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Dane called...Can I help with a set design for Alicia Keys...

By
Home Stager with Hawley Interiors & Staging

This is the message I received Sunday around noon from Dane Caldwell of 2 Hounds Design (don't know how to link). By 2:00 I'm running around trying to source accessories for a couch described by Dane as "contemporary, rust coloured, clean lines". HAH, what she forgot to mention is it's by product of the 70's. The chairs, well she said they're olive green, funky and retro.

The set design for this group of wonderful ladies, Alicia Keys, Jennifer Hudson and Queen Latifah, was a challenge to say the least. Our starting point was the above mentioned sofa. Dane and I, at separate ends of the city, are both crazy with excitment trying to pull accessorie before the stores close on Sunday. We purchased everything we could find that might compliment rust and olive green. When I arrived at the lovely (not) Four Seasons hotel the producer immediately started running me from room to room to veiw alternate sofas. "OMG, Dane hurry and get here...this is not my project" Were my only thoughts. As I mentioned we purchased accessories to match this rust sofa. The producer now would like to go with an equally ugly baby blue one. Finally what seemed like hours (10 mins) Dane arrives to reassure the producer that this rust sofa will work just fine. Reluctantly, she agreed...Until 5:30am when she had me begging the staff of the hotel to take the ugly taupe sofa from the lobby! Once again our luck prevailed when the sofa wouldn't fit in the elevator.

Throughout the night Dane and I went through every restaurant, room(not guarded by security), storage closet and kitchen in the hotel hunting down furniture for this set. The olive green chairs had to go and we were lucky enought to find some simple leather club chairs in the night club, which were probably our best find of the evening. We tried unsuccessfully to pilfer flowers...we snatched lamps from a sitting room and a sofa table from the 30th floor.

Needless to say, the room turned out beautifully.  And that ugly orange sofa...well, Jennifer Hudson loved it!

Thanks Dane for a great day, evening, night, morning, afternoon...This was by far the most exciting, strange, long, kaotic, up in the air, what are we doing now, project.

 

Kym Hough
www.Staged-to-Sell - Danville, CA
Staged to Sell East Bay - Danville, CA

Such a glamorous life you ladies lead. So spill what is it a set for and why no photos? Kym

Sep 09, 2008 05:44 AM
Kimberley Hawley
Hawley Interiors & Staging - Caledon, ON
Hawley Interiors & Staging

Kym, This was part of the Toronto International Film Festival where the ladies were premiering their new film "The Secret Life of Bees". 2 Hounds was asked to create a "living room"were the stars would conduct thier own interviews amongst themselves. The idea was to create a room where all the girls just sit around and chat about the movie. Dane has some photos and will be posting them. We weren't able to get photos before the ladies sat on the furniture and moved the pillows around.

Sep 09, 2008 05:49 AM
Toronto's 2 Hounds Design: Decorating + Staging
2 Hounds Design + Home Staging - Toronto, ON

LOL, that about describes the 'event' (well it was an event for us!). I've never laughed so much while working!

It was amazing too, the team: producer, writers, director, everyone was so much fun and so incredibly easy to work with. I swear it was as if we'd worked together many times! I'm so tired. LOL 

Sep 09, 2008 07:22 AM
Kimberley Hawley
Hawley Interiors & Staging - Caledon, ON
Hawley Interiors & Staging

Dane, Yes a lot of laughter was involved and quick thinking...amazing how you were still able to do that after so many hours...

Sep 09, 2008 08:46 AM
Terrylynn Fisher
Dudum Real Estate Group - BuyStageSell.com - Walnut Creek, CA
HAFA Certified, EcoBroker, CRS, CSP Realtor, Etc.

Sounds like a hoot.  And it's always more fun with friends. 

Sep 09, 2008 09:00 AM
Kimberley Hawley
Hawley Interiors & Staging - Caledon, ON
Hawley Interiors & Staging

Terrylyn, Hoot is the perfect word for it. Funny, you just never know what's going to come your way. And yes, friends help.

Sep 09, 2008 09:13 AM
Nancy Ewing
Creative Angle REdesign & Staging - Dillon, CO

Loved this story.  Can't wait to see photos!!

Read the book, can't wait for the movie!

Sep 09, 2008 09:15 AM
Kimberley Hawley
Hawley Interiors & Staging - Caledon, ON
Hawley Interiors & Staging

Nancy, watch for photos Dane will be posting them. She already posted one of the set after the set had been used...I have to figure out how to add links...Anyway, check Dane Caldwell's blog. thanks

Sep 09, 2008 09:25 AM
C. Bartch
Newark, OH

Kimberley, I just saw the one photo Dane posted and you both did a great job. I love the fuzzy pillows and the green orchids in the glass containers. Well done!

Sep 09, 2008 12:04 PM
Kimberley Hawley
Hawley Interiors & Staging - Caledon, ON
Hawley Interiors & Staging

Thanks Cynthia, trust me, it looked better before it was sat on...The pillows are great, the labels say they are watr fowl but I'm not sure. Dane was wonderful to work with.

Sep 09, 2008 12:26 PM
Hope Designs
Hope Designs - Bolton, ON
Hope Designs, Toronto’s Award Winning Home Staging

TALK ABOUT COOL!!

GOOD FOR YOU!!

Sep 09, 2008 01:35 PM
Kimberley Hawley
Hawley Interiors & Staging - Caledon, ON
Hawley Interiors & Staging

Thanks Lori! Cool is an understatement. Now reality sets in and I have to put the kids on the bus...

Sep 10, 2008 01:01 AM
Leah J. Armstrong
House to Home ReDesigns & Real Estate Staging Vancouver B.C. - Port Moody, BC
Home Staging Port Moody B.C.

Such excitement to shake it up a little!  Can't wait to see pictures.  Thanks for updating.

Sep 10, 2008 02:30 PM
Sandi Gerrard
Toronto, ON

Nice job, Kimberley and Dane.  I saw the photos in another post ...

 

Sep 11, 2008 04:33 AM
Kristina Leone
Lionheart Home Staging, LLC - Minneapolis, MN

Unbelievable!!!  The glamorous life of a stager...

Sep 11, 2008 05:10 AM
Michele Hess
Simply Staged Inc. - Rockford, IL
Home Stager Rockford - Simply Staged Inc

Great job Kimberley!  I saw Dane's post with the photos.  Congrats!

Sep 11, 2008 07:31 AM
Kimberley Hawley
Hawley Interiors & Staging - Caledon, ON
Hawley Interiors & Staging

Leah, Yeah, I'm all shook up! Check Dane's blog for pics

Sandy, Thank you!

Kristina, Trust me, no glamour here

Michele, Thanks so much

Sep 11, 2008 07:50 AM
Daniel Wexler
ReMax - Fountain Hills, AZ

wow , who thought that we realtors live the hi-life :)  - it is really the staging and design folk

Sep 13, 2008 07:39 AM
Kimberley Hawley
Hawley Interiors & Staging - Caledon, ON
Hawley Interiors & Staging

Daniel, No, not quite the hi-life...I was schlepin all night!

Sep 14, 2008 02:40 AM