before.......

after.........

This tiny townhouse was located in an extremely family oriented complex and we needed to show that there was a place to put the tv.....something we don't usually worry about when staging.  When I was planning the staging, I didn't think about tv placement as it was such a tiny living room but laying in bed thinking a few nights before the staging...as we do.....I thought of all the kids playing in the area when we did the consultation and knowing there wasn't a family room to place a tv, it had to be in the living room.

So, front and focal, up went a "mock" flat screen......best of a difficult situation :-)  Needless to say, the property had three offers after the first open house, mission accomplished!

We had the opportunity to stage a "set" for a media event put on for Best Buy/Future Shop by LG Electronics. They wanted the boardroom to look like a "media" room featuring their newest electronics.  We rented furnishings from FLUFF Rentals, set the stage and then.......got to meet Trevor Linden, the star of the show (Former captain of our National Hockey team, the Vancouver Canucks).  He was gracious as always and spent 1 1/2 hours signing autographs and hanging out with fans.  We love our job!!!!!!!!!

"Lisa and her team were fast, flexible and a pleasure to work with. They were able to meet all our staging needs and her eye for style really helped transform a mundane corporate boardroom into a cozy living area."  Cam Gordon on behalf of LG Electronics

We have had the opportunity to do some fabulous stagings this past month, properties with pretty hefty price points.  One property listed at $1.2 sold in less than three weeks for above asking price.  One listed at $3.5 sold in two weeks, below asking but in record time and one we staged in the photo this week in the West End of Vancouver sold in one day!  Things really seem to be rocking here and we are able to rotate the inventory between stagings nicely. 

Just got to stage this empty British Properties home in West Vancouver this week, the feature of this home is definitley the view...20 foot high windows across the front of the property make it easy for anybody viewing this home to appreciate our city.  At night, all the lights of the city and the bridge....almost worth the price tag  :-)

We kept the furnishings down to a minimal so we didn't compete with the view, seems to be a recurring problem for us these days....not to compete with the views of the properties we are staging.  What a fun dilemma!

We finally had the opportunity to get into the tallest building in Vancouver, the much talked about Shangri-La.  60 floors high, the views are absolutely spectacular of our fair city.  Panoramic views of Coal Harbour, Stanley Park and the Lionsgate Bridge, the North Shore mountains, English Bay and into False Creek. 

The staging was very minimal as the client wanted a light staging.  It didn't compete with the views so it wasn't too much of a compromise.

Note to self, when enjoying a soak in the beautiful master bath,                                               remember to close the blinds :-)

I wrote a post last month about the opportunity we had to film a segment on redesign that would be featured on a national television network.  It finally aired this week! 

In economic times like these, people are spending more time at home with family and friends and watching where they are spending their money.  A REDESIGN is the perfect solution!  We come in and "shop" the home. We use existing furniture and accessories, pulling together a fresh, new look for the people living in the home. At the end of just ONE day, the homeowner walks into a brand new space, with art rehung, furniture positioned in ways they have not even thought of and a designer look without the designer fees. 

If you click on the link below and enter SPACELiFT into the search box, it should bring you to the archived segment of the show and you can watch us in action.......It was almost 7 hours of actual filming and it got edited down to the three minutes that you see on the show.  Crazy but fun.......great exposure for us! I did realize that I do need to add a brush into my toolbox for times just like these :-)

http://www.cbc.ca/livingvancouver/columns_topics.page? 

We had the opportunity to decorate a beautiful home for a Holiday Home Tour this weekend.  This tour is to raise awareness for ovarian cancer with all proceeds from ticket sales going to BC Cancer.  Local merchants loan decor from their stores and Vancouver home stagers set up the homes for Christmas.  This table setting was my favorite part of the home we decorated.

We are going to do the tour today and be treated to some beautiful homes that will be decked out for the holidays.  With my eggnog latte in hand, some amazing festive decor and music, I am sure this day will most certainly put me in the Christmas mood.  Cheers!

We had the opportunity to decorate a beautiful home for a Holiday Home tour in our city this weekend.  The event is held by BC Cancer Society to raise money and awareness for Ovarian cancer.  Local merchants donate decor for us to use and home stagers in the city decorate the homes.  There were twelve homes on the tour this year.  This is one of my favorite shots of the table, set for display, not necessarily for practical dining :-) 

I am going to have a look at the rest of the homes today.... what a great way to start the season!

Cheers!

This is a staged bathroom we did this week in a show suite.  It is a perfect example of how staging an empty can bring a property from looking drab and lifeless to WOW, making potential buyers want to live here! 

Just looking at this "after" photo should make sellers with empty spaces think twice about showing empty.  The cost of accessories for staging this bathroom was under $100 retail!  Worth every penny....

By appealing to the five senses, we can make a lasting impression.  By making a lasting impression, we have a better chance at selling a property. 

Research shows the more senses that our brains are exposed to in a good way, the better the experience we have and the more memorable that experience will be.  Knowing that, we can use this philosophy when staging properties.  Appeal to the 5 senses and you are miles ahead of the competiotion!

SIGHT: having the property look visually appealing, tidy and well cared for, de-personalaized. Think about those white towels looking clean and spa like and what the buyer feels when seeing that.  You have created a feeling of luxury.

SMELL: Having a fresh scent in the space, no cooking or moth ball smells.  Something that appeals to the majority.  Fresh lemons give the impression of "clean", who doesn't like a clean house?

SOUND: Light music playing in the background at an open house or showing is another great touch.  Music plays on the emotions of almost everybody.  It can creat an immediate mood, good or bad, so choose carefully when staging.

TASTE: Why not!  I am sure that buyers coming into the house would love to have a chocolate while they are looking around.  Something pre wrapped would be appropriate.  I have heard of realtors having treats at open houses and it is always well received. 

TOUCH: This one is tougher but using textures in the pillows, throws or on a great place setting at the table, you may entice buyers to want to run their hands along something.  A plush, soft throw is something I can rarely pass up when I see it in a store. 

So, use these tips when you stage your next place and see if it doesn't work!