•·        My two appointments today illustrate how having a progressive menu of services, additional education and expertise brings you long term relationships with your best business source - An existing client!

•1.     A Realtor associated with my Builder Models I merchandised hires me to stage the home for her lasted sale in the sub-division.  Most likely, I'll be helping them decorate the new home as well.

•2.     My staging client hires me to help choose a new paint palette and arrange her new space in her NEW home.

Beyond the typical home stager's repertoire of just prepping that home for sale, as an interior stylist I have a progressive menu of services that that continue to service you as you move on.  Once that home is SOLD, we move on with you to your next chapter, and help you turn your NEW house into a home.

•·        Color Consultation- Since we're already familiar with your things from your old home, we're right by  your side in expertly selecting and creating a new color palette.  From paint color to textile suggestions - Gone with the old home owners hues or those contractor white wall - In with color choices in-tune to your  belongings and personal style.

•·        Interior Redesign- We take what you have and make it all work within your new home.  In just a day, your blank space becomes your space.  Your room becomes balanced, functional and unified. Best of all, you get instant gratification, validate your existing pieces, and ready the space for family and friends. 

•·         Shopping, Procurement &  Design Services- If you'd like to refresh and add to your furniture & collections, we can make suggestions or ease your load and shop for those new pieces.  Need more traditional design service such as window treatments or more?  Our talents and resources can add those finishing touches to your space or work with you and your contractor to make needed or wanted updates.

Since 1999, interior stylist Julea Joseph has owned Chicago area based interiors and home staging business - Reinventing Space. Your can see her work on HGTV or in the news giving homeowners expert insight on how to refresh, style and celebrate their space -Whether staging their home to go on the market, just settling in, or just in need of a change.

Julea also offers her expertise with mentoring and certification educational offerings to Realtors, Home Stagers and Interior Redesigners in the industry. Visit her site, JULEA.com or Interior Stylist Program. For more information or email her at Julea@Julea.com.

11 years ago today I was lucky girl in Minneapolis filming  HGTV's "Decorating Cents."  I woke up this morning and realized what an amazing milestone this was for my Interior Redesign & Home Staging Business! - Reinventing Space

I had just moved back to Chicago two weeks prior, and was so excited that had been given the opportunity to showcase my work on national TV and benefit my newly relocated business.  Along with fellow redesigner Jackie Davis,we had been asked by our design organization the IADA to participate in the filming.  At that time our association did all the "Interior Arrangement/No Cost Decorating" segments for the show. 

HGTV was just a budding cable channel and the production company Edelman Productions filmed many (and still does) many of the shows and "Decorating Cents" was their hit #1 HGTV show - So I felt very honored that I was filming.

We had just a blast over the next 4 days and although coached and counseled by Redesigners that had already preceded us, we were in for a big surprise on what went on behind the scenes of filming a TV show. Out little 5 minute segment took 8 hours to film.  From the hailed "Lighting Guy," that was by far the most important factor of setting the scene, to the segment producer Tara that ran things like a ballet choreographer, to the "Guys" on staff that moved, schlepped and carried all and any of the heavy furniture and accessories that we were Redesigning - To this day, I wish I had those guys on hand at all my makeovers.  From how to light a room, to how a space is seen on camera, to how to act and appear on camera,  I've carried what I learned those four days in everyone one of my projects and speaking engagements. 

I also learned that people didn't buy clearance Cashmere sweaters there and who the singer Pink was, because she was staying in our hotel.

Jackie and I just exchanged emails this am and promised to dig through our photo archives to find the pictures and VHS videos of our segments.  After 11 years,  I have still held in memory my mantle Issue lines: 

"Although this fireplace is large in stature, its mantle depth is narrow, which causes a real dilemma when accessorizing it.  Let me show you what I did..."

So, thanks HGTV for giving me the opportunity 11 years ago!  Fast forward to 2011, and you can see my work on another HGTV show "My First Place" this Friday, July 8^th  at 6pm.

