Sandra Hughes - Redesigned Spaces Blog

Re-purposing an Outside Cafe Umbrella

Tue, 02 Sep 2008 06:31:56 -0500

I recently decided to update my outside café table and chairs. I had saved the material from a umbrella that broke last year in the hopes I could recycle it into pillows or something.

I sprayed the metal frames of the café table and chairs with a brown metallic hammered paint. Stapled the recycled fabric to the chairs for an updated new look. I also bought a couple of pillow forms and plastic thread and whipped up two pillows to add more color to the deck (heaven forbid I would actually buy plants or flowers).

I actually am planning to make a few more pillows with the remaining fabric for my lower deck or to use for future staging projects where outside pillows could be utilized.

Working With an Assistant - Two Heads Are Better Then One

Mon, 11 Feb 2008 06:20:50 -0600

A local Color and Interior Design Consultant Marja Chapman of Magic Interiors and I have struck up a partnership that is working well for the both of us. While we each have our own separate companies when we have the need for an assistant we hire one another. We often comment that it is much easier with two people who are creative and know what they are doing as there really isn't a design dilemma we can't solve. Not to mention the woman power needed to move large pieces of furniture. In fact we have amazed ourselves more then once with the items the two of us have been able to move together.

I know when I have a staging job I can send Marja to a room and she can stage it herself without my input and she knows she can ask the same of me. Of course, the person who got the call for the job makes the most money and has the final say but it is certainly nice to share the work and the creative process with a peer not to mention bouncing business ideas off of one another on how to move our respective business forward.

Above is an example of a redesign for living that I recently assisted Marja on. This particular home owner collects antiques and quilts and it was important to her that we use as much as her furnishings as possible. No new items were bought for the redesign, only the homeowners items were used. In fact our biggest challenges were to remove several of the homeowner's beautiful antique pieces to create a more livable space and creatively display the many quilts she collects and cherishes.

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Redesigned Spaces is located in Fairfax County, Virginia and serves the Washington DC Metro Area. Please contact Sandra Hughes at 703.750.0060 or visit our web site at http://www.redesignedspaces.com/ to learn how we can assist you in merchandising your home for a faster and more profitable resale or how we can help you redesign your current space for living.

Great Blow Up Bed To Have In Your Inventory

Sun, 10 Feb 2008 16:28:21 -0600

Until I move into a warehouse space and have lots of strong men to help me, I am using the blow up bed method to furnish my vacant bedrooms. Not only are they easy to store, set up and transport, it is also cost effective not only for me but for the renter and as long as no one jumps or tries to sleep on it for all intents and purposes it looks like a real bed.

I try to check on my furnishings in vacant properties at least once a month and I have to say I have not needed to add air to this bed once. Unfortunately, due to the price point, location and other town homes for sale in this particular area this lovely home has yet to sell so the mattress has been in use for months. Denise Malden fellow Active Rainer and local staging friend and owner of Interior Concept Designs recommended this brand to me and she was spot on in her recommendation.

I have the air mattress sitting on top of 12 boxes with the bed skirt tacked to them. I was not able to use the bottom sheet as the mattress was to large so this doesn't work for the "spa look" beds where you want the comforter turned down. I had also purchased some wood art to use as the headboard however, due to the type of walls I could not get a nail through the wall but fortunately could switch out the original headboard idea for a picture.

Purchase this Coleman Raised Quickbed (airbed with electric pump) from WalMart for about $50.00 and didn't take longer then 20 minutes to fill.

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Staging Occupied Homes Gives Home Sellers The Extra Edge

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 14:55:58 -0600

Living Room Before

Living Room After

Occupied homes are often overlooked as needing to be staged. It is just as important to stage these homes if not more so. Lived in homes need to look not so lived in when on the market and can be improved dramatically by simply adding or deleting furnishings, changing furniture layout and adding the right accessories and finishing touches.

