de riguer? Or is this a more modern application and it is all about the equipment and technology; an industrial feel is the focus of the room?
What is the function of the room; what else will be in the room? Is this room a dedicated media room where it is all about the equipment, will it be a common family/entertainment room and the equipment is on display, or is this a great room situation which is a multipurpose room and the equipment should be hidden from view?
Has the client made any colour choices; for instance, will the stand be sitting in front of a flat wall, in a corner etc. and will that wall be a neutral colour and we want the equipment to fade into it, or will it be a colour and we want the equipment to 'float' on the wall - so the glass shelves will allow light to flow through them?
Will dust be an issue? Clear glass hides it, black glass can emphasize it, doors on a cabinet can eliminate it.
Does the client need easy access to the equipment; is it necessary for the cables to be in reach, or can they be hidden from sight?

Once answers to the above questions are settled, I could then make a suggestion as to which stand would best suit the style of the room, the function of the situation and the preference of the client. In many cases you can go on-line to research stand choices, however, a good audio-visual specialist should be able to direct you to a couple of good options. If this still doesn't work for you and you find you are having difficulty finding exactly what you want, you could consider a built in, or a custom made system.

Often, you can work with a local cabinet company who would be willing to help you design cabinetry to hide your system, even replacing the inside panel of the doors with speaker fabric to allow the sound to pass through when the doors are closed. This installation would best suit a great / family room situation where you want all of your cabinetry to match throughout the space.

Whatever your choice try to think of the function of the space involved, your life style, and your furniture preference. Some planning prior to purchasing both the system and the stand could eliminate many headaches in the future and ultimately result in a room the entire family can enjoy whether you are watching a movie in surround sound or entertaining family and friends. Good luck on your journey.

-Judith Lowe B.Ed.,IDD, CRSS, DCC

To all Realtors and to anyone interested in becoming a Home Stager:

Judith Lowe, 'Twiqued homes are unique!' (Twiques: The Art of Home Comfort) — Sat, 16 Aug 2008 20:38:04 -0700

Check out the newly formed PRES Staging Resource Centre. It serves the Lower Mainland and Interior and is the brainchild of Dana Smithers of Sun On My Back ReDesigns. Not only can you "Locate a Stager" in your area, but PRES also offers course work for people interested in becoming Home Stagers. You can go online and request an information package to find out more. Dana is an excellent resource person, mentor and instructor; very motivated and encouraging.

You can find out more at: presstagingresourcecenter.com

Need to redesign your space? Check this out:

Judith Lowe, 'Twiqued homes are unique!' (Twiques: The Art of Home Comfort) — Wed, 13 Aug 2008 18:55:34 -0700

Do you have a room in your home that you spend very little time in? When you walk in do you think, "Something is not right in here"? If so, perhaps you need to redesign your space. I am teaching a Saturday morning course through the Vancouver School Board Continuing Education program where you can: "Learn how to give your home a new look and feel using your own existing furniture and accessories." I will provide guidelines, tips and suggestions on how to give your home a One Day Makeover using your own belongings.

For more information on this and other courses, or if this is something you would be interested in, you can register on-line at www.vsb.bc.ca. Good luck!

Amazing New Paint from Benjamin Moore - Aura

Judith Lowe, 'Twiqued homes are unique!' (Twiques: The Art of Home Comfort) — Fri, 20 Jun 2008 20:57:06 -0700

This amazing new paint from Benjamin Moore is considered to be cutting edge in the field. Previously paint was a blend, and still is in many cases, of the water based latex resin and the oil based colourant which created the colour choice the homeowner picked. Benjamin Moore's Aura paint goes one step farther. Aura is a water based latex resin with a water based colourant which means that it blends totally to create a beautiful finish. Have you ever noticed in bathrooms that occasionally, and eventually, there is streaking running down the walls? That it even appears somewhat shiny and if you try to wipe it off it doesn't disappear? What happens is that is warm, steamy showers the oil based colourant in the paint is reactivated. Evidently the colourant never really 'dries' and when it becomes reactivated this streaking occurs. According to the Benjamin Moore representative I spoke with, the new Aura does not do this. In addition, the Aura paint is self-priming this means that you save time, money and energy by simply painting the walls without having to prime them out. Have you ever had to cover really dark wall colours, or recommended to clients that they need to paint out dark purple, or red, prior to listing and open house weekends? This new Aura paint covers in a maximum of two (2) coats. I have seen this. It is amazing. The depth of colour is fabulous and forget painting dark colours - like red - 4, 5, 6, or more coats to get the coverage and the rich colour - even red takes only 1 to 2 coats for the luxurious depth of colour. This paint also dries very quickly and you can recoat after one hour. This paint cannot, however, be overworked so if you are one of those people who like to go back over the same spot 'just in case' you will need to train yourself not to until the hour is up, or the paint can peel off. The colour selections that have been specially formulated for Aura, the Affinity colours, can only be used in the Aura paint, however, all of the other, classic, Benjamin Moore colours can be used with the Aura paints.

