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Marin Home Staging: What a Difference a Door Makes...

As my first posting on Active Rain, I thought it was appropriate to open the door to this community with comments about home staging entry doors!

This condo project was targeted to the progressive home-buyer interested in a small home surrounded by trees in a quiet residential neighborhood. Unfortunately the front entry is tucked along the side of the greenbelt-facing condo, and isn't visible from the street. The condo hadn't been modified since it was built almost 25 years ago, and the cracked and faded Victorian-style front door and tired light fixtures just weren't doing the job.

Condo Before and After Entry Door

The front door was replaced with a standard design 4-panel glass entry door that allows natural light into the home. Privacy and style were both addressed by having the interior side of the glass windows sand-blasted, leaving a 3/4" clear border to suggest beveled glass. New door hardware was installed (it looks and feels more substantial in the hands of a potential buyer), and new lighting and doorbell were affordable upgrades.

The new entry happily piques the interest of potential buyers, and sets the stage for a gently contemporary, updated home inside. It instantly brings a positive reaction -- and we all know how important emotional connection is to staging!

For further information and Before and After photos, please visit http://www.leslieolsoninteriors.com/.

Thank you for reading my first post -- I look forward to getting acquainted with you though the Active Rain community!

** UPDATE ** I've re-posted this former blog as I my family and I get acquainted with our new home in the North Bay area of San Francisco. I look forward to introducing my business to the Marin County market, and felt this original introduction posting, originally written when we were in Austin, Texas, seemed to fit the bill. I have many, many pictures to post from recent projects, and will be updating my web site very soon as well. It's great to be in our beautiful new surroundings in Northern California -- and great to be back on Active Rain! LTO

Leslie Olson, ASID

Leslie Olson Interiors, Tiburon, CA

leslie@leslieolsoninteriors.com http://www.leslieolsoninteriors.com/ 415.233.2633

Posted by Leslie Olson - Leslie Olson Interiors - Marin County, CA on 04/27/2007 10:35 PM

Comments (31)

This post has been included in California Information Marin County, CA Information Tiburon, CA Information
Post is included in group: Staging "Before" & "After" Pictures
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31 Comments on Marin Home Staging: What a Difference a Door Makes...

Cool. Thats almost the same color I always recommend for doors to my clients.

Terry Haugen - STAGE it RIGHT!

04/27/2007 11:17 PM

by Terry Haugen STAGE it RIGHT! 321-956-2495 (Stage it Right!)

Wow Leslie, What a grand entrance you have made! Welcome to the rain. Your door and your post are both great. It will be fun hearing more from you. Keep them coming.

04/27/2007 11:22 PM

by Yvonne Root Northern Arizona Home Stager (rooms b.y. root)

Leslie,

Your transformation is impressive! The new doorbell, doormat, and plant arrangement is also impressive. I love the glass sandblasting idea! Nicely done!

04/28/2007 02:26 AM

by Maureen Bray ~ Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR (Room Solutions ~ Staging that Sells Homes!)

Leslie - Welcome to the Rain.

What a great transformation! Thanks for sharing!

Kathy

04/28/2007 06:17 AM

by Kathy Nielsen, Atlanta Home Stager (Georgia Interior Solutions, LLC)

Very Nicely done

04/28/2007 06:18 AM

Welcome to Active Rain. What a great job on your first post. What a great job on that front door! Fantastic!

04/28/2007 06:39 AM

by Chris Elizabeth Griffith ~ Bonita Springs Fl Real Estate (Keller Williams Elite Realty, Bonita Springs, FL)

HI Kathy, welcome and the door and lighting look terrific! Congratulations on your first post, I'm sure we're all looking forward to more from you!

04/28/2007 06:46 AM

by Carole Provenzale Owner, Feng Shui Long Island & New York (Feng Shui Long Island & New York City)

Wow -- thanks so much for your kind words! This was such a fun project to work on (I may send more pictures in a future blog), and small things like this entry had lots of impact. I agree with you about the color, Terry -- especially because the exterior of the condo complex is a combination of limestone and miles and miles of taupe paint. Neutrals look great with all the natural greenery, but the entry just needed more contrast and panache.

