nestings: Eco Living Style On The Web - 08/16/08 12:54 PM
On my last model home project, I was asked to keep "green" in mind. It was difficult due to the low budget, but I managed to find some items made of sustainable wood, recyled rubber, etc. - I even purchased used books (now, that's recycling!)! It's hard to find cost-friendly earth-friendly items, … (6 comments)
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nestings: "Decorating For Dollars" ??? - 08/11/08 03:05 PM
The "Decorating For Dollars" article, written Elizabeth Razzi (a real estate columnist for the Washington Post) caught my eye this Sunday morning. It was in our local paper, Connecticut Post, in the real estate section. I'm a little peeved that our paper ran the article like a news story, when it's … (6 comments)
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nestings: So You Want To Go GREEN? Go Green The Original Way! - 08/05/08 04:15 PM
So GREEN is the new black...even major catalogs such as Pottery Barn and Williams Sonoma Home are featuring "green" furnishings, with reclaimed or sustainable wood sources, organic cottons, and recycled materials. Wait, did I just say "recycled"?
Want to go GREEN the original way? RECYCLE! This is more than the newspaper/plastic/metal … (11 comments)
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nestings: Undercover Accessorizing - 07/23/08 09:51 AM
They used to be $1.00 a piece - now they're about $2.50, but still a great deal! Hardcover books from Goodwill are an inexpensive way to meaningfully accessorize a bookshelf.
I usually look for classics or popular novels that don't have words like "Angel" or "Devil" in the title. Remove the … (26 comments)
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nestings: Sometimes You Have to Make a Bold Choice! - 07/18/08 03:06 PM
Often I am fortunate to work with builders that accept my expertise and trust my judgement. Nestings just finished staging the new Model unit for Renaissance on the Thames, a seven-story luxury condominium high-rise on the river in Norwich, Connecticut.
It's all about the view here, folks! It's truly stunning and … (13 comments)
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nestings: Come On In, The Water's Fine!??? - 07/10/08 10:13 AM
Perception can be everything. In my previous blog post, I addressed the refrigerator in the dining room. Perception: potential buyers might think the kitchen is too small.
Let's talk about water. When you buy a house, you get the water access with it. It might be "city water" or "well water", … (20 comments)
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nestings: Got Micro-Suede? Get a Swiffer! - 07/08/08 09:26 AM
Does your furniture have micro-suede upholstery? Is it covered with imprints, handprints, pawprints and fingerprints? The Swiffer to the rescue! Yesterday, I learned this tip from a professional cleaner: use the hand-held (clean) Swiffer to lightly brush the upholstery - it will not leave a pattern, and all prints magically disappear!
… (16 comments)
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nestings: Stagers: Who's Your Go-To Person? - 07/01/08 11:25 AM
Construction is (almost!) finished; furniture is delivered, accessories, art, etc. loaded in...now what? Thank goodness the movers are required to set up and place the pieces they deliver. Thank heavens the builder (pictured on the right) had his crew assemble the remaining pieces of furniture. And THANK THE LORD for … (7 comments)
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nestings: "All Good Things" Come From Staging - 06/28/08 09:07 AM
Connecticut is now home to "Hollywood East"; due to beneficial tax arrangements, many more movies are now being shot here than ever before. Remember the car chase around the college in the most recent Indiana Jones movie? That was shot at Yale University in New Haven. I could go on and … (7 comments)
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nestings: Before: Staging a High-Rise "Earthy Elegant" Model Condo in Norwich, CT - 06/21/08 01:13 PM
You haven't heard much from me lately because I've been gearing up to load in and Stage a model high-rise condo in Norwich, Connecticut: The Renaissance on the Thames. It's had a name change and the owners have many units available to custom-finish and sell. They, the Builder, Architect and … (6 comments)
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nestings: Why Is 93% of Fairfield's New Construction Vacant? - 06/10/08 08:42 AM
As I've blogged about before, most of my staging work is at either end of the Staging Spectrum: Consultations and furnishing Vacant/Model Homes. I've learned that many builders are so financially stretched, as the DOM extend, that they'd rather rent than reduce prices again. Perhaps, in my area, there were just … (0 comments)
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nestings: I Didn't Get the Job, But Someone Else Did - Here's an Idea! - 05/21/08 04:30 PM
OK, so I didn't get the job. The good news is, someone else DID! This is another avenue for Stagers to explore: assisted living facilities!
