Elaine's Wonderful Blog

What's in a Name? You'll See!!!

Sat, 23 Apr 2011 13:09:29 -0700

To be a successful stager, sometimes you have to use psychology. I had to use it on my last staging client. Here is how it went down:

I ordered furniture and artwork for a newly remodeled home, located five minutes from where I live. I told the warehouse people I wanted tans and browns for the living room because I would probably use ORANGE (and maybe green) as my accent color. The word orange is capitalized for a reason.

I received an email the morning of the delivery telling me that two ORANGE chairs were on the truck. In case I didn't like them, they sent two brown chairs, too.

In the case of this staging, because it was so close to my own home, I decided to wait and get the appropriate accessories after the furniture was delivered. The truck arrived, and they started carrying furniture in. The driver asked me if I wanted to look in the truck and choose the chairs. I told him I really couldn't tell, and would he please bring the ORANGE chairs in. He did, and I loved them! They were absolutely perfect for the room!

I spent the next half hour in my basement choosing the right accessories and packing them up. As I grabbed my phone, I noticed I had missed a call. The client left me a message saying she had just "stopped by the house", and she hated the ORANGE chairs and they would HAVE to be replaced.

I called her back and asked her if she was referring to the TERRA COTTA chairs in the living room. She hesitated and said yes. I then asked her to trust me, and if she still hated them after I was completely finished with the staging, I would gladly replace them.

Here are the before and after photos:

Where I live, if you use the word ORANGE people think of this:

So I would NEVER stage with ORANGE!!! I only stage with TERRA COTTA.

The next day, the client called again. "You were right" she said, "it looks beautiful."

Stager? Or Con Artist?

Sun, 13 Mar 2011 20:50:32 -0700

I watched a movie the other day in which the main character is a real estate stager in Boston. On a trip to Ireland, she found herself explaining to one of the locals what a stager does. Not skipping a beat, he says "Oh, so you're a con artist."

According to the dictionary, a con artist is a person who swindles you by means of deception or fraud. Let's look at how a stager and a con artist are different:

The carpet in a living room shows a lot of wear and tear in the main traffic areas.

A con artist might cover it up with an area rug. Or remove the light bulbs from the overhead lighting, so it's not so obvious. A buyer will mistakenly believe that the carpet is fine.

A stager will identify the best feature of the room--a fireplace is a good example. They will choose just the right art and accessories to draw your eyes to the fireplace. A buyer will recognize that the carpet might need to be cleaned or replaced, but the attractiveness of the fireplace leaves them with a good impression of the room.

Pipes are leaking, leaving unsightly water damage to a wall in the basement.

A con artist might turn the water off where it is leaking and put a coat of paint on the damaged wall. A buyer will have no reason to suspect a water leak.

A stager will note the water damage, but see the potential the room has for being a great family game room. They will rent a game table and chairs, and place colorful framed posters on the walls. A buyer will see that there is water damage, but fall in love with the idea of a room where their family can congregate for fun.

These examples should make it clear that we are not con artists. It is not our job to hide the flaws in your home in order to deceive buyers.

I had a seller just recently who pointed out some cracked tiles on his kitchen floor. He asked me if I was going to cover it up with something. I smiled and shook my head. "No," I told him, "we don't do that. And, I hope the seller of the house you are buying doesn't do that either."

Have a Heart for the Holidays!

Wed, 15 Dec 2010 18:00:19 -0800

In a perfect world, we would all have a home full of love. But, there are people who, for whatever reason, have no home. It's not in our power to give them that, but there is something we can do. My staging sister, Nancy, and I redesigned a room in our local women's shelter.

If you think making things pretty is a waste, you are wrong. We know how our environment affects our outlook on life. This shelter represents a haven for women, their children, and even our veterans. That's right. The shelter has a special area reserved for our female veterans. Nancy and I chose one of those rooms. I will let the pictures speak for themselves:

We spent three hours shopping, and less than six hours painting, making beds and placing art. The paint was donated by Kwal. Nancy and I can redesign a room in our sleep, but to others, it seems like a miracle. Think about looking for an opportunity like this in your town. The biggest reward will be yours.