Using an overall design plan and often utilizing no cost or low cost items a fresh new space is created giving a lived in home a more model home appearance. The goal in staging an occupied home is to show the home so that potential buyers can see themselves living there instead of imaging who currently lives there.

If potential buyers see an over crowded space they will wonder how they are going to fit their belongings into the same space. Many older homes have awkward rooms while newer homes tend to have awkward angles. This awkwardness creates confusion for home buyers who are often perplexed as to what the room is used for or how they might arrange their furniture. By eliminating the awkwardness, there is no doubt left in the buyer's mind how their items will work in a space.

When selling currently lived in homes it is a necessity to create a model home experience and show the space off in the best possible light in order to compete with the many other homes on the market.

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Home Sellers Here Are A Few Reasons Why Should You Merchandise Your Property

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 14:29:47 -0600

♦ Stand out from the crowd, give yourself a competitive edge, ensure your home shows well and increase your offer potential.

♦ Enhance your home's appeal to a larger buying audience by showcasing its marketability and minimizing flaws.

♦ Create better pictures for on-line and print advertising. (With today's buyers being nternet savvy, it is crucial that on-line photo's showcase the home to grab the buyers attention.)

♦ Avoid costly price adjustments (home staging will be less then your first price adjustment) or having your property languish for months.

♦ Turn your home into a product that sells. We offer several pricing options to fit all budgets.

♦ Increased traffic - if the listing photo's show a beautiful space people will want to see the home

♦ Staged homes attract buyers and agents. Agents know that buyers choose homes based on emotions and staged homes show well.

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Staging A Bland Outdated Kitchen

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 14:15:13 -0600

Not all homeowners are willing or can afford the additional expense of updating their kitchen prior to selling. However, kitchens are a major selling feature to home buyers. If you're trying to sell an outdated or bland kitchen, make sure you play down the negative features by highlighting the positive features of your space.

Here is an example of a recent job Redesigned Spaces did for a $775,000.00 home (pictured below) and how we highlighted the positive features.

Kitchen Before

Kitchen After

The positive features of this kitchen included a sunny and bright location, a great view along with additional room for a small eat-in table and chairs. The sellers did not own a small table so we used the fern and plant stand to draw the buyer's attention to the bright and beautiful view while also drawing attention to the empty space, where a table could go. Since the walls, countertops and cabinets were all white and older looking, we used brightly colored artwork and accessories to add visual interest and contrast. By staging this space, we helped buyers focus on the positives instead of the negatives of the space.

Investment: $175.00 Retail or $35.00 per month rental (price includes other items not shown in photograph).

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Redesigned Spaces is located in Fairfax County, Virginia and serves the Washington DC Metro Area. Please contact Sandra Hughes at 703.750.0060 or visit our web site at http://www.redesignedspaces.com/ to learn how we can assist you in merchandising your home for a faster and more profitable resale or how we can help you redesign your current space for living.

Rolling Tool Case - Rocks!

Wed, 23 Jan 2008 13:06:59 -0600

I think most IRIS members probably have this Stanley tool case on wheels but wanted to let everyone else know about it. This tool case is PERFECT for staging, redesign jobs or the home owner who is short on space and wants all their tools in one convenient easy to move location.

The two upper compartments on the lid are great for holding writing pens, pencils for marking walls and furniture pens. The inside removable tray is great for holding tools and the compartment underneath the removable tool tray is great storage for magic erasers, extra light bulbs, extension cords or additional tools. I use the lower storage compartment for my carpet and wood floor moving pads. The tray that swings out has about ten small spaces that are perfect for storing nails or various picture hanging hooks (although to small for the dry wall hooks). The outside pocket is great for keeping a color wheel. Best of all it rolls so it is not heavy.

This product is found at Wal-Mart in the tool section and for ONLY $25.00 dollars.