Benjamin Moore is also releasing their outdoor Aura soon, and is out in some areas, this will last for 10-12 years outside - according to the rep. The average coverage is 350 square feet as opposed to 450. It is somewhat more expensive per gallon/liter, however if you do not have to prime, or are paying a painter, the paint can actually save you time, and money, on the job.

If you have not heard of Aura, or are thinking of painting, check it out at the nearest Benjamin Moore store soon! Oh, it also rolls on like satin, and is almost effortless to use!

Summer Fresh!

Judith Lowe, 'Twiqued homes are unique!' (Twiques: The Art of Home Comfort) — Tue, 03 Jun 2008 21:09:17 -0700

With summer fast approaching, okay I know the weather does not always cooperate, but one way to freshen your space is to lighten it. You can do this by doing the following:

exchange heavy draperies for lighter sheers or nothing at all if privacy is not an issue
if you have hardwood or laminate flooring, remove the rugs, or change them to something with a beachy feel ~ like sisal matting
update dark furnishings with well fitting white or cream slipcovers ~ a great alternative as they can be removed and cleaned if need be
bring in lots of garden flowers that are in season and change them frequently
open the windows and let the breeze blow through ~ one of the best ways to freshen your space
and above all ~ declutter! Get rid of the 'stuff' on the mantel and coffee table ~ settle for a few well placed favourie items ~ by doing this you showcase them

Just a few changes like the above will not only physically lighten and brighten the space, but the reduction of visual clutter and dark colours will create a sense of spacious relaxation.

Feeling Colour Challenged? Read on.

Judith Lowe, 'Twiqued homes are unique!' (Twiques: The Art of Home Comfort) — Tue, 27 May 2008 19:38:15 -0700

Do you sometimes walk into a room and realize that you spend very little time in it? Do you know why? Usually colour has something to do with it. All colours have undertones and if the undertones within a space do not jive, then the overall feeling is one of being uncomfortable and ultimately we stay out of places which make us feel uncomfortable. Want to change that space to create a welcoming feel? You need to investigate colour and perhaps read up on the undertones before you decide to paint. There are a lot of good sites you can investigate in your journey to become colour confident! Good luck!

Market Slow Down

Judith Lowe, 'Twiqued homes are unique!' (Twiques: The Art of Home Comfort) — Thu, 22 May 2008 10:24:44 -0700

Have you noticed that there are more and more houses on the market? Want to have an advantage when it comes to selling? Consider using the services of a Home Staging Professional. With a minimum of time and effort, maximum value can be achieved, and usually a quicker sale. If you are thinking of selling, or you have just moved into your dream home, and would like to check out our Summer Special, please contact me.

UpDating your Home?

Judith Lowe, 'Twiqued homes are unique!' (Twiques: The Art of Home Comfort) — Thu, 22 May 2008 10:20:58 -0700

Are you thinking about updating, renovating or redoing space in your home? You should check out the erenovate website which will direct you to renovators and/or contractors in your area. Erenovate is also preparing to launch a new site which will be specific to interiors in the next few weeks. Check them out!

Kerrisdale Home and Garden Show, 2008

Judith Lowe, 'Twiqued homes are unique!' (Twiques: The Art of Home Comfort) — Mon, 05 May 2008 19:33:16 -0700

I wanted to thank all of you who stopped by the Kerrisdale Home and Garden Show to introduce yourself to me, Judith Lowe, this last weekend and find out more about ReDesign - the ultimate in recycling: using what you already have to create a fresh feel and look to your spaces; as well as Staging for selling and Decorating to update your homes! Although this was the first year the Kerrisdale Arena has hosted this show, many people turned out to stroll along the aisles to meet and greet even though the weather was not perfect. A big thank you also to Maxine and Nina of 5 Star Marketing for all of their support and hard work. See you next year! Check out the Twiques website for photos and newsletters!

Kerrisdale Spring Home and Garden Show

Judith Lowe, 'Twiqued homes are unique!' (Twiques: The Art of Home Comfort) — Thu, 24 Apr 2008 14:25:45 -0700

If you have some time during the first weekend in May, come to the Kerrisdale Spring Home and Garden Show to find out more about Staging your House for Selling or ReDesigning your home for Living! You can also ask about the new to Canada, Dewey No-Fail Colour Consultation system which can provide up to 25,000 no fail colour combinations. The Dewey system is the first scientifically validated colour personality test. To find out more check out the website.