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Need help, not sure where it went wrong here?

My friends, could I ask for your help?

I staged a typical suburban colonial yesterday that had one of those hip, modern mix of furniture. You know, with the one really ugly old piece thrown in that you know they inherited. I saw so many prewar appartments with sleek contemporary furniture that were to die for when I was a realtor in Manhattan. So I thought I'd try the same look here, but with staging principles in place.

The LR went OK - though the homeowner hated it. Both the REA and Photog thought it fab, so I'm sticking with it.

LR Before LR After

The homeowner promises he will remove his cellphone and it's charger when the house goes on the market. I stuck a candle there, because... did I mention...this is a divorce where the remaining occupant smokes like a chimney!!! It's beyond odor... it's a stench. I have it written into my contract that my props are rented to them at full retail if they come back smelling of smoke.

The kitchen and bedrooms came out fine. 2 steel trolleys from Ikea saved a dumping area in the kitchen. But there's something wrong with DR. It's too much. It doesn't work. Is it the runner, the second amber water glass, the centerpiece? Is it just that the napkins are photographing up too white. They actually look nice with the champagne-silver-colored plates, and a black and champagne threaded napkin ring.

DR Before DR Staged for sale

Close UP of DR, once staged

The runner is what's left of the shower curtain my daughter and I recovered the DR chairs with. I thought it lent a more funky, youthful look to some rather ordinary traditional-looking chairs. (There are napkin rings, too, made out of the bit that goes around the rod, but I thought we had enough of it on the table already!)

I dunno. Please tell me what you all think. The home goes "up" tomorrow - Thursday. It HAS to sell this weekend, because we can only get the smoker out of there for just this weekend. Him and his enorrrrrmous, slobbery black lab. Gadzooks!

Am I obsessing? I need you guys.

Myrtle Beach Home Staging provides SC Luxury Real Estate in Myrtle Beach, and all along the Grand Strand, with onsite staging and property styling combined with online promotion services.

Posted by Juliet Johnson - Home Staging Myrtle Beach on 08/08/2007 08:26 AM

Comments (23)

home staging new jersey, home staging south orange, modern mix

23 Comments on Need help, not sure where it went wrong here?

AUG

2007

My opinion only (and I'm not a stager!): The water glasses are too much. I would personally also get rid of the pictures on the wall. They distracted me for some reason from the room itself.

Yeah, totally with you. The homeowner insisted that those photos stay. I negotiated 3 seperate discussions and finally gave up. They are kinda cool in that they are artsy! Normally, I only allow photos of the homeowner with a President, or skiing in Europe, yachting with the Kennedys, tennis with Regis and the Donald, lifestyle kinds of thing, but here it was a battle I couldn't win.

Plus, they are secured with 2 picture hooks each, firmly lodged in the plaster. I'd have to repaint the room if I removed them.

<sigh>

I'm not a stager either, but in the dining room the wall art seems to be hung peculiarly low. Everything seems to be happening around the floor.

Ha ha ha...love the photo rules!

Hmmmm, table looks a little busy. What if you did two runners going perpendicular, and maybe add some faux foilage in the corner?

Good thought. Maybe if it were longer, thinner, more "global" or 40's?

Definitely get rid of the pictures. I think the rest is fine. I am no stager either but everything else looks good to me. Good luck!

This is a great transformation in the LR, what a great job you did. As for the DR, I am not sure, if you are asking if it does not look right in the pictures or to your eye in real life. I would probably remove the glasses, so a buyer can focus on the room and not so much on the table. Alternatively, if the glasses worked for you in other jobs, remove the centerpiece. I agree with the previous comment that on the photo the pictures look to jarring, but it may not be the case in reality. Good luck with the sale!

Juliet: Your stuff always looks great. In the DR I would suggest that the table be less dressed. I like the runner but would probably lose the table settings only because of the art-too many things to look at....I think it looks busy becuase the LR is so clean and classic. I'm sure it looks much better than when you started. Nice photos by the way!

Good call. I went ahead with my concept for the table, despite losing the photo battle. I should have adjusted accordingly. Thanks, Cheri.

Hi Juliet,

You did a beautiful job - I love that the home is eclectic - It's very 2008.

Normally I hang dining room paintings low, because the purpose of the room is for sitting, not standing - but the art hovering on the chair rail isn't right either, and since you are staging, and people are walking through, hopefully not sitting - I'd loose the pics all together.

I'm all about setting the table, but there is too much action going on the table - runner goes, and just add a large footed bowl of pears if you're going for the amber. And only one piece of glass serving-ware.

Julea Joseph, Interior Stylist - Reinventing Space

Juliet, I didnt think of the smoke clause for the contract. (good idea) Im going to pass that on to Tanya. Also, I agree that the pictures are low and will the homeowner remove them for the MLS photos.

Hi Juliet,

I agree with Julea here. The pictures need to be hung higher and less in more on the table. I think because this is a long table with many chairs, one large arrangement or footed bowl/fruit would be best. I find that simply staged dining room tables photogragh well esp. if they are large in size. Seems like round tables with place settings look fabulous in print.

Juliet,

The living room staging looks great! In the dining room, I'd remove the extra glasses, remove the runner, remove everything else on the table except the plates & napkins and 1 glass, and I'd ADD a taller centerpiece for a bit more drama. I'd also remove all of the smaller items on the sideboard/buffet. Could you add a tree in one of the corners without hiding the architectural details? Also, the arm chairs placed in the middle of the table seem distracting to me since it breaks up the clean straight lines. I'd either place them at the head of the table or remove them altogether.