How DOES one stage an OUTHOUSE?

Fri, 30 Jul 2010 22:07:15 -0700

A Realtor I work with left a message on my voicemail with an unusual request. He wanted me to do my "magic" on his new listing. He said it was a log cabin, it was a ninety minute drive, and he would pick me up, help with the staging, and drive me home. Oh yeah, and one other thing--there's no indoor plumbing.

Hmm...I was intrigued. I went on his website to see photos, and was very discouraged with what I saw. It was being sold furnished, and let's just say the decor was shabby chic without the chic. There was no budget to buy anything, so I would have to make do with what was there. Well, I treasure the relationship I have with this agent, and I knew my answer would be yes, no matter what.

He picked me up, and off we went. He told me there was a cooler with drinks and a bag of snacks in the back seat and to help myself. Now, I figured I was going to a home with no bathroom, so I decided to watch my fluid intake, no matter how thirsty I got. After a few wrong turns and driving for miles on dirt, we finally arrived. My first reaction was "It's adorable!"

Now, this was like opening a beautifully wrapped present and finding a can of lard. Here, you need to see for yourself:

So, here are my before and after photos. No, they'll never make the cover of Elle Decor, but perhaps Field & Stream might snap them up!

Since there were no walls, I had to figure out how to define the spaces. You might notice that the brown plaid sofa you see is a DIFFERENT brown plaid sofa from the one in the first set of photos. NOTE: After seeing the photos on the website, I decided to "donate" some bedding:

The kitchen was SO confusing, especially since the island was against the wall in the bedroom area. Don't be fooled by that kitchen sink--there was NO water to this house!

I have no idea what this space was supposed to be, but that chair HAD TO GO! This made a great dining area, close to the windows so you could enjoy the view while you ate something that did not have to be cooked or cleaned. NOTE: Some of you may know how I detest roosters, and I never thought they'd be in a log cabin...but, there they are!

The Realtor was great about helping me remove things, which is why the place looks so much bigger. But, where did we put all the stuff, since there was no closet or storage? DON'T LOOK!

Now, to answer the question "How DOES one stage an OUTHOUSE?" We don't. In fact, I didn't go within fifteen feet of the outhouse.

The real miracle of the day was not the transformation of the cabin, but the fact that I went seven hours without needing a bathroom. Though I was prepared:

Thank you for letting me share my "roughing it" experience! More proof that stagers CAN DO ANYTHING!

The BEST kind of happy ending!!!

Sat, 20 Feb 2010 14:19:32 -0800

We stagers have an interesting job. We create beautiful rooms, but no one is going to live in them. If we have done our jobs successfully, the sellers will pack up our work, or in the case of vacant homes, we will pack up our work. Our photos are often all we have.

I was fortunate enough to hear about an opportunity that would change all that. The organization, Volunteers of America, is always looking for companies or individuals interested in remodeling one or more rooms in the local women's shelter. My friend, Nancy Ewing, and I decided to adopt a room.

On our initial tour of the shelter, I was so amazed at the level of activity all around us. The people who work there have hearts of gold, and their positive energy is contagious. We were taken on a tour, and shown two possible candidates for our room makeover. The one we chose had not received an update since 2004. There's no other way to describe it--this was a sad little room. One twin bed, one small table, a built-in table that wasn't much more than a ledge, and one dresser. No closet, as some of the other rooms had, so clothes were hung on a metal rack on wheels. Long and narrow, the room at least had a nice tall window at one end. The walls were a very pale yellowish green, and the only window treatment was a tiny valance hung over white blinds. We picked a date for the makeover, and we were allowed eight hours to complete the transformation. Here is the before and after:

Paint donated by Kwal, bedding and window sheers purchased at Target, art donated by Nancy, and a new lamp shade purchased at WalMart came together to create a room that I believe can best be described as sweet. We also purchased and put together a wardrobe/storage unit, with removable storage bins, and a fabric cover.

As stagers, we are used to "the big reveal," but none of them compared to the praise and adoration we received from the staff and tenants. Something that was so easy for Nancy and I to do, because we do it all the time, seemed almost like a miracle to these women. Many of the women begged us to do their rooms next, and Nancy and I decided we would definitely go back and do another room.