And since 2000, I've appeared on numerous Chicago-area TV segments from ABC, CLTV to WGN, and have two local cable shows I film every month - Who would of know? 

Since 1999, interior stylist Julea Joseph has owned Chicago area based interiors and home staging business - Reinventing Space. Your can see her work on HGTV or in the news giving homeowners expert insight on how to refresh, style and celebrate their space -Whether staging their home to go on the market, just settling in, or just in need of a change.

Julea also offers her expertise with mentoring and certification educational offerings to Realtors, Home Stagers and Interior Redesigners in the industry. Visit her site, JULEA.com or Interior Stylist Program. For more information or email her at Julea@Julea.com.

Fabulous Art is only one snap away for your home staging or interior styling projects.  Get out your camera, dial it to "close-up" and shoot away in your back or front yard.

Download to your favorite photo editing program, adjust, enhance and crop. 

Have it printed into a poster, frame it and hang it on your favorite wall!

• These were shot this morning with my trusty Canon EOS and edited in Picasa.

June Poppy

Pond Lettuce

Since 1999, interior stylist Julea Joseph has owned Chicago area based interiors and home staging business - Reinventing Space. Your can see her work on HGTV or in the news giving homeowners expert insight on how to refresh, style and celebrate their space -Whether staging their home to go on the market, just settling in, or just in need of a change.

Julea also offers her expertise with mentoring and educational offerings to Realtors, Home Stagers and Interior Redesigners in the industry. Visit her site, JULEA.com or Interior Stylist Program for more information or email her at Julea@Julea.com.



  Photo: MLS

Help! I'm having Rug Rage!  Time and time again I see ill-sized rugs being used in Home Staging projects and 99.9%  of them are too small for the space or the furniture collection it's anchoring. 

Size does matter!

And don't get me started on materials -  I've seen  bath rugs used under cocktail tables..

Why is this happening? Where can this this size dilemma  and faux pas placement stem from?

1. Home Staging Inventory Issues?

2. Lack of Education?

3. Complacent Stagers?

 

 How do we solve this size issue? Well, by simply educating the faux pas rug placers. 

Here's a double duty educational tool from our friends over at Over Stock.  Why double duty?  Over Stock is an awesome place to shop for rugs, so a great source for inventory & educational home decorating tips and articles.

They slip you just the right info to foil your size dilemma and faux pas placement issues.

• How to Size Your Room for an Area Rug
• How to Place an Area Rug
• How to Determine the Right Size Area Rug 

And for those that offer both home staging and styling services - A fabulous post by a designer and blogger: Area Rug Rules and How to Break Them

 Hopefully with these gentle tips to the faux pas placers, my Rug Rage can be resolved.

The endless chatter from TV Interior Decorating opinions has made Home Staging sometimes seem like a quagmire of misinforms and product placement ads.  The process of Home Staging doesn't have to reach deep into your pockets, nor so time consuming it's out of your reach if you seek the expertise of a professional Home Stager.  A well oiled pro will streamline not only your budget, but also save you your most important resource - time.  Here are some simple tips on prepping your home for sale can make the process much easier. 

•1.      Remove YOU From the Home Staging Process:  The place you've called home all these years is now a product that gets prepped, package and wrapped with a target buyer in mind.  Your personal style, your taste, your needs and emotions get replaced with the requirements of the ideal buyer.

•2.      Look at Your Home in its Entirety:  From curbside to back fence, to the online photos - You're selling a package, not just the physical home.  Today's buyer is a smart and refined set, they expect from the moment they view photos online, to when they walk your backyard, that the home is pulled together tip to toe.

•3.      Consider the Stature & Style of Your Home:   Whether cozy cottage or charming château, your home's style and stature dictates how you package the product.  Set the stage by staying true to the bones of your home - from quality to price point, be well educated when making updates, repairs and furniture and accessories choices to stay true and in-tuned to the property's standing.

•4.      You're Selling Space not Stuff:   From lawn accessories to garage gadgets, showcase the property's architecture, floor plans, details and storage instead of the stuff you've accumulated.  Instead, strategically use the stuff as a catalyst to define and highlight these important selling features!

