Home Staging Tips From A Showhouse - Part 3!

We toured the gorgeous Designer Showhouse of Westchester last week.  This second annual event was located in Bedford Corners, NY, and benefits Cerebral Palsy of Westchester. 

In Part 1, recurring motifs and traffic patterns were covered.  In Part 2, we looked at built-ins.  Part 3 uses a blue-and-white bedroom designed by Catherine Cleare (Westport, CT) to illustrate working with a monochromatic palette.

Monochromatic color schemes call for differences in pattern scale and texture...and one surprise element!

Nestings Home Staging Tips

The Ikat pattern on the walls is NOT wallpaper!  It's all hand-painted...probably with a stencil as a base, then embellished by hand.  Amazing.  It sets the middle-size pattern.  The large block-print paisley on the drapery is the largest, while some passementerie sets the smallest size pattern.  The textures were a little flat; I wanted more.  That said, the walls were glossy, the drapery linen, and the bed cover quilted.  Something fluffy, like a frothy throw or Mongolian fur pillows would have been perf!  I think it would have balanced all the "perforated" hard-edged fret-work furniture. 

The room needed some soft upholstery.  Everything was wood, metal, or lucite - with an upholstered seat.  An upholstered headboard would have been great, and broken up the matching bed/table/desk combo package.  But that's just my take.

Nestings Home Staging Tips

The surprise of an elegant, red lacquered Chinoiserie stand in an otherwise blue-and-white room brings a smile and lingering memory.

So if you're working with a monochromatic color palette, make pattern size and varied textures work for you.  Add in that surprise element!  Paint with a bold brush stroke, whether you're Staging to Live or Staging to Sell!  Add one dramatic element to your personal landscape, such as a large turquoise vase in an all-white room or a bunch of weather balloons to decorate a backyard party!

 

P.S.  Yes, sad to say, as a professional Home Stager, I would have to recommend that the walls be painted out. 

 

Nestings Home Staging CT Fairfield CountyJulia Vigneron Maher, Nestings Home Staging & Model Home Design:  Award-Winning Staging for Model, Vacant and Occupied Homes in Fairfield County, CT (including Fairfield, Southport, Westport, Trumbull, Monroe, Newtown, Stratford, Easton, Weston, Wilton, Norwalk, Darien, Stamford, Greenwich) and Connecticut.

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17 Comments on Home Staging Tips From A Showhouse - Part 3!

JUN
12
2011
301,336 Points 2 Featured Posts

Julia - I am with you on the headboard!  Upholstered would be solid and not compete with the hand-painted(!) walls.  It would soften the lines up, too!
11:43am • #1
251,323 Points 1 Featured Post Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Agree...an upholstered white headboard would have been the perfect!
12:46pm • #2
409,092 Points 12 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Julie - Love the blue & white - so fresh.  Ok, I have to say, the walls are giving me a migraine.  Maybe it looked better in person.  I love the surprise red stand with the roman bust on it.  That made me smile, too!  Hey, I have to thank you for the link on your last post (#2) to Lilian August's magazine.  I drooled over it for over an hour, looking at all the accessories and displays.  Mmmmmmmmm.
1:20pm • #3
284,682 Points 7 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Hi Sharon & Kathy!!!  Yes, something soft to contrast with all the hardness.

Oh Sally - it was a bit much, but aftera ll, it IS a showhouse!  Yeah, I worked at Lillian August for a year.  Love the aesthetics - there are several.
1:48pm • #4
Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp

Same here.. the wall behind the headboard comes across too busy with the see through look of the headboard. Solid white.. much better idea.
2:30pm • #5
580,485 Points 37 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Julie -- Adding an unexpected color to a monochromatic scheme is such a good idea.  (The style in that room seems dated and over-decorated, but that's just IMO)
2:42pm • #6
235,736 Points 10 Featured Posts Called Shot Master

Julia--I'm with Sally and the migraine.  I feel the diamond pattern is overly repeated in this small space--probably dictated the choice of headboard, too.  The only upholstered piece, which looks like a small chair in front of the window, is swallowed up by the large diamond pattern on the throw pillow.  I would have opted for a lower, solid headboard, no foot board and more solid color on the bed pillows.   
2:51pm • #7
102,932 Points Called Shot Master

OK.... for me the headboard stays and the large framed picture on the wall goes. That picture is distracting from a  hand-painted wall that is the design focal point of this room. With the large print drapery panels, there is plenty to look at (including knick-knacks on the bedside table). Also, the small table with the lit lamp base goes too.  Too crowded! Move the small chair from in front of the window. I like looking thru the geometric pattern of the headboard to admire the pattern of the hand painted/detailed wall. Also, I never place lamps or large art pieces in front of hanging art where the wall art (not including mirrors) is blocked...from any angle.  Blocking the full-viewing of a work of art "bugs" me.This is "my view" of this room.....fun! thanks for sharing! 
5:03pm • #8
197,847 Points 1 Featured Post Attended Rain Camp

Howdy from Houston!

We've done the guest suite in our home in this color pallette.  But, we did solid royal blue walls, and then mixed a variety of patterns and fabrics from Waverly.   It's a tricky business, and one of the things that really didn't work was adding elements of red (like the pedestal in the photo).  Made it look like Betsy Ross had come to stay......<G>
6:11pm • #9
227,499 Points 2 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Julia, for the stager's eye the walls with pattern is bit too much but my question is about that lamp on the left. The base lighted up not the shade....unusual but cool.
8:31pm • #10
346,126 Points 8 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Oh my goodness, I understand it's a show home and I bet the designer is under 50.  The bedroom reminds me of the 60s and I'm over that just like mauve and blue from the 80's.  IMHO, the bedroom is a case of less would be best.  Very interesting Julie, thanks for sharing. 
8:54pm • #11
JUN
13
2011
284,682 Points 7 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

I didn't mean to dish on this room, just wanted to use it as an illustration of how to combine pattern and texture in a monochromatic room.

Maureen - it's that one element that can make a monochromatic palette pop!  Unilike poor Tom's Star Spangled effect - LOL!
12:32pm • #12
Outside Blog

Hi Julia,

I agree with the padded white headboard idea.

I know it was not an example of a staged for sale home,  however, it would make a cute room for a bed and breakfast  place in the country or coast.
4:20pm • #13
2 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp

Thanks for showing us this photo, I love looking at designs, especially intricate ones that I would have a harder time pulling off. I would go with a dark blue upholstered (with curves) headboard, personally, and agree with the other comments about removing some of the pieces for staging. I'm not a fan of red with the blue and white, but could see the fun of using another "odd" color like yellow, lime green, or bright blue. Interesting how we all have slightly different takes! 
10:35pm • #14
JUN
14
2011
621,696 Points 3 Featured Posts Outside Blog Called Shot Master

Maybe for a weekend beach getaway, but that would be about all I could take of it, think it would make me dizzy. LOL Don't care for it!
2:08am • #15
284,682 Points 7 Featured Posts Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

You know, Linda - it WOULD be great for a B&B!

Hi Amy - you know, I never thought "Oh, it's red, white and blue - how patriotic!" when I saw this room - now we have Tom to thank for that - LOL!

Cindy - the area rug has a fretwork pattern too! 
8:29am • #16
781,065 Points 38 Featured Posts Outside Blog Attended Rain Camp Called Shot Master

Add me to the list of "upholstered headboard" fans.  That room is far too busy for me!
7:53pm • #17


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Julia Maher, Connecticut Home Stager Staging Fairfield & New Haven Counties

Fairfield, CT

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