I encourage you to find similar opportunities in your town. There is always a need for the skills we possess, and plenty of people in unfortunate circumstances, who want and deserve something "sweet" in their lives.

Wordless Wednesday--?????????

Wed, 02 Dec 2009 13:03:53 -0800

Wordless Wednesday--A dream come true or her worst nightmare?

Wed, 18 Nov 2009 10:42:22 -0800

Green on your mind? You just need a little Goodwill....

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 10:17:51 -0700

I'd like to show you a way you can "be green" and "save a lot of green" at the same time.

Our IRIS Chapter was approached with an interesting challenge. Alison Oyler, who does marketing for Goodwill Industries, invited us to participate in an Italian Tablescape contest. It was held at the Festival Italiano in the Belmar development of Lakewood, Colorado. Now, here's the fun part. We were given $40 gift cards to Goodwill, and could only spend an additional $10 of our own for flowers, candles, etc.

Here are the beautiful tablescapes:

"Mattina Bella" (beautiful morning) by Elaine Manes-A Wonderful Space

"Palazzo Bella" (beautiful home) by Diane Palazzo-5280 Real Estate Staging and Erica Starich-Star Interior Solutions

"Cucina Coast" by Brenda Peterson-Busy Bee Organizing Plus

"Breakfast in Tuscany" by Mico Smith-Metamorphing Interiors

"Casual in Capri" by Khristy Wilson-Interior Evolutions

"Festa del l'uva" (grape harvest festival) Alison Oyler-Goodwill Industries of Denver

I think the photos speak for themselves. So, if you want to "be green", make your local Goodwill store your first stop. AND, you are guaranteed to "save a lot of green", too! The plates I bought were UNDER 50 cents!

Here are few shots of the festival:

This one is my favorite:

A RIDDLE, the color RED, and a quick REMODEL!

Tue, 19 May 2009 16:45:39 -0700

I was called in by my Realtor, to help a condo which had been on the market for MONTHS! The owner had moved out, but rented the condo, furniture and all. I called the seller to see what she was willing to do. Her answer was "whatever it takes". I LOVE these clients! I previewed the property and came up with a plan.

First, the RIDDLE:

When is a cookbook NOT a cookbook?

The answer?

When it's wallpaper!

This wallpaper was used as the backsplash in the kitchen! Convenient? Yes! Everyone's taste? Definitely not!

Next? The color RED!

I love a red accent wall as much as the next person. But, it doesn't work in every home. A small space like a condo will appear larger if you stick to one color for all the walls. And when the home has a fabulous feature like a fireplace, sometimes the red can be distracting.

Here is what I mean:

Now, the fireplace POPS!

I prefer to accent a staging with splashes of red, but not enough to be overwhelming!

The living space before:

Just a few changes:

The client agreed to have the whole condo painted, including the ceiling which was painted a dark tan and added to the cave-like feel of the space. She offered to put in new carpet, but saved a bunch of money by having it cleaned instead. Remember, there are still renters in the condo, so I advised against putting in new carpet for that reason. After the cleaning (the cost was just over $100) the carpet looked fabulous!

Now, the REMODEL:

I thought her money was better spent by updating the two light fixtures in the vanity area of the bathroom:

For a total of $100, we went from 1980.....

.....to 2009!

I agreed to add a few staging items, even though the condo was occupied. Sometimes, it doesn't take much to make a huge difference:

I think you'll agree that paint, some inexpensive lighting, and a few strategically placed accessories can make a world of difference! Here are a few more "after" shots:

Stagers can be invaluable to out-of-town sellers. My services included hiring the painter and carpet cleaners, shopping for the light fixtures, adding accessories, and providing new photos to the Realtor.

Thanks for letting me share this enjoyable project! Need a good recipe for chicken soup?

AR Member Says Staging a Waste of Money!

Tue, 14 Apr 2009 21:55:28 -0700

I can feel your outrage, and I have every intention of revealing the culprit!

It might surprise you that the AR member is a stager...

