Sometimes You Have to Break the Rules
The expression “rules are meant to be broken” never made much sense to me. My modus operandi has never been to go out and break a rule. 
However, I’m a big proponent of using common sense when I can in my approach to life. And sometimes at the intersection of common sense and rules, guess which one wins?
Years ago I was providing a staging consultation for a client who was moving to New York to live with her son. It was time.
Her husband had passed away just a few months before and her children all wanted her to move closer to them.
She was so sweet and fairly open to listening to any recommendations I made.
The home was very clean and her biggest project was going to be editing. She was an artist and one wall had at least a dozen of her paintings on it.
She was going to get some help with this from friends but she had a few requests.
Her agent and all of her friends told her that she couldn’t have any personal photos around. She had removed them and carefully packed them away.
However, there was one 8x10 framed photo of her husband. She needed his “presence” in the home with her while the house was on the market. Her husband had always been the one to handle all of their business affairs.
And, she would place the photo on the desk in the kitchen so it wouldn’t distract the buyers.
And, could she leave her Shabbat candles on the desk by her husband’s photo.
This sweet lady was eager to do what she needed to do so she could move but truly needed these items for emotional support.
Having them discreetly placed in an area of her kitchen was not going to derail any sale of her home.
This is the partially staged living room of my client. There was more to come. And by the way, my client was 90 years old at the time and pretty darn sharp!
When I returned after her friends had helped her pack up some of her items, she was so proud of her efforts. The photo of her husband and the Shabbat candles were there and she felt ready to move!
What I loved about this consultation was the strong bond this lady had with her husband and her faith.
I’ve never believed in the absolutes when staging and still don’t. People and homes are unique and I’d imagine that they appreciate being treated that way.
This is an entry in Lisa Von Domek ’s February Contest.
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