Michele Muir, IDDP, ISP, CDECA's Blog

Can you really go home again?

Michele Muir, IDDP, ISP, CDECA Silk Purse Decor, Halifax NS (Silk Purse Decor) — Wed, 11 Nov 2009 09:23:16 -0600

Halifax. My hometown. The place I lived my life for 35 years. You would think I know it like the back of my hand and have my finger on the pulse of all things decorating and staging related. HA!

Five years ago my family relocated to London, Ontario and I built my Decorating business there. I assumed moving home to Halifax and transferring my business would be a simple procedure. I expected to find the same kinds of networking groups for women, small business owners and a community of CDECA (Canadian Decorating Association) members to touch base with and draw experience from. There is definitely a different dynamic, here in Canada's Ocean Playground. Our location leaves us at a disadvantage for a lot of suppliers and distributors and professional development for our trade through associations is few and far between. Even in London I had to go to Toronto but that was not too much of a burden several times a year. It allowed me to connect with fellow decorators, designers and stagers in my area and the seminars offered to CDECA members by suppliers were invaluable and helped build reliable relationships to the benefit of all involved.

I can't figure out if it is just a small, closed community or if the industry here on the east coast has just not experienced the growth of other areas. I value the opportunity to get together and socialize with others in my trade and truly believe there is strength in numbers and enough work for everyone.

I welcome the input of those of you who have been here while I have been away. Any suggestions where to look for network opportunities?

Thanks to anyone and everyone in advance!

How Far is Too Far?

Michele Muir, IDDP, ISP, CDECA Silk Purse Decor, Halifax NS (Silk Purse Decor) — Fri, 29 Aug 2008 11:25:35 -0500

When presented with a home to stage for sale, there is always the question: How far do I take it? Currently I am working on a home that needs a lot of work to draw the potential price tag it deserves. The only hurdle is the homeowner and lack of funds. In such a situation I have to ask myself, how much does this house REALLY need to get the price it warrants and what do I let go of in my creative vision. I'm not sure if this dillema faces all stagers or just those of us who do both Interior Decorating and Staging. I try to focus on the main areas of the house: kitchen and bathrooms. In my current staging project, it is the main bathroom that needs a total overhaul. The location and size of the property really deserves a total makeover in the bathroom. There is water damage that can be concealed but should it be or should it be replaced? If replacing it takes from the budget of the new floor which do you choose? Do you replace that old tub and tile or just reglaze it and get a fresh new look? Chances are the new owners will eventually remodel it from scratch but what needs to be done in the meantime to sell at a price the owner is happy with as well as keep the buyer from thinking they need to gut it immediately? My choice was to repair as much as the budget allows, reglaze the tub and wall tile in glossy white, acrylic panel over the tile on the walls surrounding the tub. New tile floor (previously carpet...YUCK), new countertop, sink and faucet and light fixture. Preserve the original vanity and paint it, preserve that great big bland mirror and put a sophisticated frame on it. Replace the toilet and replace those ugly old glass sliding shower doors with a curved rod and great fabric curtain. Strip the wallpaper and put in a serene soft colour on the walls. We are midway through the project and the improvement is better already. I feel the right choices have been made and will impact the sale positively. All within a very tight budget! I plan to post pics when the project is completed.

I would like to hear from the rest of the staging community as to any tips and tricks they have picked up over the years in case I encounter a similar one. Thanks for sharing!

Bath Basic

Michele Muir, IDDP, ISP, CDECA Silk Purse Decor, Halifax NS (Silk Purse Decor) — Mon, 05 May 2008 13:46:17 -0500

In a recent staging project, I found myself faced with three boring, builder standard bathrooms to style. With no time to consider painting them to warm up the atmosphere, I decided to put all the colour into the accessories and keep it simple, clean and spa-like. I found the results to be right on the money! Take a peek...

The main bath was a blanket of Blah Builder Beige...

...but I used it to create a warm blanket of cream and taupe. (I called it U-Taupe-ia, my teenager said it was cheezy! lol)

The en-suite was a whitewash!

A little green goes a long way to warming up this master retreat.

The bathroom in the basement was left as is, just a few fresh towels and a clean palette for the potential buyers!

Another successful transformation! I LOVE this job! :)

OMG...It FINALLY happened!!!

Michele Muir, IDDP, ISP, CDECA Silk Purse Decor, Halifax NS (Silk Purse Decor) — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 12:52:03 -0500

I have always believed in the benefits of staging a house for sale but until this weekend, had not experienced the true power of the process. Allow me to share...

Client from Toronto had a property in London that was being rented. When she decided to sell the property a few years ago, she listed at a fair price, then dropped 5k, then dropped another 5k, and when there was still no takers, considered dropping another 15k. She took the house off the market and let the tenant stay longer.