...and it might also surprise you that the stager I am talking about is ME!

I was contacted by an agent yesterday, requesting a preview and staging bid on one of his listings. I was anxious to get there and see what I had to work with. Today, I went. I am writing my bid tonight, and there is one thing I know it will say: Staging this home will be a waste of money. I could easily write a thousand words describing what was wrong with this house, but it's easier to tell you what was right. The view. Period.

Any buyer who considers writing an offer on this listing, will do so simply for the view and probably gut the home for a complete remodel. I asked myself if staging a few of the rooms would enhance the view. My answer is no.

So, am I walking away from this one? Not at all. I am hoping the seller gives me a chance to explain that if she puts any money into this house, it should be to take care of some minor repairs, repaint the front door, which is metal and 50% rust, and have someone remove the bars on the windows. That's right, I said bars. Bars on windows say bad neighborhood. After leaving the home, I stopped and chatted with a neighbor to ask if there was a lot of crime in the neighborhood. She assured me there was not.

Now, I could write up my normal bid, with three options for furnishing the home. And, the seller would probably choose one and I could make some money. But, that would be dishonest, because I know it will not help sell the house.

So, what do I want for my honesty? Perhaps, someday, a statue.

Wordless Wednesday-Too Close for Comfort!!!

Wed, 25 Mar 2009 09:37:32 -0700

Meet Cyrus, the Wonder Dog!!!

Sat, 21 Mar 2009 20:16:36 -0700

My daughter, Laura, has always been a softie when it comes to animals--a trait I am happy to say we share. Six years ago, she adopted a kitten from a shelter, and she and Boykins have shared a happy home. Boyfriend, Steve, just purchased his first house, and together they decided it was time to adopt a dog. Steve, who is addicted to Craigslist, started the search there. He found an ad from a rescue group that was looking for a home for a very special dog, and he forwarded it to Laura, who forwarded it to me. Here is Cyrus--he has quite a story!

Cyrus lived in Kansas with his owners. He was hit by a car, requiring surgery his family couldn't afford. Enter the rescue group, and a generous vet, who gave him the care he needed. Unfortunately, his leg was too damaged, and the vet amputated it. When he had recovered, he was placed in a foster home here in Colorado. Not much more is known about Cyrus, except he is between 4-7 years old, probably a mix of Corgi and Australian Cattle dog, is recovering from a mild case of heartworm, and gets around remarkably well, considering the surgery was in January. The woman fostering him reports he is the smartest dog she's ever met.

Steve and Laura fell in love with Cyrus immediately. As you can see, he is a happy fellow, and I'm not even sure he knows he only has three legs. He fetches and climbs stairs, and does everything a four-legged dog does. He's also a great ambassador for handicaps, because he gets attention everywhere he goes. He still has a strong urge to chase cars (probably the Cattle dog in him) but they are working on that.

I am very proud of my daughter and her boyfriend, and Cyrus joins my group of granddogs and grandcats, and I will spoil him like I spoil the others! I think they make a nice family!

Am I losing business...because my jeans are too tight?

Wed, 18 Mar 2009 12:37:28 -0700

Perhaps this has happened to you.You check your voice-mail, and there is a message from an agent or homeowner interested in hiring you to stage a property. You call them back, only to get their voicemail. You leave a message, telling them how anxious you are to talk to them about your services. And then...you never hear back.

We can only assume when they couldn't reach you by phone, they called someone else. And, that person answered their phone, and consequently got the job. I can't tell you how many times this has happened to me. So, what is the answer?

Let's be realistic--there are times we just can't answer our phones.If we are driving, or in a meeting, we are forced to let our calls go to voice-mail. What about when we are on a job?

It was always my practice not to take phone calls while on a staging job. I am being paid by the hour, and it didn't seem fair to use any of that time on the phone. But, frustrated from missing too many staging opportunities, I tried keeping my cell phone in my back pocket. As you know, staging is a very physically demanding job. It's constant kneeling, squatting, stretching, and even a little pushing furniture with our backsides. Too often, I would take my phone out of my pocket to see that during all that activity, I had inadvertently hit some buttons, and I would probably be seeing some charge on my phone bill for accessing a feature I don't already have. I tried my front pocket, but couldn't handle the jabbing pain every time I bent over. I discovered that the only time I would get a call was when I was standing on a chair with a painting in one hand, a hammer in the other and a nail in my mouth.

