Christine's Blog

Paint Pal....

2008-06-13T11:25:41Z

Have you met my friend?!

The Pocket Palette?!? Can I just tell you how wonderful this little device is and how well it works. Granted it works with Benjamin Moore paint only but seeing I really only use their paint it's perfect for me. Have you ever gone somewhere or seen a color that you thought would be PERFECT in a room or as an accent wall? Then this is what you need. It literally will find a Benjamin Moore paint for you that matches almost perfectly to the color in question. If you ask me it is worth it's weight in gold. ;)

http://www.benjaminmoore.com/bmpsweb/portals/bmps.portal?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=fh_footer_hiddenPage&currentNodeUUID=%2FBEA+Repository%2F56047&NodeUUID=%2FBEA+Repository%2F100002

Benjamin Moore® Pocket Palette™

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Description:

The Pocket Palette™ device is a handy tool for matching Benjamin Moore® paint colors to existing colors. The Pocket Palette™ device matches colors from your samples to the closest color in the Benjamin Moore® color system that is stored in the device's memory. Within seconds, you will know the Benjamin Moore® color name and number. Dimensions and weight not including an outer shipping box: 9" x 9" x 2.25". Unit is for U.S. market only.

	Item ID		In-Stock		Qty
	87633		82

Pricing Info

Qty	1+
Price	$299.00

To charge or not to charge...

2008-06-10T10:54:49Z

TO CHARGE OR NOT TO CHARGE...

This is the question or more of a statement really. Over the years I have found it necessary to charge a consultation fee. I have had quite a few people call me up asking for my help only to have them spend an hour trying to get free advice out of me. Not worth my time and when it comes down to it, it's not good for them either. If they did happen to get a bit of information out of me in the past what go would it do them? It would only be a snippet of the information they really needed to make the necessary transformations to the home or even office.

However in my opinion if I charge a fee, it seems to weed out those people just trying to get free advice as well as show people that I mean business and that they should take the job as seriously as I do. It's frustrating but so many people still think of interior designers, decortors, stagers as an unnecessary expense because all they think we do is fluff some pillows and make things look pretty. We all knwo we do sooooo much more than that.

So in a nut shell that is why I charge a consultation fee.

How do you guys feel about them? Do you charge? Do you not charge? Why?

New way of advertizing...

2008-06-09T15:15:26Z

New way of advertizing for your business...

Donate your services!

I'm sure some if not most of you have heard of it, but how many of you have actually done it and what was it like for you?

I was recently at a local charity benefit and I donated my interior design services. A cute basket with some small home accessories (candle, frame & blanket) were arranged with a gift certifcate for a 2 hour consultation was donated. Business has been slow and it's a great way of getting your name out in your community as well as helping out a good cause.

I highly recommend it! So tell me what you think and if you too have done this.

New way of advertizing...

2008-06-09T14:53:24Z

New way of advertizing for your business...

Donate your services!

I'm sure some if not most of you have heard of it, but how many of you have actually done it and what was it like for you?

I highly recommend it! So tell me what you think and if you too have done this.

Wow

2007-07-23T17:55:11Z

So last week I went and checked out our competition for the model homes we are doing and all I can say is WOW. I certainly was not prepared for what I saw. They were so over the top gorgeous and to be fair they totally got a higher budget than us but I still couldn't help feeling like crap knowing that when ours is done it won't even compare. They had to be getting at the very least $20 a square foot. I would post pictures but I think that violates copyright laws but who ever did "The Bluffs" model homes in Santa Barbara, they were amazing!

Starting a business

2007-07-04T21:20:46Z

I have some questions for you all who already have your business up and running. To start with I have picked my business name and have made my website but that is as far as I have gotten.

I know I am not to happy yet with my fees I have some on the site right now and they are fine for now but my fees for staging I will need to explain further to a client once they ask.

As far as running the business, paying taxes and getting licenses what did you all do? This is what I am thinking of going for now...am I on the right track? Anything I am forgetting?

Get a federal tax id
Get a ficticious business name
Change my reslae certificate to my current business name
Make my letter head
Make address labels
Make business cards
Get a business license

Home Staging: Things You Should "NEVER" Do...

2007-07-03T11:35:12Z

In another blog Karen Otto mentioned that you should never have knives out...good point of course and it got me thinking.

What are some things that you think a home stager should never do?

