All I did was....paint out the fireplace, declutter and change the sofa set

Hi Susan, It really is a sweet, cozy room now. Before it was a had the look of a bachelor pad and did not look very inviting to the young families that we were trying to appeal to.

Hi Margaret, You are so right. An area rug immediately brings the focus on a conversation/gathering area that pulls the buyer into the room.  The fireplace was a huge improvement. Before Staging it wasn't even noticed in the room. Now even the homeowner realizes how much more he would have used his fireplace when you can actually see the the warm effect it has on a room by being the focal point.

Hi Cindy, I know what you mean about the silver above the fireplace. It was incredibly distracting to buyers and they really didn't notice the marble around the fireplace at all. Now the fireplace is the focal point as it should be.

I posted some photos of the dining room on another post here as well. It is the "purple palace" room, another conversation starter. And not a good one.

All is better now. The rooms have been calmed with neutral paint colours and appear larger with furniture to scale now placed in the rooms.

Hi Kristina, I agree. The silver above the fireplace had to go. I remember upon entering the room, I was mesmerised by it. I had never seen anything quite like it. It had to go.

Hi Terrylynn, Thank you for stopping in to see my work today. I always appreciate your comments. The fireplace was the focal point in the room and by painting the mantel dark, it allowed the white marble to shine through.

Hi Jackson, Always a pleasure to have you stop in and see my work. Just removing the silver above the fireplace did not make a dramatic enough difference in the room. Just before the fireplace mantel was painted dark, I took a picture of the room. The white relief on the fireplace was even more pronounced with the silver artwork gone. See below.

Hi Michele, you're right, too much furniture makes it harder for buyers to see if their furniture will fit in. You need to see floor space for that to happen.

HI Rhonda, The homeowner was on board right away with painting the fireplace. Once they saw the difference they knew the other colour had not been enhancing the fireplace.

Hi Chrissie, Never be afraid of paint. As my number one painter says... it's only paint. It's the easiest thing to change and doesn't cost an arm and a leg.

Hi Cindy, all too true. The puffy couches are ubiquitous as the mass market furniture stores stock these year after year. Design does not come into the picture. I know my husbands only prerequisite for buying a sofa is how comfortable it is when he lies down on it. It could be the colour of Rainbow Brite and he wouldn't notice. As long as it is puffy and supports his head for watching sports!