My voice-mail directs callers to visit my website, which some of them do, and some of them do hire me. But, the majority vanish forever. Since I don't believe I'm the only one having this problem, I would love to hear any and all solutions you may have tried, and what works for you.

And, for you stagers who may have gotten the calls I missed, I understand if you don't want to help!

From Home Stager...to Home Wrecker!!!

Mon, 16 Mar 2009 10:51:20 -0700

We all know what a home wrecker is, right? Someone who comes into the picture and breaks up a relationship? Well, last week, I did exactly that!

I was called in for a consultation by an agent I have worked with only once. The first home had been on the market for months. It sold two weeks after I made some changes. He really believes in what we do, he just can't seem to remember what it's called. He asked if I could come "showcase" the home, and then introduced me to the seller as the "Feng Shui lady". But, that's okay. I do live by that old adage "I don't care what you call me, just call me".

The home where I was meeting the agent was right across the street from the first house. Very attractive homes on a nice quiet street which winds around a hill. The house looked great from the curb, and I started to wonder why I had been called in. The agent greeted me with a smile and a handshake, and told me the pertinent info on the seller. "She has nice things" he told me. Great! I love when they have nice things!

I met the seller, a bubbly fifty-something woman, and she welcomed me warmly. She had no idea I was a home wrecker, and that my main mission that day was to break up one of her longest relationships.

The agent was right--her furnishings were extremely nice. At first glance, I again wondered why I was there. And, if buyers only got a quick peek and didn't actually walk around the home, the seller wouldn't need me. But, as I walked from room to room, something became glaringly obvious.

DOILIES! That's right..the D word. Every surface in every room sported at least one crocheted disc. I had never seen such blatant over-use of an accessory in my life. As my eyes bounced from one to the next, I lost all awareness of the furniture, the walls, the house. This was not good. Try to picture this in your mind. Every object, every lamp, every candlestick, every plant, sat on it's own little doily. They were on the kitchen counters, the island, on every shelf! The 800 pound gorilla in this home was made of lace! I had to mention it.

"I generally recommend the removal of doilies" I said in my best feeling-my-way voice. "My grandmother made these" she blurted out with a more than slight emotional tremor. I flashed back to another home I wrecked. The seller with so many plants, her home looked like a jungle. She knew exactly who gave her each plant and what the occasion was. I limited her to three plants in each room, and suggested she turn the rest over to family members for safe-keeping. The agent told me that after I left, the seller cried. Now, I've watched enough Dr. Phil to know that it wasn't really about the plants, just as it wasn't about the doilies. Both these sales were a result of divorce. I could see it in my new client's eyes. Everything around me is changing, please don't take my doilies away too. Well, I did take her doilies away, because I had a job to do.

The home was vastly improved when all the doilies were removed (yes, ALL of them) and some furniture had been rearranged. When the home sells, and she moves into a new place, she can wallpaper the walls with doilies, for all I care. But, for now, I had to break up this relationship. Elaine Manes--home stager, home wrecker.

How to Survive in this "NEW" Economy!

Tue, 03 Mar 2009 14:11:51 -0800

Please notice the term "new", used to describe our current economy, instead of what you normally hear. I use the term "new" to mean different from the former or the old (thank you thefreedictionary.com)

There will be NO negative words in this post! This is an inspiring, uplifting and altogether nauseatingly POSITIVE post. "Elaine, what have you been drinking?" you might ask. I have just decided that all I can control is my attitude. So, if you enjoy wallowing in depression and self-pity, STOP READING HERE!

OK, to better explain where I'm going with this--TIME FOR AN ANALOGY!

Let's say you have been playing the board game, Monopoly, your entire life. But, the deeds have become dog-eared over the years, all the money has disappeared except a five and two ones, and the only playing pieces that haven't been misplaced are the iron and the thimble. But, you remember seeing the game on sale at Target, so you put the old game out in the trash, and purchase a new one.

