Kimberley's Bloghttp://activerain.com/blogs/kimhawley2008-12-09T12:36:45ZKimberley Hawley, Hawley Interiors & Staging (Hawley Interiors & Staging)The Stagers...http://activerain.com/blogsview/828447/The-Stagers2008-12-09T12:36:45ZKimberley Hawley, Hawley Interiors & Staging (Hawley Interiors & Staging)
<p>So I finally tuned into "The Stagers" for the first time last week.</p>
<p>OMG....</p>
<p>The stager assistant rolls out a large area rug over a well used and stained wall to wall carpet. Then she exclaims "hiding is one of the most important parts of our staging". No wonder some people have such a negative feeling towards stagers. This is just ludicrous.</p>
<p>Stagers are not in the business of hiding damages...We maximize the positives and minimize the negatives but we do not hide defects. We may find a room with badly soiled carpet and recommend that the home owner replace that carpet. If the homeowner is unwilling or unable to change the carpet we may highlight the fireplace in the space in such a way that potential buyers are willing to accept the carpet in order to obtain the fabulous fireplace.</p>
<p>But that's just my 2 cents...</p>
<p>Hawley Interiors and Staging specializes in bringing out the very best in every home. Merchandising your home to stand out from the crowd and appeal to the masses resulting in less time on the market and more money in your pocket.</p>
<p>Hawley Interiors & Staging services the beautiful hills of Caledon including Caledon East, Caledon Village, Alton, Cheltenham, Inglewood, Belfountain, Bolton & Palgrave.<img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/5/2/8/7/0/ar122884765407825.jpg" height="180" alt="" width="300" /></p>
<p> </p> What do you think of the new me??http://activerain.com/blogsview/719275/What-do-you-think-of-the-new-me2008-10-02T09:56:25ZKimberley Hawley, Hawley Interiors & Staging (Hawley Interiors & Staging)
<p>Good morning my very honest fellow stagers. I found the most incredible graphic designer who was able to see inside my (some times twisted) brain. This is my new business card & logo. I know it's girly but I love it...What do you think? Too much?</p>
<p>FRONT</p>
<p><img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/9/2/2/6/1/ar122295907816229.jpg" height="300" alt="" width="500" /></p>
<p>BACK</p>
<p> </p>
<p><img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/4/0/8/8/1/ar122295915218804.jpg" height="300" alt="" width="500" /></p>
<p>Sophisticated new look ~ Same excellence in style</p>
<p>Hawley Interiors & Staging specializes in bringing out the very best in every home. Proudly serving the beautiful hills of Caledon including Caledon Village, Caledon East, Bolton, Alton, Inglewood, Cheltenham, Belfountain & surrounding areas.</p>
<p> </p> Bedroom turned master...http://activerain.com/blogsview/716274/Bedroom-turned-master2008-09-30T13:13:32ZKimberley Hawley, Hawley Interiors & Staging (Hawley Interiors & Staging)
<p>This master bedroom was anything but master. The home owner had a beautiful 4 poster bed and some other nice pieces but the room just wasn't working. Here are the before pictures and yes, I'm a horrible photographer and the before and afters are not taken from exactly the same angle...</p>
<p><img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/9/0/7/1/6/ar122279729961709.JPG" height="227" alt="" width="298" style="border: black 2px solid;" /></p>
<p><img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/3/3/2/4/8/ar122279734084233.JPG" height="226" alt="" width="272" style="border: black 2px solid;" /></p>
<p>We started by painting the walls Benjamin Moore's Smokey Green (one of my favorites)Everything we used except the lamps, the howmeowner already had.</p>
<p><img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/6/4/5/6/8/ar12227978286546.JPG" height="310" alt="" width="224" style="border: black 2px solid;" /></p>
<p><img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/7/0/4/0/9/ar122279764990407.JPG" height="247" alt="" width="365" style="border: black 2px solid;" /></p>
<p>I would have love curtains however, they weren't in the budget.</p>
<p><img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/5/4/3/7/9/ar122279798997345.JPG" height="260" alt="" width="333" style="border: black 2px solid;" /></p>
<p>When I upload the pics they turn out a lot darker than the original, any advice??</p>
<p> </p>