Nestings was asked to bid on staging a one-bedroom model unit at a new assisted living facility. It is absolutely gorgeous, with very traditional architectural detailing throughout. The target customer … (8 comments)
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nestings: Furniture? What Furniture? I'm Not Missing Any! - 05/20/08 09:58 AM
One of the benefits of hiring a Stager before the house goes on the market is that it's ready from Day #1. One of the key elements of Staging involves showcasing the house's equity: floor space, spatial definition, traffic flow...To accomplish this, we sometimes have to "exorcise the Decorator" (thanks, Juliet!), … (5 comments)
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nestings: Even When I'm Wearing a Hat, The Staging Hat Is There Too! - 05/03/08 10:49 AM
Friday was cold and the rain was mere drizzle, but the annual Southport-Westport House Tour to benefit Near & Far Aid (www.nearandfar.org) must go on! I was asked to be a room hostess for one house where the theme was the Kentucky Derby, so of course a major hat was required! … (12 comments)
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nestings: Staging Bedrooms: Keeping it Gender-Neutral - 04/29/08 10:08 AM
Should bedrooms be staged in a gender-neutral style? I was reviewing some of my work earlier today, wondering what needs to be enhanced, what inventory needs to be upgraded or changed out, if I should do more accessorizing...and ended up wondering if I'm on the right track. I've aimed for gender-neutral, … (12 comments)
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nestings: I Can't Afford to Lose $50,000 - Can You? - 04/28/08 02:24 PM
Thanks to Activerain, I was referred for a vacant staging job (YAY!). The sellers had recently purchased a lovely vintage property for $1,800,000 million, but never moved in. They decided to put it back on the market at $1,950,000, then reduced it to $1,875,000.
Nestings was called in for a quote and the … (14 comments)
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nestings: "Real" Faux TVs - Update - 04/26/08 11:58 AM
OK, so here are the pictures I promised of the "real" faux TVs I purchased at the request of a builder for this model home. I have previously posted on my faux-faux TVs, which many other stagers also use - often with enhancements (see Janis Gaines!). These are from Props by … (9 comments)
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nestings: White: It's Not The Neutral It Used To Be - 04/16/08 01:27 PM
"But I just painted the whole house! It's white; isn't that neutral? Why isn't it selling???"
The homeowner was savvy enough to know the house needed to be repainted before placing it on the market.
After several kids, pets, and busy family life, the house had to be refreshed. She knew they … (12 comments)
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nestings: Staging for a "Man Cave" - 04/13/08 05:10 PM
Last fall I staged the model unit for Seaview Village in Bridgeport, CT. It's some of my favorite work to date. This weekend, I finished staging the bonus room, which is next to the two-car garage; it had been left unfinished, and housed utilities. It was important to the sales process … (15 comments)
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nestings: Taking Advantage of Funny Features - 04/13/08 04:28 PM
Remember my cautionary tale about being sure to measure? http://activerain.com/blogsview/439107/Staging-in-Fairfield-County Here's the update - what I did with that funny little bump-out-and-up:
With a tall wire vase and 5' high bamboo poles, I took advantage of it as a plant stand, and placed a plant on the level below. These two arrangements are … (5 comments)
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nestings: Useful Tools for Staging: Networking and Feng Shui - 04/11/08 08:41 AM
This post is probably more of a "what I did last night" kind of post, but there are a couple of things I just want to put out there! It's about a couple of out-of-the-toolbox tools:
Spreading the News
I am a member of Entrepreneurial Women's Network in CT (http://www.ewn-ct.org/), and last night … (4 comments)
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nestings: Real Life Staging: It's Not All Glamour! - 04/07/08 06:01 PM
I was inspired by Craig's latest post and some of the comments to write this post. Someone felt most of the work actually posted on AR looked too high-end for the average seller, and gave the impression Staging is out of their reach. I haven't had a lot of Staging experience (yet!), but … (13 comments)
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nestings: Staging in Fairfield County: Measure Twice, Cut Once! - 03/25/08 05:00 PM
Whoopie! Got the big OK last night via email, picked up the check and paperwork this morning...so I'm ready to fulfill my staging plan for the "home theater/guest room" in the (soon-to-be) completed bonus room, RIGHT? Wait - something told me to go back and check the room.