I am hoping to make this a huge list and that it can help a lot of people such as our friends that are new to the staging business, home owners, realtors and even the veteran stagers if they just hadn't thought of it. You never know! Please add yours to the list even if it's completely obvious.

By the way if you disagree with anything on the list please say so and provide a reason, it's always good to have another perspective.

Things You Should "NEVER" Do When Home Staging:

Insult the homeowners taste/style
Leave knives out - Karen Otto
Leave items on the fridge
Hang objects too high
Hang objects too low
Use any furniture that is unstable
Give a free consultation - Deborah Pearce
Have out personal photos - Cheryl-Anne Priest
Have weapons not locked up or out - Debra Brodhecker
Have hunting trophies out - Debra Brodhecker
Leave out religious items - Don Fabrizio-Garcia
Proper insurance - susan smith
Solid Contract - susan smith
Leave out prescription drugs - Michelle Minch
Leave out jewelry - Michelle Minch
Leave evidence of pets around or pets themselves - Maureen Bray
Leave the wick in candles - Yvonne Root
Cover up odors using sprays or wall plug-ins - Yvonne Root
Leave cutter on counters - Maureen Graziano
Leave dishtowels hanging off the oven - Maureen Graziano
Stage and then not follow up with the client - Carrie A. Maniaci
Leave out toilet & toothbrushes - Kimberley Hawley

Artwork Question - Very Important

2007-07-02T12:12:35Z

Ok I am in such a huge bind right now. The owner/developer of the model homes that I am working simply has not given me much time to select artwork and get it ordered and today as I was trying to order and get rushes on everything I found it's not possible for all companies. One is closed this whole week and I of course need it to be here at the end of the month and well it can't.

I have also looked at places locally...Z-Gallerie, Pier 1, Cost Plus, and etc. but I need more artwork. I have two model homes to do artwork for and 1 is a 2 story. Any suggestions of other places I can look? I am ordering from Ballard but like I said I need more. Who else do you guys use or where do you get your artwork from. I know there is always Ross but it's a hit or miss. Help, help, help! Please, thank you!

Staging In The Nude

2007-06-29T12:00:24Z

Ok so you knew it would happen at some point right?! Yes I made yet another group. This is for those of us that don't have a "certification" or maybe not even formal training in staging (such as myself). Come and join and I hope you like it. To those of you who already have a million and one groups that are a part of , I still hope you will join and please don't kill me. ;)

http://activerain.com/groups/SIN

By the way check out the URL name?! Nice and fitting huh?! Ha ha! What we do is so good it's SINful. ;)

Picking Accessories & Artwork

2007-06-29T10:35:41Z

To involve or not involve?

For all you stagers out there, I have a question. When you meet with someone and they agree to have their home staged by you, do you go over with them you visions for the home? I don't mean what you will put where but why sort of style you might be thinking of?

I know if it's a certain style home your staging will go along with that but for example:

For the model home project I am working on I have to pick things and keep having meetings with the developer to see if she likes it or not. Normally we do a color board of the style and theme we are thinking for each model but she wants to be very involved in the project, which is great but it does slow us down. I know model homes are different from staging but I was wondering if anyone goes through that?

Do you try to involve the home owner or realtor and let them know where you are going with things or do you just get the idea in your head go for it and then if they don't like it maybe return or exchange a few pieces. Or at that point is it just tough luck?

I know the whole point of staging is to make the home marketable for all and in the grand scheme of things the home owners taste or preference may or may not work but they are also the one paying the for the job to be done. So where do you all draw the line? Do you get them involved in your selections or not? What do you do if they really don't like your selections?!

Calling all Interior Designers!!!

2007-06-28T00:01:18Z

INTERIOR DESIGNERS!!!! LOTS OF QUESTIONS

Just wondering how many of us there are?! Do you all have an affiliation or are certified? I personally haven't sat the exam yet (got screwed but that's a whole other blog) but I am an associate with ASID. I was wondering if there are others out there like me. I heard that a lot of designers don't feel the need to be certified since clients don't ask. What do you think about this? How long have you been a designer? How much did you charge when you started? How much now?

Themes and Styles

2007-06-27T11:03:44Z

So I got into a debate today over this subject. What style or theme do you think is most popular right now? Which do you personally like?