If you need to leave the prints, then I'd hang them higher.....you should be able to conceal the holes with the prints themselves by just moving them up on the wall? Good luck and please let us know how it goes!

OK... First, the pictures are distracting and if you can't remove them, hang them higher. There are too many little things so, take everything off the table. The table and chairs have "weight" to the eye so the decor should be substantial but less. I would bring in a taupe runner with some low greenery or arrangement with an accent color from the closest room. Remove the things from the sideboard and put one tall large item there or 3 items like candle sticks. You need to bring the eye up because the curtains are set high. So less items, but larger statement items that accent the room. :)

Okay... I think you are looking for advice. The furniture arrangement is perfect! I love the chairs you put in the dining room, clever upholstery. It's just the walls and accessories that need some tweaking. Here's what I would do:

The fireplace wall is a selling feature. Paint it a medium or darker color to make the fireplace stand out. Right now it blends right into the wall.
Switch the 2 art pieces. Lean the large one on the mantle and put the little guy on the wall by the doorway. They are out of balance as they are right now.
The issue with the dining room is the "weight" of what is in there. The dark table and accessories are heavy on the bottom half of the room, and the empty pale colored walls are very light on the top half, and sadly there is no crown molding. Is he willing to hang the pictures? Put one over the serving piece and just hang the others a little bit higher to bring the eye up. I know, it stinks they are personal, but at least they are black and white. Maybe even add a very light colored area rug under the table to bring the light color down to the floor like you did in the living room.

I hope this helps! Sounds like the homeowner was a tough cookie, because you did a good job. Best of luck.

I can't thank you all enough for your advice and wisdom. I'm heading back over in a little bit and will see what I can do. We seem to have consensus on the amber glasses. So they're out. I'm taking off the runner. I have 2 others I can try. I'll try for a taller centerpiece and will take everything else off.

I'm in agreement with Lori Kim. Remove all the dishes, glasses, etc. from the table. Keep the runner and just put 2 topiaries or a simple, low floral arrangement in the middle of the table on top of the runner. I have stopped setting tables, unless specifically requested, as I think it is just too distracting.

I agree with everyone else. The pictures are too distracting. Lose them if you can or hang them higher.

I would remove the martini glasses and cocktail shakers and put 3 or 4 of the martini glasses and one cocktail shaker on a tray and place it on the coffee table in the living room. I'd also probably replace the amber glasses with clear ones to give a lighter look. Don't beat yourself up though Juliet, you've done a great job!

Hey

I love those glass nesting tables you have in LR. Did you buy those or those are the homeowners'? Also, GREAT idea about smoker rule there and ack the pet. I love dogs but I don't like other people's dogs drooling all over me. I went on a consultation today where the dog smelled my croch, poked my butt and licked my feet and legs. Eww.

Cheers,

Cindy

AUG

2007

Thanks you guys, I was hoping California would weigh in!! You guys see things in such a clean, simple way.

Cindy - those tables were indeed the homeowner's. Yeah, big time covet on my part, too! Sorry about the dog. Ewww is right!

Michelle - I'm so interested you have stopped setting the table. I never used to do the tables, but have just started doing it. Now that "staging" is gaining popularity out east, people expect it. And it seems a quick way to pump up the color. Still, I'm not loving schlepping all this stemware, I tell you!

Charlene - you're a pal. Thanks for your kindness and good thoughts.

Lori Kim - I see what you're saying. Will see what I can.

Alright, everyone, I'm off now to do another house. This one, a redo of one I did 3 months ago. The husband was re-lo'd here, lost his job and has just got another one, in New York. Looks like they'll be going to the Island. Val, where are you?

Yes, I think you are obsessing, but since you asked, I would definitely simplify the dining room table--just a large colorful centerpiece. From the pictures, it seems a little dreary. I'm on the east coast too and rarely set the tables. The chairs look great!

In the living room, did you try flip-flopping the arrangement? It bothers me that the sofa is facing a wall with an uninteresting piece of art while a fabulous view is waiting outside! Probably one of those things that looks like it might work from the picture, but doesn't in reality.

Good job and good luck!

Kim Dillon, Creative Eye Home Staging

I totally agree with those that mentioned the pictures. They are way too low! Can they be hung higher? And what is that under the left window? It is distracting to me. I the table centered under the light fixture? In the photo it seems off-set.

I would also unset the table and do something a little simpler and more dramatic with some color. I also think the arm chairs need to be moved. They seem awkward stuck in the center of the table. If there is not room at the ends, I would lose them all together and just stick with four chairs.

Good luck!

AUG

2007

I'm not sure if you are still looking for feedback... and I'm not even a stager....but here's my initial reaction. I love the living room. It looks so much better. I agree with the comments above that it may be nice to highlight the fireplace more....

But onto the dining room... its kind of hard to see how much room there is on the back left corner of the room - but if there is space I think the buffet table would look better angled back on that side. Looks like it may fit better. As for the table I think the problem is that the colors of the stuff on the table is dark kind of like the table. Its like too much concentrated dark. What about removing everything from the table except the runner and then using a bunch of silver (shiny and matted) balls and vases etc of varying heights. Like a collection. I think it would give a little sparkle and help balance the white bright walls with the dark table...kind of give trasition to the two.

My two cents :)

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