A few weeks ago, I was contacted by her agent. She was ready to put the house on the market again and this time was open to the idea of staging. The agent, who is a friend of mine, paid for the consult. After seeing my proposal, the homeowner engaged me to carry out all the suggested work and whatever else I may feel would be beneficial to sell the house.

I started the project on April 12 and it was the beginning of a nightmare. The tenant was uncooperative about moving out for us to prepare the house. When he finally did move, he left behind a load of garbage and the homeowner was not around to remove anything from the property. The agent and I dug in and turned it around. After some minor renovation to the basement, some paint, cleaning and carpet steaming, I was finally able to move my furniture in to stage on April 19. Showings had been held off until today, the 21st but another agent really wanted to take her clients through on the 20th. The house was completed at 5pm April 19th and SOLD after the first viewing at 10am on the 20th for near the asking price of 5k more than her first listing price two years ago!!!

I am elated to see all my hard work pay off but, at the same time, a little sad that only one client got to see my work...LOL. Here are a few pics for you to check out. I will always believe we make a difference!

Befores.... Afters....

Everything happens for a reason...

Michele Muir, IDDP, ISP, CDECA Silk Purse Decor, Halifax NS (Silk Purse Decor) — Wed, 05 Mar 2008 16:46:52 -0600

I am constantly amazed at my children's power to bounce back from a disappointment so quickly. Just today my 18 year old daughter broke up with her boyfriend of 13 months (yes, a lifetime in teen years, dontcha know) and spent a total of 90 minutes bawling her eyes out. It was like she went through the 5 stages of grief in fast forward. What seemed like the end of the world at lunch time is a thing of the past by dinner time. This made me wonder. Why, as adults, do we tend to hold on to things for so much longer. Are our disappointments bigger? Do they have a greater impact? Or are we just so jaded by numerous episodes of having things go totally wrong that we are unable to deal with them?

I had such a day today. Started off with waking up to a continuing snowstorm and no school cancellation (darned City of London!!!). It proceeded with my youngest daughter (8) dashing from her bedroom to the bathroom. This raised the red flag for me as she is NEVER up early...always has to be dragged out of bed in the morning. Turns out she had stomach flu and would be home with me for the rest of the day. At this point, I know the weather is crappy and I am not going anywhere so I let my son stay home for the morning until the roads were plowed. I was supposed to spend the morning with my Stager/Designer friend Isabel Gomes. By lunch time, my youngest has visited the porcelain god numerous times, my son is bored because his sister won't play with him and then my older daughter came home in tears. Her boyfriend was being a jerk and didn't seem to care. By the time she decided she needed to break up with him, it was too late for me to take my son to school for the afternoon and she was too upset to go to her co op placement. Now my afternoon appointment with a realtor will need to be rescheduled. My day of wheeling and dealing turned into a Sunday with sick kids. Just as I was on the verge of exploding, I watched my daughter recover from her heartbreak in an amazing fashion and realized there was more to life than trying to control it. Like the saying goes: Man plans and God laughs. He got a good chuckle at my expense today, I am sure.

How do you deal with situations gone horribly wrong? Is the disappointment something you hold onto for a long time or do you just 'let it go'? Share your stories with me so I won't feel like such a total loser! LOL

The Power of Gentle Persuasion

Michele Muir, IDDP, ISP, CDECA Silk Purse Decor, Halifax NS (Silk Purse Decor) — Tue, 26 Feb 2008 13:49:09 -0600

The busy season is upon us as homeowners scramble to get their properties in tip top shape for sale.

This year, I see a trend. As I browse our local MLS listings, I am seeing a common phenomenon. I know you have all experienced it as well. Especially those of you who work in older neighbourhoods. It is the 'Time Warp'. I have never seen so many houses decorated in the 70s and 80s and then forgotten.

There appears to be a surge of empty nesters leaving their family oriented streets. One thing they all have in common is their decor. I am seeing an awful lot of ornate furnishings and dusty rose carpets, curios jammed with nic nacs and wallpaper that I will respectfully refer to as 'vintage'. Another thing these homeowners share is their resistance to bringing in a home stager. And why should they? Their home is just lovely the way it is. Herein lies the tricky part. It is a delicate balance to maintain when gently persuading one such homeowner to make a few necessary updates to get the most out of their home sale. Being as sympathetic as possible is key. I find I constantly remind myself that this was their home for many years and they wear their pride of ownership like a badge of honour.

Oddly enough, these are the types of projects I love to get my hands on. I love dealing with the people as much as the properties and to encourage someone to move on to the next phase in a positive way makes my job worthwhile. Does anyone out there have any specific tips for dealing with the more mature set and their lifetime of belongings? I would love to hear them. I am always looking for new ways to improve this particular relationship.

Decorator or Therapist? We wear many hats...

Michele Muir, IDDP, ISP, CDECA Silk Purse Decor, Halifax NS (Silk Purse Decor) — Tue, 18 Dec 2007 14:26:46 -0600

As decorators and stagers, we do more than make rooms look good. We make people feel good.

