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Just a "Pop", not a "Punch"

By
Home Stager with GreatStages Home Staging and Redesign

Sometimes we need to help teach folks that less can be more even when it comes to color. This home had been lovingly maintained and had many positive things going for it until you walked in the Family Room. Then, POW, like a punch in the face you came up against this bright orange sponge-painted wall.

Orange Room

 

This was a project the homeowners had done themselves, so I had to diplomatically tell them that while some people like that style of wall treatment and color, many don't. Since the goal is to neutralize the home and make it appeal to as many buyers possible, the orange really needed to go.

 

 

There was a further discussion that the blue-gray tile around the fireplace didn't coordinate well in this color scheme.

 

 

 

They decided to proceed with my advice and the change was dramatic. Now, they still have an accent wall, but it just gently pops instead of punches! 

 

Val Allocco
Staged 2 Sell New York & Long Island - Northport, NY
HSE; ASHSR - Home Stager, for Manhattan, Brooklyn & Long Island

Kathy,

You handled the situation beautifully and the room now looks classic and uniform.

VAL

Jun 29, 2007 12:50 PM
Julia Fedak
Royal LePage State Realty - Ancaster, ON

My favourite line...

"The way we live in our home is much different than the way we should be selling our home." "Let's try to engage as many prospective buyers buy neutralizing the space."

Great job, Kathy. Love the colour.

Julia

Jun 29, 2007 01:22 PM
Kathleen Lordbock
Keller Williams Realty Professionals - Baxter, MN
Keller Williams Realty Professionals
Nice change and it still pops softly.
Jun 29, 2007 05:39 PM
Cheryl-Anne Priest
Inviting Spaces - Home Staging Calgary - Calgary, AB
Inviting Spaces - Staging Calgary

Kathy - very diplomatic and the new paint color is so much more relaxing than the orange.  I just ran into a similar situation.  My clients are doing a lot to their home in prepartion for sale and part of the plan had been to paint a feature wall in the living/diningroom rust.  They like the color and wanted their house to "stand out".  It has taken a bit but I have finally persuaded them not to do the feature wall as it effectively limits their target market.

As for the TV over the fireplace, that seems to be a very common theme here in Calgary.  One of the reasons I think is because houses are being built with only a multi function "great room" instead of both a living room and separate family room.

Jul 01, 2007 07:29 AM
Brenda Thomas
Hidden Potential - Halifax, MA

You must of communicated your ideas very well because not only did your clients  listen to you they  actually followed through with it and  did it.  Congratulation on a great looking neutral space!

 

Brenda Hidden Potential Home Staging and Redesign

Jul 01, 2007 03:51 PM
Kathy Alexander
GreatStages Home Staging and Redesign - Vancouver, WA
Home Stager Camas WA, Home Staging Southwest WA

Val, Julia, Kathleen and Brenda - Thank you for stopping by and commenting!

Cheryl-Anne - I think that the great room concept is one reason for these TV boxes, another is that the builders here push them as an added feature. I have seen them called "built-in entertainment centers", although that is quite a reach, IMO.

Jul 02, 2007 03:33 AM
Leanne Zumbrunnen
Z Touch Design Services - Lenexa, KS

I like the location of the TV.  In my own home I like to hide the TV.  Did you ever suggest putting a painting in front of the TV?  I have seen  2 pictures on sliders that just slide apart for viewing. 

Jul 02, 2007 04:27 AM
Kathy Alexander
GreatStages Home Staging and Redesign - Vancouver, WA
Home Stager Camas WA, Home Staging Southwest WA
Leanne - That would have been a nicetreatment for this wall, but the homeowner's budget called for minimal additions.
Jul 02, 2007 09:45 AM
Julianna Hind
eXp Realty - Tacoma, WA
REALTOR, 206-679-4768, Tacoma Federal Way, Auburn, Kent, WA
So much better! I love the calmed down color for a staging. Would you like to add this in the group COLOR IT SOLD? I would love to have you there!
Jul 09, 2007 11:29 AM
Penny Schoenbeck
AZ Home Styling & Redesign - Mesa, AZ
AZ Home Styling

Hi Kathy,

The room looks great! I love the paint color, good choice!  

Jul 09, 2007 05:58 PM
Kathy Alexander
GreatStages Home Staging and Redesign - Vancouver, WA
Home Stager Camas WA, Home Staging Southwest WA

Julianna - Thank you for the invitation to the group. Looks like lots of interesting things to catch up on here!

Penny - Thank you for the comments.

UPDATE: The Realtor called me to report that they have received a great offer and it has been less than a week on the market! Yeah!

Jul 09, 2007 06:06 PM
Phyllis Pafumi
ReStyled to Sell Home Staging New Jersey - Old Bridge, NJ
ReStyled to Sell Staging Homes NJ

While I love the orange for LIVING (well maybe) the after is BEAUTIFUL

Phyllis  Pafumi

Jul 15, 2007 02:06 PM
Kathy Alexander
GreatStages Home Staging and Redesign - Vancouver, WA
Home Stager Camas WA, Home Staging Southwest WA

Phyllis - I love orange too! This time it just wasn't going to help this house sell. If it hadn't been sponge painted I think it would have looked better, too.

UPDATE on the last update: There were multiple contracts with escalation clauses and the sellers ended up with a nice extra sum for their small investment in paint!

Jul 15, 2007 03:00 PM
Todd Clark - Retired
eXp Realty LLC - Tigard, OR
Principle Broker Oregon

I had one person say to me we have to live here, so we are keeping our color scheme. It ended up costing them close to $40,000 in price reductions, $3000 paint allowance and 9 months on the market! I was really glad I wasn't the listing agent on that one.

Jul 24, 2007 04:41 AM
Kathy Alexander
GreatStages Home Staging and Redesign - Vancouver, WA
Home Stager Camas WA, Home Staging Southwest WA
Todd ~ that is when a stager can make all the difference. We can help explain to the sellers that while they spent years creating a home, in order to sell it has to be taken back to being a house that is neutral and appealing to the widest array of buyers.
Jul 24, 2007 05:13 AM
Joyce "Joy" Mahaney Brewster
High Profile Realty - Glendale, AZ
Big difference...Yes, the faux painted sponge walls are really an eyesore when you touring a property yourself, let alone with a client!  I always cringe when I see them.  I love what you did with this one!  Nice!
Aug 08, 2007 09:34 AM
Kathy Nielsen
http://atlantahomestaging.net - Marietta, GA
Atlanta Georgia Home Stager

Awesome difference.  I'm so glad they took your advice!

Kathy

Aug 08, 2007 10:00 AM
Anonymous
Anonymous
Joyce and Kathy ~ Thank you for commenting. The agent is still telling his other clients about what a huge difference this made when it came time to sell. Just a $25 investment made a huge impact.
Aug 08, 2007 11:54 AM
#27
Susan Peters
Dove Realty Inc. - Seattle, WA
The Better it Looks the Better it Sells

Kathy,

Who would have thought of gray as an accent color but, teamed with the butter yellow it's a winning combination.  Good job! 

 

dalison=Salvadore's little boy 

Aug 22, 2007 04:12 PM
Kathy Alexander
GreatStages Home Staging and Redesign - Vancouver, WA
Home Stager Camas WA, Home Staging Southwest WA
Thanks, Susan. Actually, the color is a sage green that has a gray tone to it. We tried to compliment a color that was in the drapes. 
Aug 22, 2007 06:08 PM