David's Blog

THE STAGERS: In case you missed any episodes...

Fri, 26 Sep 2008 11:45:32 -0500

The 13th and final first-season episode of The Stagers will air Tuesday, September 30 on HGTV in the U.S. The following Tuesday, October 7, the show goes into reruns, so if you missed any episodes the first time around, be sure to tune in! HGTV also has full episodes available for viewing on their website:

http://www.hgtv.com/hgtv/pac_ctnt_988/text/0,,HGTV_22056_70389,00.html

The first 8 episodes are online now; I'm assuming they'll be adding the other 5 in due course.

Transparent Chair

Mon, 28 Jul 2008 17:21:47 -0500

Did anyone else notice that the transparent chair that Matthew was so keen on using in the latest U.S. episode (next week's episode in Canada) was the very same chair that David Bromstad selected for the dining room makeover in the latest installment of "Color Splash"? (For some reason HGTV hasn't been posting photos from the newer "Color Splash" episodes, otherwise I'd link to it.)

It's the Louis Ghost Chair, designed by Philippe Starck for the Italian furniture-maker Kartell. Retail price: $410.

THE STAGERS on HGTV - Get the inside scoop!

Sun, 27 Jul 2008 13:21:33 -0500

Matthew Finlason of the new HGTV series "The Stagers" has started a group here on ActiveRain where we can talk about the show and get his inside scoop, plus exclusive behind-the-scenes photos. He's just posted a blog with photos of the notorious cowhide ottoman from the $4 million house, so let him know what you think! (The group is located here: http://activerain.com/groups/thestagers.)

And viewers in the U.S. - don't forget to watch the next episode, tonight following "Design Star." Here's HGTV's blurb: "High-drama stager Matthew has to transform a dated duplex into a sleek, contemporary space worthy of the hefty price tag. Will he be able to find his way around the homeowners and their clutter to work his magic?"

"The Stagers" HGTV Canada vs. HGTV USA

Sat, 26 Jul 2008 21:57:26 -0500

It's going to take a scorecard to keep track of which episode of "The Stagers" is airing on which date in Canada and on which date in the U.S. According to the HGTV USA website, their broadcast order for the first five episodes is: 102-101-103-104-105. According to HGTV Canada's website, their broadcast order for the first five episodes is: 1001-1002-1005-1004-1003. Based on the episode descriptions, the ID numbers represent the same episodes, with one less "0" in the USA numbering.

So BOTH networks are apparently showing the series out of sequence. That means that when Charlene and her compatriots write about Episode 1, they mean Episode 2 in the U.S.; Episode 2 in Canada is Episode 1 in the U.S.; Episode 3 in Canada is Episode 5 in the U.S.; Episode 4 in Canada is also Episode 4 (wow!) in the U.S.; and Episode 5 in Canada is Episode 3 in the U.S. Confusing enough?

It's starting to sound like that old Abbott and Costello routine, "Who's on first?"

Media coverage of "The Stagers"

Wed, 23 Jul 2008 14:45:15 -0500

Below are links to a couple of interesting articles about "The Stagers," both featuring comments from Matthew Finlason:

http://www.brantfordexpositor.ca/ArticleDisplay.aspx?e=1094308

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/story/RTGAM.20080627.revanHomestagers0627/BNStory/RealEstate/home?cid=al_gam_mostemail

Negative press on AOL

Sat, 07 Jul 2007 07:49:16 -0500

AOL's "Money & Finance" section today features an article by Stacey L. Bradford, Associate Editor at SmartMoney.com, entitled "Top Five Mistakes Home Sellers Make". Number 4 on the list is "Using a Home Stager". Here's what Bradford says:

"Unless you're trying to sell a multimillion-dollar dwelling, you don't need to pay a professional to stage your home. There are a number of free or cheap things you can do on your own to get your house into show condition. Most importantly, paint the walls. Nothing does more to brighten up a place, says Peter Comitini, a real estate broker with Corcoran Group. Next, he recommends getting rid of all the clutter, excess furniture and family knickknacks. Finally, make all the necessary repairs before your first open house. If a buyer sees a small problem, say, a leaky faucet, he's likely to wonder about larger issues like the furnace or roof. Watch our video for more techniques on how to stage your home."