<p> </p> Dane called...Can I help with a set design for Alicia Keys...http://activerain.com/blogsview/682516/Dane-calledCan-I-help-with-a-set-design-for-Alicia-Keys2008-09-09T12:33:17ZKimberley Hawley, Hawley Interiors & Staging (Hawley Interiors & Staging)
<p>This is the message I received Sunday around noon from Dane Caldwell of 2 Hounds Design (don't know how to link). By 2:00 I'm running around trying to source accessories for a couch described by Dane as "contemporary, rust coloured, clean lines". HAH, what she forgot to mention is it's by product of the 70's. The chairs, well she said they're olive green, funky and retro.</p>
<p>The set design for this group of wonderful ladies, Alicia Keys, Jennifer Hudson and Queen Latifah, was a challenge to say the least. Our starting point was the above mentioned sofa. Dane and I, at separate ends of the city, are both crazy with excitment trying to pull accessorie before the stores close on Sunday. We purchased everything we could find that might compliment rust and olive green. When I arrived at the lovely (not) Four Seasons hotel the producer immediately started running me from room to room to veiw alternate sofas. "OMG, Dane hurry and get here...this is not my project" Were my only thoughts. As I mentioned we purchased accessories to match this rust sofa. The producer now would like to go with an equally ugly baby blue one. Finally what seemed like hours (10 mins) Dane arrives to reassure the producer that this rust sofa will work just fine. Reluctantly, she agreed...Until 5:30am when she had me begging the staff of the hotel to take the ugly taupe sofa from the lobby! Once again our luck prevailed when the sofa wouldn't fit in the elevator.</p>
<p>Throughout the night Dane and I went through every restaurant, room(not guarded by security), storage closet and kitchen in the hotel hunting down furniture for this set. The olive green chairs had to go and we were lucky enought to find some simple leather club chairs in the night club, which were probably our best find of the evening. We tried unsuccessfully to pilfer flowers...we snatched lamps from a sitting room and a sofa table from the 30th floor.</p>
<p>Needless to say, the room turned out beautifully. And that ugly orange sofa...well, Jennifer Hudson loved it!</p>
<p>Thanks Dane for a great day, evening, night, morning, afternoon...This was by far the most exciting, strange, long, kaotic, up in the air, what are we doing now, project.</p>
<p> </p> smokers...would you rent to them?http://activerain.com/blogsview/558190/smokerswould-you-rent-to-them2008-06-19T20:01:18ZKimberley Hawley, Hawley Interiors & Staging (Hawley Interiors & Staging)
<p>Hello fellow stagers, I find myself in a bit of a pickle and would love some input.</p>
<p>An agent that I frequently work with has asked me to stage a house with four smokers and a dog with a leaky bladder. The homeowner gave me a guided tour complete with cigarette in hand. As you can imagine, the house smelled awful. The walls and ceilings were stained and the dog clearly marked his territory in every room with carpet.</p>
<p>I told the home owners that before I brought anything in they would need to have the house professionally cleaned....they did. However, the cleaners did not do a great job and the house still smells. The homeowners have assured me they will no longer smoke in the house and I reluctantly agree to bring in my goodies. Now I'm not so sure. Will I ever be able to use these accessories, especially the curtain panels and art again? I've already agreed so I obviously can't go back on my word now, but not sure what I would do next time.</p>
<p>What would you do?</p> A fresh look for a tired family roomhttp://activerain.com/blogsview/495428/A-fresh-look-for-a-tired-family-room2008-05-03T18:38:03ZKimberley Hawley, Hawley Interiors & Staging (Hawley Interiors & Staging)
<p>This family room was ok. The colour was a nice warm butter but the space was lacking personality. </p><p><img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/8/4/9/1/6/ar120985748461948.JPG" height="251" alt=" " width="448" /></p><p>So we cleared everything away and added a bit of sparkle.</p><p><img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/6/4/4/8/6/ar120985757168446.JPG" height="310" alt=" " width="448" /></p><p>Hawley Interiors specializes in bringing out the very best in every home.</p><p>Call us today and sell your listing faster and for more money.</p><p> </p><p> </p> STAGED... 4 days...8 offers...SOLD...$21,000. overhttp://activerain.com/blogsview/494712/STAGED-4-days8-offersSOLD21000-over2008-05-03T07:19:04ZKimberley Hawley, Hawley Interiors & Staging (Hawley Interiors & Staging)