You open the brand new box, and it doesn't take you long to realize that the game is different and the rules have changed. You get upset. There should have been a warning on the box: MONOPOLY NOW HAS NEW RULES! You run out to the trash only to discover that the old game is covered in coffee grounds. It starts to sink in. The old game is gone for good. If you still wish to play Monopoly, you will have to learn the new rules. If you aren't willing to learn the new rules, you will have to play a different game. You think to yourself if only I had known it was going to change, I would have taken better care of the old game.

So, if you think of our current economy as being different, all we have to do is learn the new rules. And, the best part? We get to make them up as we go. We get to be creative. It's all trial and error, now. There are those who are so stuck in the past, they aren't willing to make the changes necessary. Those people will have to play CandyLand (I mean that in the nicest possible way).

Here are a few suggested new rules:

1. If reading the newspaper or watching the news depresses you, STOP DOING IT.

2. If your old marketing strategies now feel like a waste of time, THEY PROBABLY ARE.

3. If the old stuff isn't working, THINK UP NEW STUFF.

4. If you know someone who feels very negatively all the time, STAY AWAY FROM THEM.

5. If all you can do is complain about the new administration, YOU ARE NOT HELPING.

6. If you feel like you could manage better with more moral support, GET IT.

7. If you need help, ASK FOR IT.

8. If you feel like you are all alone, YOU ARE NOT.

9. If you think you will die without the luxuries you are accustomed to, YOU WILL NOT.

10. If you can still laugh, HOW BAD CAN IT BE?

As far as I know, we don't have poor farms anymore. Most of us will survive (although some of us may have to cut back on the Starbucks) and some of us will even flourish. If we stop acting like victims, we will stop being victims.

So, get out there and PLAY!!!

For those of you who still want the old Monopoly, I hope your houses and hotels are still worth something.

Soooo...you want to be a stager?

Mon, 23 Feb 2009 13:15:09 -0800

Stagers are multiplying like...well, rabbits. I was recently contacted by three different women about staging.

The first already had her company formed, and just wanted advice on how to get her foot in the door with local Realtors. Three years ago, when I started my company, the challenge was educating the public and the real estate industry about what staging is and what it can do. Now, when I check the local MLS, I can tell by the photos that staging is here, it's prevalent, and the honeymoon stage is over.

So, my advice to her was be good, if you aren't good, get good (I'm not sure she had any training), and find some way to stand out. She was so excited to tell me that she dropped off cookies at real estate offices. I worked in a real estate office for ten years, and we loved when companies brought in goodies, BUT it had NO influence on our willingness to work with this person. AND, there were not too many days that someone WASN'T bringing in treats for us. Her face fell when she saw I was not sharing in her excitement of her marketing attempt. So, I told her it was a good start, but she needed to punch it up, get really creative, and stay focused on what she wanted to do--which was stage listings. Find something that you offer that other stagers don't.

The second woman called to ask about the IRIS training course I took. I only have glowing things to say about that, and she completed the course last week. Turns out she is the sister of the woman who photographed my son's wedding AND took my initial promotional head shots. If she has half the talent of her sister, she will do very well at staging. AND, she's a smart girl because she's already a member of ActiveRain! We are planning on getting together for coffee, and I am hoping we become friends. I really believe friendship among stagers is VERY important. I would not be staging if it wasn't for the friendship and support I receive on almost a daily basis.

The third woman is the one I worry about.She is only considering a career in staging. She is a single mom and needs to make enough money at staging to support her family. I decided to fore-go the flowery speech about how rewarding it is to own your own business, how fun it is to get paid to shop, what a great creative outlet it is. I kept seeing a mental picture of her kids needing things for school while she waits for payment on a job she did months ago. Or her losing job after job to a stager who only dabbles in staging on weekends so offers her services at rock-bottom prices. I told her that staging can be a full time, lucrative career, but it takes a talent for business almost as much as a talent for decorating. And the most successful stagers I know, made a pretty hefty investment in their own furniture and warehouse. The challenge today is finding sellers or agents in this less than stellar market who have the funds for staging, and then beating out the competition. This area went from a handful of stagers just four years ago to hundreds of hungry stagers today. I would never tell someone not to become a stager, but I wanted to be honest about the challenges she would face.