•5.      The Psychology of the 5 Senses:  People buy on psychology & emotion. Utilize how we emotionally connect - The 5 senses.  Make sure your property passes the 5 senses test and evokes the senses of home...  Looks great and is light and bright, smells citrus clean and fresh, relaxing sounds and is tactically pleasing - especially in the kitchen and baths.

Since 1999, interior stylist Julea Joseph has owned Chicago area based interiors and home staging business - Reinventing Space.  Your can see her work on HGTV or in the news  giving homeowners expert insight on how to refresh, style and celebrate their space -Whether staging their home to go on the market, just settling in, or just in need of a change. 

For those who went through Interior Redesign Training, the intimidating task of being the trainee is executing your 1^st One Day Room Makeover.  Part of your training course is being initiated by accomplishing an Interior Redesign - Overseen deftly by your instructor.

Having taken my training in Dallas, we arrived at our Hands-on makeover at a lovely golf course home in East Plano. Upon arrival, the Home's portico entry housed a shiny black Lexus SUV, the interior oozed quality and high-style.  From the Stickley writing desk, the English buffet in the Dining Room, to the petite still-life oils in gilded frames - My training partner and I were instantly hesitant by the stature of the home.   

Part of the process of a One Day Makeover is asking the homeowner if there are any precarious pieces to note.  She stated she picked up the English buffet at auction for $16,000.00 and the Stickley had been handed down through her husband's side.  So noted, and now fully frightened, we started the process of dismantling the room.

During your training you're taught how to aptly rearrange precious things, so during the dismantling process, my training mate and I eyed a cocktail table to move. We had to move the table before the desk. The intricate hand carved legs, the mass, the mahogany finish all screamed - bend low or you'll slip a disc.  We steadied ourselves, counted to three and prepared to life the weighty subject.  To our amazement, the table practically flew from our arms!  Instead of being hundreds of pounds, it was a near maybe 40.  Huh?  What?  To our wonder in this fancy abode, next to the desk, when we looked under the table, it was stamped - "BOMBAY COMPANY." 

Being sassy students, we knew that Bombay Company was a home décor store that sold affordable knock-offs of decorating classics.

My, my... that knock-off cocktail was assumed priceless because it sat in the same space with the priceless Stickley!  What a fabulous lesson to learn.  Develop your skills on knowing high quality and then you can help your clients with the art of the Mix!  A mix of Rich and Poor.

So, 13 years later and my design philosophy stays true from that little lesson I learned over a decade ago;  It's all about the perfect mix - Understanding how to mix "Rich with Poor."  This styling technique allows the savvy homeowner to get the look, but not always at the high price. The trick is knowing when to spend it and when not to.

So the other day I read online that the Bombay Company has been reformed!  I was so excited, because that company was such a great source!

I can now arm my clients with pieces from the resurrected Bombay Co. & I am thrilled.  Go check out their collection at WWW.QVC.com. My 1st choice pick is the Riley console table. With its streamline style and neo-classical cut-outs, it fits seamlessly into any space. 

Final Note:  Those petite still-life oils in gilded frames...  Still had their price tags from "Tuesday Morning..." on their backs!

Since 1999, interior stylist Julea Joseph has owned Chicago area based interiors and home staging business - Reinventing Space.  Your can see her work on HGTV or in the news  giving homeowners expert insight on how to refresh, style and celebrate their space -Whether staging their home to go on the market, just settling in, or just in need of a change. 

 Julea also offers her expertise with mentoring and educational offerings to Realtors,  Home Stagers and Interior Redesigners in the industry.  Visit her site, JULEA.com or Interior Stylist Program for more information or email her at Julea@Julea.com.

So spend a bit of your time and digest this photo...

 (Photo: Chicago Tribune)

OK, now that you have - Let me give you a bit of back story of why it's part of this post.

I spoke this week at a Home Staging/Model Merchandisingevent at our local HBA (National Association of Home Builders.) The event was driven by dual needs of Builders - Selling their product and advising their clients how to sell their existing homes.  In this trying Real Estate market, everyone is looking for insight, tips and techniques to make a quicker sale.