Personally I am a huge fan of contemporary mixed with an asian/import influence. Right now with the two models I am working on, one is a an asian/contemporary (black, reds, tans and white) and the other is a santa barbara/beachy style (soft blues, creams, taupe and greens). I think that reflects a bit of what is big right now, what do you guys think?

P.S. I made this a blog post instead so please ignore the other one.

New Name & New Website

2007-06-26T23:40:55Z

I am so excited! I have my new business name and website. I put it together kind of quickly so please let me know if anything looks odd or if any of you have any suggestions. I know so many of you have such beautiful websites and I would love you input so help, help, help! :)

http://christinecraighomeinteriors.com/

50% deposit

2007-06-25T10:37:25Z

ASKING FOR 1/2 NOW AND 1/2 LATER

I know for my interior design jobs, when I give an estimate I ask for a 50% deposit to cover all that I am going to buy and for my services. Once the job is complete I bill for final hours and the remainder due for the purchases. Does anyone ever do this for home staging?

Craig mentioned in his blog that he has Realtors asking if they can pay after a home is sold, which by the way I think is rediculous but I was wondering if anyone takes a deposit for half in the beginning and then the rest when done.

Do you all collect the money before you begin or after? How do you all do it?

Help me pick my name!

2007-06-24T20:46:27Z

Ok some of you might already know but I have been on the hunt lately for a new business name. Since I am now offering more than just interior design services I wanted my name to reflect that. Christine Marie Designs just isn't cutting it anymore. So here is what I thought of and please tell me which you like best. Thanks so much!

C.C. Home Decor
C.C. Home Decors
C.C. Home Interiors
C.C. Interior Decor
C.C. Interior Decors
C.C. Interiors

As you can tell I can't figure if Decor or Decors sounds better at the end. Any insight is much appreciated!

Here is what it looks like in the font that I want to use...

C.C. Home Décor

C.C. Home Decors

C.C. Home Interiors

C.C. Interior Décor

C.C. Interior Decors

C.C. Interiors

Discount Listings

2007-06-21T14:21:42Z

Ok I know there are more places out there that give discounts that I don't know about yet. Where do you go and what kind of discount do you get. Here is a list of what places I know of so far...

Cost-Plus World Market - 10%
Michaels - Tax free (not really you have to pay it later)
Restoration Hardware - 10%
Pottery Barn - 10% (you have to spend $1,000 though...same w/ Restoration I think)
Linen's & Things - 10%
Pier 1 - 20%
Ballard Designs - 20% (to start with)
Home Decorator - 10% (to start with)

Is this a bad idea?

2007-06-21T14:07:08Z

Once I am done with the model homes I am working on, I was thinking I would then start my staging venture. I don't know if any of you have done this but my idea of spreading the word on what I do is to make up a postcard and physically drop it in the mailbox of every house that I see that has a for sale sign. I will first of course look at the pictures in the Realtor box to see if it has already been staged.

I know around my own home there are a few houses on the market that have been on the market for a quite a while. The other day I stopped by one and grabbed the realtor's flier and saw that the pictures, while it's a beautiful home I doubt many could get past how out dated everything seems to be. No offense but it looks like an 80 year old grandma lives there.

So what do you guys think of this. Bad idea...good idea?! I don't want to step on any Realtor's toes but at the same time if my staging helps them keep their sell and commission then we all win, right?!

Model Home Project Part II

2007-06-19T09:30:01Z

Oh my goodness! That is just about all I can mutter out right now because I am so stunned. This model home project I have mentioned (2 vignettes) is now all mine. The company I work for has given it all to me to do. My boss said I get all the work and therefore all the credit. So this is now official my first "stage" by myself.

I am so excited and nerve racked at the sametime and it's not even down to crunch time yet. I am going to be having a lot of meetings with the developer/owner because she is very hands on. So I basically have to shop like mad, pick out paint, do layouts, take pics and do a budget and have her give me the thumbs up or the thumbs down on it all.

How do you all do it?!

Model Home Project

2007-06-18T15:27:41Z

So with this new model home comes loads of work...work that I am stoked about because I love it so I have been mentally preparing to do two models, one furnished and one a vignette. After the last meeting with the developer it has been decided that both models will be vignetted and one will be light vignette menaing NO furniture. It's just such a bummer trying to figure out different ways of staging two homes without furniture.