<p>Just another example of how staging is a worth while investment with a fabulous return. I staged this home on Tuesday and by Saturday they received 8 offers and the house sold for $21,000 above asking. Kudos to a great realtor, Sue McDonald, Prudential Select Real Estate.<img title="Living Room before" src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/7/8/4/2/6/ar120981650162487.JPG" height="251" alt=" " width="448" /></p><p><img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/8/9/5/9/0/ar120981678809598.JPG" height="336" alt=" " width="448" /></p><p><img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/5/9/7/1/9/ar12098168691795.JPG" height="251" alt=" " width="448" /></p><p><img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/3/4/9/1/9/ar120981693991943.JPG" height="336" alt=" " width="448" /></p><p>Hawley Interiors & Staging specializes in bringing out the very best in every home.</p><p>Call Hawley Interiors & Staging today and sell you listing quickly and for more money!</p> No focal point - No problem!http://activerain.com/blogsview/355236/No-focal-point-No-problem2008-01-27T17:41:50ZKimberley Hawley, Hawley Interiors & Staging (Hawley Interiors & Staging)
<p>This home was on the market for several weeks with NO offers...</p><p> This family room had absolutely no focal point - no great features...</p><p> <img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/5/3/0/7/8/ar120147688687035.JPG" height="287" alt=" " width="482" /></p><p>So I created one...We purchased an electric fireplace and worked around it...</p><p><img src="http://activerain.com/image_store/uploads/8/0/2/3/3/ar120147709833208.JPG" height="401" alt=" " width="512" /> </p><p>The very next showing lead to an offer ... SOLD</p><p>By the way - the fireplace was included in the sale!</p><p> </p> Lions and Tigers and Seniors...oh myhttp://activerain.com/blogsview/132363/Lions-and-Tigers-and-Seniorsoh-my2007-06-26T10:22:48ZKimberley Hawley, Hawley Interiors & Staging (Hawley Interiors & Staging)
<p>I always know when the realtor says "you'll need to be delicate with this one Kim", I'll be working with seniors.</p><p>Staging for seniors is kinda like working with a curator at a museum. Every knick knack (aka clutter) is an interesting artifact with a long history and story attached and is placed in this position "just so" for a very particular reason. Take for example "when the sun shines through that window in the morning and catches the stained glass piece (looks more like stained plastic) that we've attached with a small suction cup, colours just fill the room" Not to mentio the fact that it was given to her by the girl guide who used to live down the road from them in the 70's who's mother they lost touch with when the father left - poor dear.</p><p>Or, The 18 piece silver tea set, quite lovely actually, must stay on the buffet next to the collection of 50 or so 2" porcelain animal figurines that came in the tea boxes way back when. Mrs. Senior remembers the little dog the best as it came when she was having tea with her grand-daughter just before she got married. Which is why the wedding photos are there as well...all ten of them!</p><p>I always find their artifacts and stories very interesting but clearing the clutter can be difficult. One tactic that works well is "that animal collection looks very delicate, if a family with children come through, I'm afraid something may get broken" While listening to a lecture from Mr. Senior on children today, the wrapping paper and boxes usually appear with out more persuasion.</p><p>My fave is Mrs. Senior obviously made the red velvet curtains with plastic lining some time in the 60's, and thinks they are a great selling feature. I tell her I'm concerned the buyers will not be able to see the window because they'll be distracted by the lovely curtains. "Oh, that's ok" she says, "I'm leaving the curtains for the new owners". Great! "Well, if it's okay with you, let me take them down, we'll have a look, and if you don't approve, I'll put them back up" I promised. Sure enough after the curtains are down Mrs. Senior exclaims "oh my, it sure brightens up the place". YES. . . my point exactly...we're on the same page. . . Mission accomplished.</p><p>Oddly enough, by the time the house has been staged, Mr. & Mrs. Senior are usually happy with all of the ideas they came up with!</p><p>Thanks for the idea Calie!</p>