We all know that we're in the "Buyers Market" mode of selling homes.  We're also in a new era that because information is readily available, today's consumer is a sensationally savvy and well educated buyer.  Add to that, the HGTV phenomenon - And you get a smart-pants buyer that wants a home that looks like a magazine cover.  So it would seem logical that a marketed home from on-line photos to back fence would be perfectly prepped, packaged and targeted  for today's smart-pants buyers...

It was a fantastic event.  The audience was made up of Builders, Sales People, Realtors, Bankers and Investors.  I'm always excited to gain awareness and insight from other industry associates.  The expert panel consisted of two Realtors, an Interior Designer and myself; an Interior Stylist, who can wear both the Model Home Merchandiser as well as the Home Stager hat.  From queries on defining "Home Staging" to creating a Model Home that appeals to an ideal target audience, the entire event came down to how to best "Package the Product," AKA - Marketing the Goods.

It does all boil down to the process of Marketing, doesn't it?    

•·        Research the Needs of the Target Buyer.

•·        Create & Package the Goods in the Best Manner to Attract that Ideal Buyer

•·        Let the World Know You Have the Best Goods.

Well now let's get back to that picture.  The photo was the feature photo of an advertising editorial for a Builder unveiling a new Model.   I'm sure that Builder spent some major mullah getting his home featured in the paper - And on top of that, the time, energy and cash to build that new Model.  

The article offered up the fabulousness about the home's features, quality, experience of the builder (he builds a great house, I've got clients who own them) the wonderful upscale location and the Tony price tag of over $700,000.00.  Wow, wonderful, but then you look at the photo... Kinda a let down... HUH?

Where's the Packaging?

So all that effort, advertising dollars and then stopping short on the most important marketing tool - The perceived product.

•·        Does this space reflect the needs of the target buyer?

•·        Is it packaged to attract that client?

Does the home pull you in, does it show-case the builder's quality construction, tell a story of a lifestyle and how you could utilize the space and is trend-forward in color, style and design?  How much more effort and cash would of it taken to make the space smashing?  Wish the Builder would of came to this week's event...

Since 1999, interior stylist Julea Joseph has owned Chicago area based interiors and home staging business - Reinventing Space.  Your can see her work on HGTV or in the news  giving homeowners expert insight on how to refresh, style and celebrate their space -Whether prepping their home to go on the market, just settling in, or just in need of a change. 

 Julea also offers her expertise with mentoring and educational offerings to Realtors,  Home Stagers and Interior Redesigners in the industry.  Visit her site, JULEA.com or Interior Stylist Program for more information or email her at Julea@Julea.com.

As we all know, targeting a lifestyle is a well established design niche for both retailers and designers -from big box stores to model home designers, lifestyle design is all about knowing how your ideal client lives.  Today, it's about fine tuning the enjoyment of your home.  The most expensive thing we own, the one place in this unsure world we can feel safe - Home, now more than ever is where the heart is.

Take a stroll through the Home & Garden department at your local Wal-Mart, Target or Costco.  That area no longer just houses pots, towels and trowels - Now, there are whole tempting outdoor rooms presented to you, eye candy equipped with beautiful planters, outdoor chandeliers and matching Melamine tableware. Catalogs like Grandin Road, Napa Style, or Smith & Hawken are totally focused on lifestyle design.

Old school homemaking is now big business.  From going organic, brewing beer, to planting your own kitchen garden - the urban "Homestead" is hot!  Last year I staged a very high-end home that had a Porsche in the garage, but rain barrels and a kitchen garden in the back yard. This month's Martha Stewart Living has a full feature on an upscale home planned around a garden.  This past Sunday's Chicago Tribune had an article on kitchen gardens titled " Food for the Soul."   Even the home party plan arena has gone from selling Tupperware to Wine Accessories and Green Cleaning Products.

Why? After 9-11, our safe haven became our home and the rise of using our home as the main entertaining zone.  We were staying in, instead of going out and the movement has stayed "in-trend" since then.

