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Prepare Your "House For Sell" in NJ with Staging ~ Part 2 Foyers

This post is the second in my 7 part series illustrating Home Staging in NJ with Before and After Staging photos. (The first post was on Living Rooms.) Today's topic is ~

The Book on Foyers

Here, in New Jersey, most houses have a foyer. Some are large and impressive. Some are non-existent. When there isn't one you have to create the sense of one with a sofa table if the front door opens right into the living room or whatever.

I started the series with the Living Room, because that's the room that usually sets the tone for the rest of the house.

Staged Home in Boonton, NJ Once it's complete, we have the tone, the color temperatures, the overall style and feel of the home we can come back to the foyer and set up the first view.

The key elements of a foyer are -

The Welcome
The Sight-lines
and how you deal with inclement weather. (i.e. places for boots, umbrellas or iced water depending upon your season and geographic locale.)

Let me show you some examples of successfully staged foyers in New Jersey. As before, I am sharing the 3 varieties of home staging services I believe in:- Owner Occupied where you use the homeowner's stuff, Owner Occupied where you bring in rental furniture, and Vacant Homes.

Owner Occupied Home ~ Using Their Own Furniture

BEFORE

AFTER

This house is called Tudor Rose. The conversation went like this:- (read w/ heavy English accent)

"Ah, you picked up on the "rose" in the home's name to paint the foyer. What a fun idea! Of course, you know that particular color is a tricky one; tends to oxidize over time. I'm sure this isn't the color you originally put up. Moving forward, we need to find a neutral shade that will last a little longer. We might just get the same warm welcome from a simple beige. A pinkish beige. Yes?"

Oh-kay, said the homeowner nervously, oblivious to the realtor's exuberant "happy dance" in the background!

Never even mentioned all the ~s.tuff!!

Pinkish, if you want to see it that way. And so soothing.

Now ~

What a beautiful mirror! Is it included in the sale (yes)
How elegant!
I can see our daughter's wedding here... when we have a daughter... and she's grown up...

Owner Occupied Home ~ Using Rental Furniture

BEFORE

AFTER

A fascinating house that had a fully-functioning organ in the living room that Caruso sang with. President Woodrow Wilson slept here and Madam Xiang Hai Chek visited with her classmate who's father owned the place.

Massive
What are you supposed to do with it?
Every single room leads of it... what would that fireplace heat exactly?

We added more chairs, a lot more LIGHTING and a central table. For the Broker's Open House we created a custom Clue Game - Caruso in the Library with a hammer - so as to emphasize the history.

Now ~

the unusual circular design is enjoyed
the room as a point - it's a gathering place
an ante-room for phone calls in the middle of dinner, for quiet disputes, for...whatever!

Vacant House ~ Using Rental Furniture

BEFORE

AFTER

We had not included anything for the Foyer in the original proposal. then the Builder complained that it looked empy. Cold. Unwelcoming. And what was that horrible piece of amateurish art doing in a $1 1/2 million house with pool and NYC Skyline views?

"Er... well, I just threw something up because I thought it looked bare and you haven't authorized anything else."

The clock cost the same as the painting, but was new from Target as opposed to the art which came from a Yard Sale. I don't think it's that bad. (Even my husband says it's only fit for a kid's bedroom or a basement playroom!!!)

(sigh) Buyers can now see

An elegant entry
The length of the space
and now have a place to put keys that isn't the top of a radiator!

Here are some other foyers that I'm real proud of but don't have "befores" of ~

Staged Foyers in NJ

* * *

~ Juliet Johnson ~ has been home staging NJ in the luxury real estate niche (with the predominant home value of $1 - 3 million) for the last 7 years. Juliet is taking the month of August to brush up her internet marketing skills by participating in Ed Dale's 30 Day Challenge with a blog on Property Marketing.

Juliet Johnson Staging provides NJ Luxury Real Estate with staging and online promotion services, and been successfully home staging nj for the last 7 years.

Posted by Home Staging Myrtle Beach - Juliet Johnson on 08/15/2009 11:16 AM

Comments (14)

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This post has been included in New Jersey Information
Post is included in group: Staging "Before" & "After" Pictures
Post is included in group: Real World Home Staging for Newbies
Post is included in group: Staging Successes
Post is included in group: Stage It Forward...
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14 Comments on Prepare Your "House For Sell" in NJ with Staging ~ Part 2 Foyers

AUG

Very, very nice post and series, Juliet. Wonderful before and after pictures. Why wouldn't anyone call you after these results? Really impressed!

Juliet ~ Great foyers, great homes, great staging! What grand homes you get to work on ..... love the round pedestal table in the foyers.

Your photos are fabulous, Juliet! I've never quite seen so much pink in one place before as that "rose" foyer! Can you say "pepto bismol?"

Ah yes please !

What a way to create an inviting entrance :o)

I REALLY like the last set with the clock and round table.

And I think I see a British phone box on the sideboard in that first 'after' shot !!!!! NICE !

Juliet, the transformations of these rooms are amazing! Temperature... I've never thought of it in terms of staging or decorating. I love that foyer!

Juliet...beautiful, the foyers after your staging work. I could almost here your lovely brit voice in that lovely pink example. Wow what a change! I've always wanted a foyer large enough for one of those round tables and a large floral centerpiece.

AUG

The transformation is phenomonal! I particularly like the "rose" hallway makeover. If the sellers had left it like that one of two things would have happened:

potential buyers would have run, not walked, back out the door to the car or
they would have low balled the price

Great job!

Isn't it funny, I too have always wanted a house big enough to have a round table in the foyer! I think it's one of the simplest of status symbols. Certainly around here. You'd be amazed to see the small spaces people squash them into!

Staged Homes NJ

Every home needs a foyer, just for the reasons you mentioned.

I work in many large houses and estates in the Chicagoland area and my personal favorite is the round foyer table too...your pictures are great! looking forward to your next series.

Juliet - WOW! All the rooms look incredible! It's simply amazing how big of a difference your staging makes!

Congratulations. Your post is being featured in the group Staging Before and After pictures.

Kathy

Your transformations are terrific, Juliet. I really like the way you laid out your post--very easy to read and follow.

AUG

HI Juliet, you really do set the bar high in your area. Great series of posts, looking forward to each one.

I think the foyer transformation has the most impact as you must grab the attention of the buyer upon entering. Left in its former pink glory, the foyer would have most certainly sent buyers scurrying out the front door. Afterwards, their imagination could take them to any number of happy scenarios of receiving guests over the years.

Nice job! The foyer is a first impression and oh so important. Great staging!

AUG

The entrée does set the tone for the entire home and gives buyers a sense of the style and personality of the property. Great post and pictures Juliet! Thanks.