This occured to me as I was visiting a client last night who was in the process of redoing her kitchen. She had already been to a cabinet maker and decided on the layout and cabinetry but was having a hard time deciding on paint, counters, floor and back splash.

Enter the decorator.

After sitting with her for over an hour and just listening to how she wanted her kitchen to feel, I had a very good idea of what would appeal to her. She certainly knew what didn't appeal to her, as she related from her countless trips to home improvement stores. The variety was just too much and the choices were too important to her to make a wrong one. By the end of the meeting she told me she wasn't enjoying the process as much as she thought she would. I reassured her that bringing a professional into the mix would make it more enjoyable. The relief on her face and in her voice was priceless. Knowing that all she would have to do from the comfort of her own home was choose from the select few combinations I would bring her, made her feel like a weight had been lifted.

That was worth the drive over poorly plowed roads and trying to find house numbers with no outside lights on. I left knowing that my client was looking forward to the next phase of her kitchen makeover instead of dreading it and so was I. Isn't that the way it should be?

Giving credit where credit is due...

Michele Muir, IDDP, ISP, CDECA Silk Purse Decor, Halifax NS (Silk Purse Decor) — Mon, 10 Dec 2007 19:01:50 -0600

With all the recent hype surrounding the Staging industry and 'certification' therein, I must give a BIG KUDOS to QC Design School for their description of the Home Staging course they offer. It is clearly stated that Home Staging is not a regulated industry and there is no actual certification and that many working home stagers do not have formal training. It does indicate that the students complete a rigorous training unit and must demonstrate a high level of skill to earn the right to use the letters ISP(International Staging Professional) or ISRP (International Staging and Redesign Professional). It also states that home owners and realtors are comforted by the knowledge that the professional they have selected has some formal training in the area. I believe this to be a step in the right direction for this industry and am proud to be a graduate of the Staging for Designers course from QC.

Anyone interested in taking a peek at the course outline, check out:

www.qcdesignschool.com/qcdesign/homestaging.asp

Brick wall - meet my head!

Michele Muir, IDDP, ISP, CDECA Silk Purse Decor, Halifax NS (Silk Purse Decor) — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 13:44:08 -0600

Has anyone else had one of those days when you feel like you are beating your head against a wall?

It still amazes me that so many homeowners are hesitant to stage their properties. Has it not been proven over and over again that investing as little as 1% of your listing price will net you the closest price to asking, if not more? Why is the concept of spending money to make money so hard to relate? I know there are areas in this great land that have totally gotten it, and they thrive. The market is turning and now, more than ever, a home has to show it's very best. Education is key to a successful home selling transaction. Every property benefits from staging, even the most luxurious. It takes a fresh pair of eyes that are not involved in the bottom line to truly make a house a show home and create a 'buzz' around the listing. Got a stale listing that you keep dropping the price of? Take it off for a few weeks, get it staged, and put it back on at the original asking price and watch the flurry of activity!

I know change is usually resisted. I know I can wait it out and continue to educate anyone who will listen. Until then, I will buy a helmet and smile.

Staging Rental properties

Michele Muir, IDDP, ISP, CDECA Silk Purse Decor, Halifax NS (Silk Purse Decor) — Thu, 01 Nov 2007 16:20:06 -0500

Hello everyone! I was wondering if any of you know of any positive articles on staging rental properties. I am looking for things like, pricing structure, pros and cons and, if possible, statistics. Any help in this would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance!

You CAN make a Silk Purse from a Sow's Ear!

Michele Muir, IDDP, ISP, CDECA Silk Purse Decor, Halifax NS (Silk Purse Decor) — Thu, 25 Oct 2007 16:40:02 -0500

Ok, I admit it, I am a serial furniture recycler. I collect people's old furniture like other women collect shoes and purses. I can't explain the need to search every thrift store, garage sale, auction and, yes, even the ocassional curbside for some diamond in the rough. I feel very strongly about the quality and history of older pieces. If they can stand the test of time to make it into one of these venues, they deserve the attention it takes to transform them back into a stunning piece for the home. Often when I require a piece for a staging or decorating project, I will scour the second hand shops first to see what might be a potential candidate and will put the time into refinishing or reupholstering for a truly customized piece. Now, don't get me wrong, I don't pick out any old thing. Even I have my standards. But when I find that perfect piece, take it home, clean it up, sand it, paint it and reupholster it, the feeling I get is like no other. These pieces have history and are made with such craftsmanship that they should not be overlooked for new projects. Not only can it save your client money, it can save the landfills from overflowing. So while I try to find a way to curb my enthusiasm before there is no more room in my garage, I encourage everyone to think about 'green' solutions in your projects and give an old chair or table a second chance to be a beautiful piece of furniture.

(I will post pics of my favourite projects very soon, some are still in the works!)