We even staycation rather than vacation...

With the downward dip our economy has taken, we're using and valuing our entire home more than ever and looking for economical solutions too.  From garages, carved out backyard rooms to kitchen gardens - From curbside to back fence everyone is celebrating every inch of their home.

So when it comes to Home Staging and packaging that home for sale, it's important to keep lifestyle design as one of your basic home staging strategies.   As an example, I conducted a Home Staging consultation yesterday for a young couple relocating back to their Michigan roots.  The home is in a cute suburb, with a boutique downtown that attracts their age group.  In their 30's, this young couple with two toddlers in tow, are heavy entertainers, shop their town and dabble in gardening and yes - the garage is dapper too.  As part of our staging plan, we incorporated those lifestyle choices  - Since the predictable buyer will be someone just like them!  Here are a few of my home staging tips and ideas for the seller -

•· Make sure the public areas of the home have a great open flow plan and are conducive to family & friends for casual living and entertaining. Make sure to establish rooms for their particular purpose and lifestyle - From a great cozy conversational seating areas in the living room, a TV viewing basement family room - to staging the built-in hutch in the kitchen with key entertaining pieces - Every space should read "This room is great for..."

•·  Fresh.  Take the extra effort and use real instead of fake.   From a big bowl of real lemons, fragrant Key limes to a lovely orchid or tulip bouquet - Real speaks to the 5 senses and gives the home the essence of life.

•·        Breeze Way is staged from floor to with bulletin board with great places to shop, dine and go, from Yoga class down to the "Whole Food" bags.

•·        Backyard is "decked" out with furniture, vibrant container gardens, situated man grill, all to beckon the buyers to see the back half of this commodity.

•·        Stage the garden - Budding gardeners, the kitchen garden that went in last year will be planted and maintained and featured as part of the home.

Since 1999, interior stylist Julea Joseph has owned Chicago area based interior design and home staging business - Reinventing Space.  Your can see her work on HGTV or in the news  giving homeowners expert insight on how to refresh, style and celebrate their space -Whether prepping their home to go on the market, just settling in, or just in need of a change. 

 Julea also offers her expertise with certification training and mentoring  offerings to Realtors,  Home Stagers and Interior Redesigners in the industry.  Visit her site, JULEA.com or Interior Stylist Program for more information or email her at Julea@Julea.com.

Back in May I wrote a post on 10 Tips on How to make Your Next Listing Look Like a Model Home.    Model Home Merchandising is all about creating a idyllic living atmosphere for that perfect buyer. Creating interior environments that speak to the prospective homeowner how they could live in this home.

In today's Chicago Tribune, Real Estate columnist Mary Umberber reiterates that same process with with an interview with High-End Model Home Merchandising expert and Interior Designer, Mary Cook.

It's a fabulous article, and brings home awesome points of how to stage a home like a Model - From first impressions to using color.

Here's the article:  SELLING? SET A TONE FOR BUYERS

 Chicago Tribune Photo by Michael Slaughter / March 4, 2011)

Since 1999, interior stylist Julea Joseph has owned Chicago area based home design, staging and interior styling business - Reinventing Space.  Your can see her work on HGTV or in the news  giving homeowners expert insight on how to refresh, style and celebrate their space -Whether prepping their home to go on the market, just settling in, or just in need of a change. 

Visit us on  

 Julea also offers her expertise with certification training and mentoring  offerings to Realtors,  Home Stagers and Interior Redesigners in the industry.  Visit her site, JULEA.com or Interior Stylist Program for more information or email her at Julea@Julea.com.

It's my business to make homes better.  As an Interior Stylist, I'm the new generation of designer that can seamlessly progress from a home staging professional to interior design consultant, but (always on a budget.)  My job is to celebrate your home and make it beautiful no matter what chapter you may be on in it.  

From when you 1^st move in, to when you sell - I'm there to make your home better.  My business philosophy is to spend it where you need to, and then fill in the blanks with chic, yet cheap finds - The perfect mix of Rich with Poor.  Like I always say ..."If you keep your big mouth shut, they'll never know..."

