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BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS - How RENTING just 2 Sofas in a RESALE full of furniture NOW has it COMPETING WITH NEW CONSTRUCTION.

After sitting on the market for several months, this homeowner was ready for a fresh start with the help of home staging.

The property was filled with beautiful furnishings and antiques, in traditional Queen Anne and Colonial styles very popular here in New England. The challenge was to attract more buyers of all ages with a more generalized style that would appeal to almost anyone's tastes.

The living room, pictured below, was the most critical transformation, as it is the first room viewed upon entering the grand foyer. It was the only room in the entire home where the expense of renting furniture was truly required. (Sofas sourced from Interim Furnishings of Framingham.)

The traditional, but specific style and darker colors of this living room are transformed with a monochromatic and airy palette. The pair of sofas now lead the eye to the distinctive fireplace, and their size scales the space to reveal its true square footage. Soft, cozy and inviting. Now, even non-New Englanders looking to relocate, and buyers of all ages, can easily imagine themselves in this wonderful home. And better yet, now this newly-defined home is competitive with brand new construction in the area.

BEFORE

BEFORE - Lovely, but specific traditonal style

AFTER

AFTER New sofas and lighter color palette appeals to tastes of most any buyer

Lisa

www.BostonHomeStaging.com

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Posted by Lisa Kauffman Tharp - BostonHomeStaging.com on 05/03/2007 03:52 AM

Comments (29)

home staging, furniture rental, neutralize

29 Comments on BEFORE AND AFTER PHOTOS - How RENTING just 2 Sofas in a RESALE full of furniture NOW has it COMPETING WITH NEW CONSTRUCTION.

MAY

2007

Wow, What a difference that made, even just changing the COLOR of the furniture had such an IMPACT. Very Clever!

I think staging could work after seeing these pics...many of my clients balk at repainting or staging. I think some homeowners take it too personally that the general public may not like their coral colored master bath or pink dining room!

This room looks so good with your new paint/furniture- the piano can actually be highlighted instead of blending with the dark paint. I have a new listing, and am having a stager come look next week- it makes a HUGE impact. Get ready for your business to explode, and congratulations- keep posting your examples.

Wow what a difference! You really showed that there is a simplicity to at as well as an art. Love it!

eva

Lisa,

I thought the original living room was beautiful - but I like Queen Anne. I can understand your goal of making the room more appealing to a wider range of people, and you certainly did transform the look to do that.

Hi Brian.

Thank you for your comment.

Yes, I told my client that her BEFOREs were some of the nicest around. This is a perfect example of staging strictly to widen appeal.

Lisa

Lisa, this so good! It absolutely demonstrates the need for change to widen the appeal. The before pictures do nothing to enhance the appeal of the room itself, and now you really can appreciate the rooms beauty, and you are not distracted by dark walls, that actuallly make the ceiling appear low.

Joelle Green

Lisa - your before and after are the most dramatic transformation I have seen to date. fabulous.

Lisa- Excellent. You do really great work.

AND this is a great visual to show sellers that we do not always stage beceause there is anything really anything WRONG with how they live in their home, it just does not appeal to everyone.

Lisa --

Beautiful job . . .

Tammy Kemp -- First Impressions

Lisa,

One word.....

Inviting!

Very nice job, Lisa. I love the monochromatic theme.

That is a really beautiful transformation! Pleasing to the eye, and inviting. I didn't even realize there was a piano in the room in the first photo! Amazing results!

So the piano problem really wasn't one here. Everything looks so good after - thanks!

MAY

2007

Kathleen - Yes, the piano problem. We discussed removing the piano, but the room was large enough to be able to leave it roughly where it was, thus saving major challenges in moving the big grand! Plus, in the end (at least in this case), it adds great panache and sophistication to the space.

And, you are right Jeannie. Now you can really see this great prop!

Thank you for your comments.

Lisa

JUN

2007

Lisa, as always your designs are spot-on target. Truly, so many realtors, homeowners (and Stagers!) can learn from excellent work. Another great job!

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

JUN

2007

Again, another fine example of the impact staging can have!

Thanks for sharing.

Kathy

The room looks beautiful and I think too, it will appeal to more people. And I also completely missed the piano in the first shot, I had to go back and look. Lovely pictures, thank you for sharing them!

LOve it! I would buy...definitely! Great job! :)

JUN

2007

Hi Lisa,

WOW, what a differance! I love the wall color, excellent choice!

Leslie-

What is the wall color?

JUN

2007

Great transformation. Much more appealing to a wider range of buyers.

Homes Staged by Lil

We stage homes with BUYERS in mind!

JUN

2007

Lisa,

I love the wall color too! Big difference with the couches The chairs gave ot such a cold empty look ...

The wall color and the couches cozied it up. Very inviting!

Ginger ( Boston Native)

SEP

2007

OMG It's a total transformation and does not even look like the same house, its gorgeous!! Great job and I am sure the homeowner were thrilled.

Phyllis Pafumi

SEP

2007

A simple but brilliant solution! It makes the room look warmer, larger and younger! This is exactly what staging is supposed to do.

Great work as usual! You always keep it to the point, neutral and stylish! :-)

Lisa - Beautiful transformation. I noticed the change in paint color visually heightened the ceiling too.

Jackie

SEP

2007

Lisa,

Stunning Pics. I was not on Active Rain when you posted originally. Beautiful work.

Stacy

OCT

2007

Lisa the transformation is stunning! You have a signature style that is all yours!

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