This is an … (8 comments)
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nestings: smugmug, anyone? - 03/20/08 11:10 AM
Has anyone out there used www.smugmug.com for slide shows? I just tried it, and have to do more experimentation. I'd like to compare it to RES (similar subscription prices); I think it takes in a lot more photos. I put this one together quickly; It's about staging two similar bedrooms, in … (21 comments)
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nestings: Decor by Alfred Hitchcock, Staging by Nestings - 03/20/08 08:22 AM
The bedding set on the left was featured by Karen McAloon on HGTV's "Find Your Style", and I fell in love with it for several reasons. It's airy, has birds, and the pattern name is "Chinoiserie"! Problem is, I couldn't find out who made it! While doing a search online for … (14 comments)
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nestings: Fairfield County House Prices Drop: Staging More Important Than Ever! - 03/11/08 01:53 PM
The latest Warren Group report is out, detailing January's housing market. Fairfield County is finally feeling the real estate slow-down. The report is covered in the Connecticut Post:
http://www.connpost.com/localnews/ci_8527000
In Fairfield County, the number of single-family homes sales dropped 29.8% from last year; condos dropped 40.8%. The median price for a single-family house … (4 comments)
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nestings: If 84% of Home Buyers Start on MLS... - 02/27/08 01:00 PM
(Sorry - MLS photo was changed!)
What do home buyers see on MLS? Is this a photo still from The Poseidon Adventure? Was there an earthquake that caused all the furniture to slide into one corner? Perhaps it was a sink-hole? No, this is a photo of a room on MLS. I … (12 comments)
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nestings: Fairfield, CT: Staging With a Hollywood Accent - 02/12/08 05:17 PM
This house is new construction, and beautifully done. Granite counter tops, inlaid wood flooring, gorgeous cabinets, two gas fireplaces, 3 1/2 baths...but many buyers found the floor plan challenging. The staging mission was to define the spaces and create flow through the house. Staging it called for neutral furnishings and accessories … (3 comments)
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nestings: Staging Vacants: Making Sense of the Space - 01/16/08 06:11 PM
Nestings spent the weekend staging two vacant townhouses, in two towns, for the same builder. Fortunately, they were only a couple of miles away from each other; spic and span new construction; the rental furniture I wanted was available; and the builder was a delight to work with! I provided all … (14 comments)
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nestings: Would You Put Lipstick on a Pig? - 11/15/07 12:46 PM
This is one of my favorite slides from a presentation I made yesterday morning to a local real estate office. It's from a section titled "What Staging is NOT: Decorating; Merely Cleaning & De-cluttering; Masking or Hiding Flaws; A Waste of Money". The purpose of this slide was to say that … (12 comments)
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nestings: Fairfield County Prices Rise: Warren Group Report - 11/12/07 02:59 PM
While I make no claims to be an economist, I felt I had to post this article on CT housing sales. It's based on a recent Warren Group report, and is nicely boiled down by local journalist Rob Varnon of the Connecticut Post. What I found interesting was that while the … (3 comments)
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nestings: Funny Paper in the Sunday Paper - 11/11/07 11:33 AM
How much do we love the Sunday papers? Curling up with a coffee and a fat newpaper, full of the funnies and "goody guts" - what my husband so fondly terms all those ads and catalogs - what could be better? Now one of my special treats is the real estate … (14 comments)
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nestings: A Tale of Two Townhouses - 10/29/07 01:55 PM
Last night (yup, Sunday - and it was my birthday! - but the referring Realtor has been great to me!), I did a pre-listing Staging Consultation for a delightful couple who are still in the midst of newly-wed bliss. This was fairly last-minute, but I did have time to do some … (8 comments)
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nestings: Press Release: Staging Contest Winner - 10/20/07 03:52 PM
Press Release sent to local press (of course, I love the shot of my handbag in the "before picture!):
Winner of Home Staging Contest!