I'm so pleased to have a community like this to share ideas and inspiration -- thanks for your welcoming comments!

Leslie Olson - Leslie Olson Interiors, Austin Texas

04/28/2007 07:59 AM

by Leslie Olson - Leslie Olson Interiors - Marin County, CA (Leslie Olson Interiors)

I love the choice of door! The difference in the before & after photos are dramatic. The 2nd is far more 'upscale' & 'modern'..... definately makes the first impression of the home pop... Great job!

Melissa Marro, www.StagingAndRedesign.com - become a member today!

04/28/2007 09:12 AM

by Melissa Marro www.StagingAndRedesign.com www.RedesigningCharleston.com (First Impressions)

nicely done - but i have would have left the porch swing (in a different color of course). it just adds a nice "comfort" factor

04/28/2007 10:30 AM

by Sandi Gerrard, CRSS (Feel at Home * redesign * staging * training)

Beautiful! What a great entrance(s)!

04/28/2007 10:59 AM

by Dane Caldwell - Downtown Toronto Decorator Home Stager (2 Hounds Design + Home Staging)

Thanks again for the nice words. Funny you should mention the porch swing, Sandi! Actually it's down temporarily enjoying a new paint job -- a rich chocolate brown, to be exact. We're thinking along the same lines! I very much appreciate the feedback...

Leslie

04/28/2007 01:42 PM

by Leslie Olson - Leslie Olson Interiors - Marin County, CA (Leslie Olson Interiors)

oh good ... because if I was looking to buy that house, I'd already been picking out all the good books I could enjoy while swinging on my porch swing ! thank you thank you thank you ... i love chocolate brown

04/28/2007 02:12 PM

by Sandi Gerrard, CRSS (Feel at Home * redesign * staging * training)

Sandi -- just to make it all the more appealing, I should have said that the porch swing is currently being dipped in dark chocolate! - Leslie

04/28/2007 02:36 PM

by Leslie Olson - Leslie Olson Interiors - Marin County, CA (Leslie Olson Interiors)

Great vchange. I love the new door. Great job!!!

04/30/2007 09:41 AM

by Anthea Click - Home Stager -Fresh Perspectives (Fresh Perspectives)

Love the door! Etching the glass was brilliant. I am so looking forward to your posts.

04/30/2007 09:58 AM

by Sheron Cardin - how2homestage.com RESA (California Moods Inc)

Thanks Sheron and Anthea!

By the way, I stumbled across some interior pictures of the same door before and...welll.. almost after! I love the way the new door makes beautiful light and shadow patterns in the condo throughout the day. These pictures also show what subtle paint colors can do as well.

Thanks for your interest!

04/30/2007 11:19 AM

by Leslie Olson - Leslie Olson Interiors - Marin County, CA (Leslie Olson Interiors)

The door really updates the place. It is very evident from the interior pics. Welcome to AR!

04/30/2007 12:54 PM

by Michelle Minch Home Staging Pasadena & Los Angeles, CA (Moving Mountains Design Home Staging, Pasadena, CA)

Thanks for the welcome, Michelle!

By the way, my "new and improved" web site with lots of Before and After pictures is expected to launch by the end of this week. I'll keep you posted!

Leslie Olson Leslie Olson Interiors - Austin, Texas www.leslieolsoninteriors.com

05/14/2007 01:21 PM

by Leslie Olson - Leslie Olson Interiors - Marin County, CA (Leslie Olson Interiors)

Wow Nice pics Leslie. How did I miss your great ist blog? Keep up the good blogging

05/14/2007 07:15 PM

by Asheville Stagers- Leslie Godbold (Asheville Stagers - "We do more than make pretty places!")

Hi Leslie - Very nice!!! I always say it's stuff like the front door and windows that draw me in. If the outside doesn't look good, who wants to enter????????????