So... it's almost spring.

Whether you are going or staying, the induction of spring seems to be the cue for home makeovers.  Just like the longing for a fresh breeze through open windows, homeowners are ready for change.  From simple updates like a fresh new paint palette, to the restless rustlings of bigger remodeling projects; this season seems to burst forth home makeover needs like the crocuses popping up in your lawn.

In this series of three articles, I'll be offering insight on how to go about a home makeover project. The 1^st of the series is "Where to Begin," followed by two other articles "Style & Details Defined" and "Current Trending & Savvy Shopping Sources." Hopefully, your makeover needs will be more defined, and if not, I'll be getting a call.

Where to Begin? 

The 1^ststep to home makeover projects is to define your room goals, create a plan,   and be realistic of a budget.  Unlike the makeover shows you watch on TV, unless you had stock options for an Internet IPO, any home project will cost you more than the materials you purchase.

DEFINE YOUR ROOM GOALS.  Is it that darn lack luster living room in need of a décor boost and a color correction? Is it your kitschy out-dated kitchen that will never appeal to the 30-somethings that will be the ideal buyer for your home in need of an overhaul?  By sketching out your goals, you'll start defining the steps you'll needs to complete the makeover. 

When I work with my clients, my 1^st step in defining your goals is to use adjective packed sentences to describe how you want to define the space.  As an example:

 "I want my lackluster living room to feel warm and inviting - a cozy place to curl-up on the couch to read a book, or engage in the latest news with my favorite neighbor.  Buttery tones, soft, tea-washed fabrics, with simple, yet sophisticated French flea market inspired accents will fill this space."  

Or, "I want to update and redefine my kitschy out-dated kitchen, complete with duck-with-bows wall border into a turn-key ready, for a family of four, with smart, shiny new appliances, envy-evoking, trend forward cabinets and irresistible, yet no-fuss quartz counter tops - so that the kitchen appeals to the target buyer of my home."

CREATE A PLAN.  Create a workable outline of all the projects you'll need to do to complete your makeover.  From wallpaper stripping, to accessory shopping, define, outline and calendar your plan.  The best and most effective way of succeeding in this plan - is to take a hard look of what you are and are not capable of.  Please, just because you once read in a magazine "3 Easy Steps on how you can reface your cabinets in a weekend with Contact® paper," doesn't make a sale-able worthy kitchen remodel. Consider your time restraints, knowledge and expertise in all project details, and understand that if you really want to get this done in a timely matter, you'll need to seek professional help in certain areas. 

ATTACH A REALISTIC BUDGET.   Once your goals have been described, a plan has been defined you can now attach budget estimates to each of the projects. By attaching a budget to each of the projects, you'll get a realistic view of your financial investment. By far, the most faulted area of any home makeover is not being realistic of the costs to complete it.  It is not an educated guess that your new complete furnishing dreams for your living room will cost $399.00 because that's what the price quoted on the HGTV show.  News alert, a side table for your living room is around $399.00 - Just the side table!  Be smart, weed through catalogs and jot down home décor pricing, scour over Sunday newspaper flyers and the Internet, and get estimates by referred professionals for deeded work.  

Once you've established your budget projection, completed your goals and plan - you can proceed to "Style & Details Defined" step of your home makeover. This style definition exercise will help you understand the psychology of the home makeover, understand your home and your lifestyle - which will help you choose color, materials and the overall look of the makeover.  

Since 1999, interior stylist Julea Joseph has owned Chicago area based interior design and home staging business - Reinventing Space.  Your can see her work on HGTVor in the news  giving homeowners expert insight on how to refresh, style and celebrate their space -Whether prepping their home to go on the market, just settling in, or just in need of a change. 

 Julea also offers her expertise with certification training and mentoring  offerings to Realtors,  Home Stagers and Interior Redesigners in the industry.  Visit her site, JULEA.com or Interior Stylist Program for more information or email her at Julea@Julea.com.