Granted the 2 story will be having some light furniture but I am slowly running out of juice. I think I just need to flip through my mags and feel inspired again...I mean how many rooms can just have some chairs and a table. I will get through it and will probably be happy at the end but right now I am a tad frustrated and just wanted to vent. Thanks guys!

Whose paint do you like best?

2007-06-17T14:56:25Z

All this talk about paint got me thinking of how many different paint companies there are how really different some of their paint is. Whether it's the colors they offer, how quickly it dries, how evenly it goes on...etc. Are their any paint companies you prefer? Any that you really didn't like? The ones I have had good & bad experiences with I will list below please share yours too.

Paint that I love...

Benjamin Moore - Great colors, easy to paint with and I love the rep. ;)
Dunn Edwards - Also really great colors and looks beautiful on
Behr - Probably the easiest & smoothest going on but can be on the thin side, but does dry fast
Frazee - Not as great of a paint selection as B.M. or D.E. but goes on well

Paint I don't like...

Martha Stewart Paint - Beautiful colors but for me that is where the positives stop.
Ralph Lauren (only because of it's price, otherwise it's a decent paint)

Any companies or paints I haven't listened are ones I either haven't heard of or haven't used yet.

Fruit, fruit, fruit!

2007-06-15T14:43:55Z

Ok right now I feel like I can place first in the national spelling bee just as long as I only get fruit words. I swear spelling fruit names like pomegranate, blackberry, papaya and etc. have become second nature to me. I think I even had a "Sesame Street" type dream the other night where it was "RAINing" oranges and apples and the Count was counting them and I was spelling them. AHHHH!

Hmmm this leads me to another point, maybe I just spending entirely too much time on here. I am sure I am not the only one "HOOKED ON RAIN"...funny that it's acronym is HOR....yah say that aloud.

So here are somethings I learned from Rain...

Pomegranate is not spelled pomagranite like I originally thought....don't ask
A tomato is considered a fruit by Rain standards
Mango has never once come up...isn't that a fruit?!
Blackberry comes up the most often for me when posting
THIS PLACE IS ADDICTING

With this I leave you with something even more random...fruit quotes!

FRUIT QUOTES:

"Judge a tree from its fruit; not from the leaves." Euripides

"Life is the fruit of your own creation." John Denver

"Money is the fruit of evil, as often as the root of it." Henry Fielding

"Sorrow is a fruit. God does not make it grow on limbs too weak to bear it." Victor Hugo

"choice and command of language is the fruit of exercise...." Edward Gibbon

"Time flies like an arrow. Fruit flies like a banana." Groucho Marx

"Truth is a fruit which should not be plucked until it is ripe." Voltaire

"While forbidden fruit is said to taste sweeter, it usually spoils faster." Abigail Van Buren

"cruelty is bitter bane; but is not the fruit of pain...." Elizabeth Barrett Browning

"Your vision, faith, excellence of execution and commitment and hard work have borne a lot of fruit here." Anne Perry

How To's & Tips on Room Layouts...

2007-06-14T01:24:31Z

To start get a sheet of paper (preferrably graph paper) and draw a quick sketch of the room you will be doing a floor plan for. Using an architectural scale you will later be doing a to scale drawing but to start a quick sketch helps.

MEAURING A ROOM:

Measure all walls in inches not feet (leaves less room for errors) you can later change it over to feet when scaling it out.
Be sure to write down each wall dimension. If measuring from wall to wall make sure you take note of any baseboards and their measurement because it could interfer later with your dimensions.
In the case of the room having additional corners be sure to get an over all dimension...width & length.
For those important walls also do an elevation taking note of how high up and far apart any electrical outlets and fixed features may be.
For windows measure from the wall to the outside of the window casement and take note of how thick the casement itself is and also how high up from the ground the window is. This will help immensely when doing layouts later.
Take careful measurements when it comes to doorways because you may find out later that you bought too big of furniture and it won't even fit through the door. You can always take a door off to gain an inch or two but this should be a last resort solution.
Areas on the sides ofa fireplace are not necessarily the same measure both sides. Also do not assume all doors are the same width.
When in doubt, double check your measurements and MEASURE everything.