05/15/2007 09:15 AM

by Maureen Graziano (Third Eye Home Staging)

Fantastic job! Did you end up leaving the wooden beam on the ceiling as is in the second set of pic's?

05/15/2007 12:52 PM

by Julia Fedak, CSP-Canadian Staging Professional (Platinum Home Staging Design)

Thanks, Leslie and Maureen! I agree with you on the exterior Maureen -- so much has already been decided by the potential buyer before they've even opened the door! Can't miss any opportunities to make a good impression...

Julia: After much deliberation, we decided to keep the beam stained as it was, since it seemed to go with the architecture (rustic limestone fireplace, etc.), and draw the eye up. In retrospect I'm glad we did -- everything else that was originally stained -- baseboards, trim and cabinets - were happily painted. The beam just added some nice contrast by leaving it as-is. Thanks for your comments!

Leslie Olson Leslie Olson Interiors - Austin, Texas lolson11@yahoo.com (to be updated later this week!)

05/15/2007 01:35 PM

by Leslie Olson - Leslie Olson Interiors - Marin County, CA (Leslie Olson Interiors)

Leslie. Welcome to Actve Rain! What a difference simple changes can make in curb appeal. Thanks for sharing..

-Meg

05/17/2007 09:32 PM

by Meg Stewart ~ Appraiser ~ Frisco, Texas (Reliable Appraisal)

Wow Leslie - that door and light fixture really made a dramatic difference. The original one is similar to the door on my own home. Up until now I like it - now I think it's got to go!!!!! Keep the pictures coming.

05/17/2007 09:50 PM

by Maureen Henry - Rockland Home Staging (www.rocklandhomestaging.com)

Looks like there are several of us with doors on the minds this week.!!! We will have to come up with weekly blog themes more often!

05/17/2007 09:55 PM

by Kathleen Lordbock (Re$ale Design) ~Minnesota Home Stager~ (Re$ale Design & Home Staging)

Leslie, beautiful front entryway, the condo owners must have been very happy with these results.

I linked to your blog today, here.

05/18/2007 10:44 PM

by Sue Argue - NH Home Stager (Staged First Impressions)

Thanks Meg, Maureen, Kathleen and Sue -- I very much appreciate your comments!

Forgive me for being inaccessible on Active Rain recently -- thanks to the wonderful leads I've gotten recently from this site I've been VERY BUSY Staging! I've just posted a couple of blogs showing a couple of new vacant listings I just Staged in the Austin area (one very limited Staging, the other much larger scale). I will soon be blogging with more Before and After photos. And yes, my expanded web site is STILL almost ready -- my busy Staging schedule has delayed that launch as well. I'll keep you posted...

Leslie Olson Leslie Olson Interiors - Austin, Texas leslie@leslieolsoninteriors.com

06/11/2007 06:19 PM

by Leslie Olson - Leslie Olson Interiors - Marin County, CA (Leslie Olson Interiors)

I love the colour of the door, very close to what I want for mine. Nicely done.

06/11/2007 06:44 PM

by Tina Parker, UpStage Home ReDesign(.ca) (UpStage Home ReDesign)

What a beautiful door in a fab color. The new door really is a fitting introduction to the contemporary interior. Great job!

06/11/2007 08:55 PM

by Lanita, Interior Concept Designs, Home Staging (Interior Concept Designs)

Thanks Tina, Nora, Susan and Lanita! Actually the color has been used on several doors I've seen on recent Active Rain blogs -- Benjamin Moore's aptly named "Classic Burgundy."

Nora and Susan: I've got a couple of other before and after pictures from this condo on my newly-revised web site, www.leslieolsoninteriors.com. You're welcome to come visit Austin anytime!

Leslie Olson Leslie Olson Interiors - Austin, Texas www.leslieolsoninteriors.com leslie@leslieolsoninteriors.com

06/29/2007 12:50 PM

by Leslie Olson - Leslie Olson Interiors - Marin County, CA (Leslie Olson Interiors)

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