Staging A Looooong Mantle

Fri, 17 Aug 2007 15:59:46 -0500

A recent project of mine was staging a family room where I needed to add interest to a very long mantle and brick wall. Not only did I need to come up with a solution that was cost effective but I needed accessories that would not get lost on the wall and that would really make this feature stand out instead of being a boring eye sore. I ended up finding these great vases at Ross Dress For Less, ranging from $5.99 to $12.99 in price and the great art work was found in the clearance section at Home Goods for about $35.00. In fact I loved the vases so much I went back twice to buy more.

So you have a sink in your family room? No problem!

Sat, 28 Jul 2007 16:31:12 -0500

Apparently sometime either in the 70's or 80's bars were a popular feature in family rooms. I have noticed several lone sinks in the family rooms of several houses that I visited during various open houses. I would think if a home owner were going to go to the trouble of removing the bar they would also remove the sink but clearly not everyone sees it my way. I recently staged such a property and the home seller was against paying to have it removed to I staged it. I think it not only looks better but also gives the home buyer a solution in hiding the eyesore until it can be removed.

Accessories Make The Room!

Sat, 28 Jul 2007 13:05:47 -0500

Here is an occupied staging job I recently did where the homeowner had no accessories. The challenge was using the existing furniture and working with white walls to create drama and impact. By changing the furniture layout and bringing in rental artwork and accessories we were able to create space that was more inviting to potential home buyers.

The National Capital Area IRIS Members Call To Action - Community Project

Fri, 27 Jul 2007 17:26:21 -0500

A group of IRIS members that live in the Washington DC Metro Area have formed an "unofficial" group that meets on a monthly basis and is open to all IRIS members in the local region. Here is a press release of our current community project. I will try to post a few before and afters once the project is completed in September.

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July 19, 2007

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Youth for Tomorrow (YFT), founded by NFL Hall of Fame coach Joe Gibbs, needs help in furnishing one of its newest residential homes for young women. A beautiful, but empty, house awaits 10 young women who are in need of a fresh start. Local members of the Interior Redesign Industry Specialists (IRIS) Association have offered to provide their time and resources to help furnish and decorate the new residence by the end of August - just in time for the girls' arrival.

YFT, located in Bristow, Va., is dedicated to providing hope and opportunities to adolescents who have been abandoned, abused, or otherwise alienated from their homes or communities. IRIS is confident that the Washington metro area will pitch in and be part of this worthy goal. IRIS seeks new and gently used furniture (desks, sofas, tables and chairs). The association would also appreciate donations of artwork, lamps, silk plants and decorative accessories to help turn the new residential facility into a warm and welcoming home. Be part of something special and lay the groundwork for a promising future for 10 young ladies. For more information call IRIS member Monica James at 571-215-4918 or e-mail her at all4you@expresslyyou.com

From Drab to Fab

Wed, 02 May 2007 21:03:11 -0500

Here is an example where a small investment in staging accessories netted a big impact. By adding a smaller scale table in a dark color that blended with the other furnishings and by removing two chairs more space was created. We moved the china cabinet, rearranged the existing picture and mirror and added three plants, wall sconces, new seat cushions and a co-ordinating runner. Before the space lacked warmth and personality but after staging it is now visually pleasing with the extra space and punches of color.

Stage Your Closet Space

Sun, 29 Apr 2007 21:43:45 -0500

I believe that as stagers we should always recommend to our clients to stage all their spaces, even under the counter spaces and closets. After all buyers will look there to see if their "stuff" will fit. Home sellers are selling the total space therefore the total space needs to be staged.

A Little Staging Goes A Long Way

Sun, 29 Apr 2007 12:12:29 -0500

Home Staging isn't about spending a lot of money it is about making the most of your space. Here is an example of how two low cost items can change the look of a space, giving a great first impression when potential buyers walk through the door. The mirror replaces a picture that was not the right scale for the chest and adds reflective light. The plant replaces the basket of keys and adds color and warmth.

Open House Tips

Mon, 16 Apr 2007 16:17:42 -0500

● Turn on all lights in the house - use the highest wattage lamps will allow.