LAYOUTS/FLOOR PLAYS:

TV: Before you just stick it somewhere make sure it's in a comfortable viewing position andis free from glare.
Traffic Paths: Always allow a clear path to and from all main activities, especially from the doorway(s).
Electrical Equipement: If possible place things around the room according to these outlets, the less trailing wires you have the better.
Multifunctioning Pieces: Such as Murphy beds and pull out sofas should have efficient clearance space when folded out.
Windows: By noting the height of the windows from the floor you can prevent getting a piece of furniture that is too tall to go under it.
Major items: The largest item in a room should be positioned and placed first because there are less positions for it to go in. Plan smaller items around these pieces.
Drawers & Doors: Do not put anything with drawers or doors behind a main door. When opened it could interfer with the traffic path and could potentially be a safety hazard, particularly in bathrooms, kitchens and rooms with only one way in and out. Also make sure any items with doors or drawers can open enough to use it properly.

Lastly remember to bring your measuring tape and a floor plan or at the very least measurements of your room when shopping for furniture, the fewer returns you have to make the better.

Optical Illusions Using Paint

2007-06-14T00:46:59Z

Using light and dark colors differently in a room can give an entirely perseption of the space. Typically light colors and warmer tones will make a room look bigger while darker and cooler colors make a room look smaller. Read below other optical illusions you can create using different colors and tones.

1 Color: Using the same color throughout a room keeps the room looking as it actually is. Light makes it seem bigger though and typically dark makes it seem smaller.
Accent Walls:

Lighter: Makes the wall appear as if it is recedes further back and helps to elongate a room.

Darker: Makes the wall appear to come forward. Good for really long hallways.

Ceiling:

Darker: Makes the ceiling appear shorter. Good for rooms that have really high walls.
Even Darker: Take the dark paint down further on the walls and then divide with a picture rail/moulding. With a light color below this makes the room appear broader.

Lighter: Makes the ceiling appear heigher. Helps when trying to make a room look taller, good for large rooms.
Even Lighter: Putting a light color on the ceiling and bringing it down to the picture rail lowers the line of vision to the picture rail.

Floors:

Dark: Floors that are darker than the walls can make a room look smaller. Be careful with small rooms, it can make it look cramped.

Light: Floors that are lighter than the walls will make a room look larger.

I know you but I don't....

2007-06-13T15:21:59Z

Ok so I have been here a little over a week and so far I have made a ton of friends BUT there are still so many I don't know and I thought this might be a fun post to make to introduce myself and also to try to geth others to come forward and chat! Don't be afraid...I will go first. Just copy and paste what I have and then fill in your own answers and post. ;)

Name: Christine Craig

Loaction: Santa Barbara, CA

Age: 26 (my birthday is June 8th...yeah!)

Specialty: Home staging, ReDesign and Model Homes

Education: AA degree in Interior Design

Experience: 5 years (specifically in the field of interior design)

Associations (if any): ASID (American Society of Interior Designers)

Married: Yes (2 years now although we have been together over 9)

Kids: Nope but I do have two very cute kitties

Hobbies: Decorating, re-arranging furniture, reading, going to the movies and being with my loved ones.

Favorite Color: Blue...specifically aqua

Favorite quote: A well done interior melts into the gardens of the outside world.

What do you love most about staging, decorating...etc: I love making things new, fresh and comfortable and most importantly the look on a clients face when they see their home completed...it's like Christmas!

10 uses for scrabble tiles

2007-06-11T01:13:29Z

Thought this would be a fun and random post to read. ;) Enjoy!

Here are many of other way to use Scrabble Tiles other than playing Scrabble of course...

Frames: Hot glue them around plain frames and spell out someone's name or just do it at random and give it to someone as a gift.
Magnets: Glue magnets on the back of them for a cheaper and prettier (in my opinion) way of displaying letters on your refrigerator for your kids to play with.
Drawer Labels: Use them as labels on drawers, gluing them in sequence to spell something.
Decorative Table Top: Cover the top of a table with them, if inlaid you can fill in the empty spaces with resin. This looks extra cool in a game room
Bracelet: With a small bit drill a hole all the way through and string elastic and other beads if you want making a bracelet.
Bookshelf: Cover the front of it with letters again either spelling things or at random
Unfinished Edges: Is generally big enough to cover unfinished plywood edges
Photo Albums: Use them to label the front of a photo album
Decorative Candles: Glue around the outside of a candle for an interesting look
Entertaining Fun: Leave a set of tiles on a tray during a party. By the end of the night guaranteed someone will have made something fun out of them. ;)