I enjoy getting these phone calls, and sharing what I know about our industry. But times are tough right now, and I just wish these weren't the only calls I was getting. I would love to hear what advice you are giving out these days.

Wordless Wednesday--They're cute so we won't kill them.

Wed, 11 Feb 2009 16:37:51 -0800

Wordless Wednesday--Sometimes, I'm just in awe.....

Wed, 28 Jan 2009 09:49:50 -0800

Wordless Wednesday- Feel like you're being watched?

Wed, 21 Jan 2009 19:28:21 -0800

Wordless Wednesday- WARNING! Graphic photo of drug overdose!

Wed, 07 Jan 2009 11:31:14 -0800

Speechless Sunday- Do these stripes make me look fat?

Sun, 04 Jan 2009 13:01:43 -0800

Wordless Wednesday--for all you Southerners!

Wed, 31 Dec 2008 11:13:30 -0800

Zeke's First Snow!!!

Fri, 14 Nov 2008 20:30:49 -0800

It's been awhile since I posted pictures of our very unique Zeke, as I like to call him. He is seven months old now.

This dog has had as many looks as Madonna! First he was small and fluffy with bent ears, then his ears stood up and his fluff went away.

The present Zeke is all hairy again! His hair is long and shiny, but he has brown fluffy stuff below his ears! He weighs about twenty pounds, but he's still vertically challenged, and will probably remain so.

Here, you just need to see a couple recent photos:

Zeke and big brother, Bear, woke up this morning to something Zeke has never experienced! SNOW!!! Bear assured the little guy that snow is OK...in fact, snow is WONDERFUL!

Being a little "low slung" Zeke did have a problem with snow clumping up on his legs and belly, but he thought it was worth it. Can't wait until the big stuff comes down!

Thanks for letting me share my unique Zeke with you!

STAGING PASSES TEST...with FLYING COLORS!!!

Wed, 12 Nov 2008 21:13:37 -0800

With a struggling economy and a sea of unsold properties, my staging company was put to the test.

I was called in to stage a nice older home, fresh from a complete remodel. Feedback was the bedrooms seemed too small, even for the smallest of beds.

"I'll stage it for one month", the agent/owner told me. "If it doesn't sell, I'm going to rent it out". YIKES!!!

The rooms were small, but I knew they would look bigger with furniture in them (something that non-stagers have a hard time understanding)!

A queen size bed fits just fine:

Today, I got an email saying it went under contract. Less than three weeks, in this market! I would say staging received an A+! I think the agent/owner is now a believer!

I hope the new owners enjoy the beautiful roses in the front yard!

This home was lovingly staged by A WONDERFUL SPACE!

Thanks!!! Got to give you credit!!! (painted fireplace)

Fri, 24 Oct 2008 17:45:26 -0700

I am so grateful to all of you who answered my call for help! I went into this painting project with a lot more confidence than I ever thought I would have, thanks to the great advice I received here!

Now, I'm all about the simplest way of getting from point A to point B, so here is what I did: I bought satin black grill paint, safe up to 1000 degrees, two cheapo throw-away paint brushes (sorry, I know it's not very green of me, but I was not about to clean them in the white sink, and they were made of wood) and 000 steel wool.

I went over to the house before the furniture arrived, put newspaper down and started roughing up the brass with the steel wool. I then taped the areas where metal touched tile, and started painting. It did require a second coat, which I applied at the end of the day, right before photos. When it was wet, you could see brush strokes and drips. When it dried, it was ALL smooth!

Here are the before and afters:

The before photos were taken around 1:30 pm, on the day I previewed it, and the afters were taken staging day at 6 pm. Isn't it amazing how much better they look with the softer light?

Did I mention that this job came to me from Bob Schenkenberger, who hosts my staging blog at gethomedenver? And, I met Bob right here on ActiveRain!!!

THANKS AGAIN FOR ALL YOUR HELP!!!