● Pull up blinds and open window treatments - let the light in. Make sure windows are clean and streak proof.

● Place fresh flowers throughout the house - living room, dining room, powder room and master bedroom etc...

● Make sure all trash cans are emptied. Take garbage, diapers, and cat and dog litter boxes out of the home.

● Remove pets from property if possible - outside at least.

● Set thermostat to a comfortable temperature - cooler is better then warmer.

● Make sure house smells fresh and clean.

● Make sure all rooms are "staged" - table set, fresh towels in bathrooms etc.

● Make sure all beds are made, floors are swept or vacuumed.

● Do not park cars in the driveway, leaving a great first view of your home.

● Turn answering machine on low, so buyers can't hear incoming messages.

Tips for Making Your Home Stand Out from the Crowd

Thu, 05 Apr 2007 07:56:10 -0500

Gone are the days when homes sold quickly for more than the asking price, where homes had multiple offers and homeowners had to do little. Selling a home in today's sluggish market takes work.

Buyers take 15 seconds or less to form an impression about your home. To sell in a timely manner and for a good price, today's home needs to be move-in ready and have that "special something."

First impressions count and not making a good one can cost you the selling of your home. Investing a few hundred dollars can mean thousands more on your sale price. To make a great first impression and gain a competitive edge -

• Make sure your home is spotless and clean. Does your carpet need to be replaced or steamed cleaned? Do walls need to be repainted?

• De-clutter your home so buyers can see potential and envision how your spaces will look with their possessions.

• Fix all major and minor repairs before you put your home on the market, otherwise buyers will be overwhelmed by all the work that needs to be done.

• If you have pets, consider having them stay somewhere else while buyers are viewing your home. Do not forget to remove any lingering pet odors.

• Remember that curb appeal is important. What do people notice when they look at your house? Do they see an inviting red door with a potted plant or do they see overgrown weeds and a crumbling step?

• Enhance your homes special features and downplay problem areas. Do you have a oversized kitchen but a small dining room?

Make the most of the interior and exterior space you are selling. Potential buyers take 15 seconds or less to form an impression about your home. Using these home staging tips will go a long way in getting your home ready to sell in today's slow moving market. Make your home stand out from the crowd and be the home owner to get the offer.

If you would like more information or to schedule a consultation, please call Sandra at 703.750.0060 or visit our web site at http://www.redesignedspaces.com/ .

Selling Your Home: How to Avoid a Price Adjustment

Tue, 03 Apr 2007 20:40:52 -0500

Today's slow housing market requires home sellers to make their homes more appealing to potential buyers. Realtors are frequently forced to advise you that a price adjustment is needed, in an effort to make your home more competitive. These "adjustments" generally start with a decrease of $10,000.00 off the asking price and then continue going down until the house sells or the homeowner decides they can't go any lower and will wait it out.
Many realtors feel that price adjustments are the best way to move a house when it has been sitting for a period of time. If you want to sell your house quickly and for as much equity as possible while avoiding a price adjustment you need to stop thinking of your house as your home but as a product.
The home owner needs to look at their surroundings with an objective and critical eye and try to visualize how potential buyers will see your home.
Will others see the master bedroom with the king size bed that barely allows enough standing room as cozy or cramped?
Will others LOVE the chartreuse painted walls in the kitchen as much as you do?
What about those pink flamingos in the front yard? Will that say home sweet home to someone else?
Potential buyers want to see themselves living in the space and need to connect to what they see. Of course, someone with the same appreciation for pink flamingo's might happen by your house, but is that a chance that you want to take with one of your biggest investments?
Home sellers can hire a professional home stager or stage the property on their own by highlighting a home special features and minimizing the flaws to create an impressive and inviting space. Home Staging is different then interior decorating in that home staging strives to appeal to a wide range of potential buyers and not specific styles and tastes. Home staging uses design principles to draw attention to special features of your house and make less desirable features work.
"While there may be an initial cost to make these changes it will be far less then a price adjustment on your property.