Julia Vigneron Maher of Nestings, Fairfield County home staging specialist, won the Staging Contest at the recent Annual Educational Conference. Sponsored by the School of Interior Redesign, the … (9 comments)
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nestings: $100 For A Mutt? Staging Reports Are Invaluable Too! - 10/20/07 03:37 PM
Did you ever pay $100 for a mutt? We have. We paid that much once for a little mutsy puppy. Why so much? The puppy had no AKC papers or breeding value. The point was that the original "parents" assigned value to the puppy so we would be sure to take good care … (7 comments)
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nestings: Seaview Village: Staged to Sell - 10/12/07 11:39 AM
The beauty of this model unit for Seaview Village, Bridgeport CT, is it's seaside flavor, without the "Nantucket" look - which wouldn't work in this neighborhood. These townhouses are located near Long Island Sound, but it's an urban location. The attention of the target audience was captured, based on the comments … (7 comments)
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nestings: 10 Fast Cheap Renovations - 10/09/07 05:04 PM
Domino Magazine, October 2007, has a great article about Juliette Hohnen, a very talented house flipper, and her latest project. While this "project" is a Malibu beach house, she does give some tips that can apply to any house, at any price, in any location. In fact, some of these "renovations" … (5 comments)
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nestings: Try a Pub Set! - 09/25/07 02:55 PM
Pub-style dining sets are great when staging for a youthful market. When I did my first model unit, The Birches at Silvermine (Norwalk, CT), I used one based on some market research. The target market wanted comfortable furniture, and loved to entertain in, well, an entertaining but informal manner. Many couples … (16 comments)
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nestings: Beware: New Construction - 09/23/07 11:40 AM
Now, I'm NOT complaining about getting staging work, but merely want to point out a few things one should be aware of when working with new construction and a very tight deadline...ALWAYS ASK WHAT KIND OF FOOTWEAR ONE SHOULD WEAR WHEN GOING TO VISIT THE SITE FOR THE FIRST TIME!!! It … (8 comments)
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nestings: Marketing Staging to Boomers - 09/23/07 11:27 AM
Last Thursday Nestings was one of 70 exhibitors at a local expo catering to Boomers and their parents. Titled "Boomers And Beyond", this was the second annual event co-sponsored by a local radio station, WICC600 AM, and St. Vincent's Hospital (Bridgeport, CT). Most of the other exhibitors were in the medical, financial … (2 comments)
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nestings: Staged For Sale: The Birches, Norwalk, CT - 08/27/07 11:10 AM
Take a look at this beautiful luxury condo development that is re-launching! MLS #98345938. Nestings was called in to Stage a new vacant model, as the first one wasn't working. We needed to appeal to an upscale, metropolitan buyer, and I believe this will do it. I worked closely with the … (6 comments)
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nestings: Did I Tell You There's a LOFT??? - 08/23/07 11:09 AM
This is the second blog entry on The Birches in Norwalk, CT - it's kind of different. It's about asking for help when problem-solving. The builder I worked with was wonderful: offering his crew to help and solutions to problems. The Realtor and I agreed that to maximize the condo's potential, … (5 comments)
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nestings: Pulling the Eye Down a Long White Hall - 08/23/07 09:37 AM
Welcome to The Birches, an eight-unit luxury condo building in Norwalk, CT. This is the first of a series on staging vacant new construction and interior merchandising - it was such a great experience!
The previous model unit design wasn't working. After six months on the market, no sales. The model … (10 comments)
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