interior decorating: Area Rugs: Tips for Selection and Placement
- 08/28/11 02:10 PM
When I am staging a home for sale, area rugs serve many functions in a room: Defining the area, for example, a seating or dining area in a large room Adding pops of color to an otherwise neutral room Toning down a room that has strong and bright colored furniture Adding texture to a neutral colored space When I am doing an interior redesign, in addition to the above, area rugs also: Provide comfort underfoot Provide physical warmth underfoot Absorb the sound in a room Area rugs come in these common sizes: 5' x 8' 6' x 9' 8' x 10', … (31 comments)
interior decorating: Who Says Home Stagers Can't Be Inspired by Color?
- 12/02/10 08:29 AM
In home staging, we like to stick to a neutral color palette so that we can make the home that's for sale appeal to the broadest range of buyers. However neutral does not have to mean boring. I love to use pops of color (red, turquoise, orange, greens, blues) in throw pillows, artwork and decorative objects against the more neutral background colors (beige, grays, whites) in the furniture, bedding and walls. Even so, I love to see what colors the major paint companies forecast to be THE colors for the upcoming year. I like to use these colors for inspiration. Benjamin … (57 comments)
interior decorating: The 2010 Hampton Designer Showhouse: My Favorite Rooms
- 09/03/10 11:35 AM
Much better than last year! That's what I have to say about this year's Designer Showhouse in the Hamptons. This year it is being held at 129 Stoney Hill Road off Brick Kiln Road in Sag Harbor. Sunday, September 5, is the last day, so hurry and get over there. This year the room decor in 95% of the house is MUCH more down to earth than last year, which frankly, I found to be over the top. Here are some of my favorite rooms: Living Room Designed by HB Home [I love the classic look of this room]
Bedroom Designed … (8 comments)
interior decorating: Interior Design vs Interior Decorating vs Home Staging vs Interior Redesign: What's the Difference?
- 04/07/10 11:06 AM
The other day a real estate agent whose listings I stage for sale introduced me to someone as a "designer". I didn't want to take the time to correct him, but I thought to myself, "This isn't the first time I've heard people use 'designer' erroneously". I don't profess to be an "interior designer", though I do practice interior redesign. Sometimes "interior designer" is used to label someone who's an interior decorator. So, then, what are the differences? To put the differences succinctly: Interior Design involves, among many other things, the preparation of documents for the construction of an interior space such as plans and elevations, and … (4 comments)
One might think that the arrangement of items in a bookcase is not art, but it is. Color, balance, and space all play a big part. Here are some hints to arranging a bookcase, whether built-in or free- standing, whether you're staging to sell or not: First, remove all of the items from the bookcase. Discard or pack away paperback books (especially when staging as they can be sloppy-looking). Remove the dust jackets from the hardcover books, except coffee-table books to give the shelves a neater appearance (when staging). Group books and accessories separately so you can … (23 comments)
interior decorating: Good Flow Sells Houses
- 02/13/10 01:03 AM
What exactly is flow, and more specifically, traffic flow, in a house or a room? Simply, it's the ability to walk easily from room to room in a house as well as through the room without bumping into furniture or coming upon an empty space. Homes that have a good traffic flow sell faster than those that do not. But even if your home is not on the market, you still want to maximize flow. A couple of important "rules": 1. You should be able to walk freely between rooms such as the dining room and kitchen, for example. This rule wouldn't apply … (14 comments)
interior decorating: What's in Your Home Staging Kit: Here's the List
- 01/09/10 04:10 AM
A few weeks ago, I shared with you what was in my staging kit. I asked you what was in your kit that wasn't in mine. I received over 40 comments on my blog and decided to consolidate your ideas into a list for all to easily see. Some of you decided to share the form of your staging kit. Here they are: Double-decker rolling tookbox 5 gallon buckets Large blue bin Suitcase on wheels Here are the items that I don't have in my kit, but that you have in yours: Hangers (when staging vacant homes in the winter - … (13 comments)
interior decorating: I'll Show You My Home Staging Kit If You Show Me Yours
- 12/10/09 03:29 AM
Just kidding! Of course I'll show you mine, even if you don't show me yours. But would love to get your input on what I'm missing. I originally put together this list from a training program I took at Home Staging Resource and then added to it by reading all of the great blog posts here on Active Rain. I have added and deleted items as I've gone along for what works for me.
I've divided my list up into 3 categories: Permanent items - you can't run out of these, for example, a hammer. Items that won't fit in … (46 comments)
interior decorating: Paint Color: How it Affects Your Perception and Your Mood
- 12/02/09 06:06 AM
Did you realize that over 90 percent of the information we receive is through our eyes? Did you know that the paint color of a room can affect your perception of that room? RED makes a room appear smaller, but it comes into its own when set against cool colors (blue and green). ORANGE also makes a room appear smaller but it is less oppressive than red. Best used to decorate welcoming parts of the home. YELLOW can brighten small rooms, however a bright yellow is not recommended for children's rooms as it has a vibrating intensity. GREEN does well when used … (14 comments)
interior decorating: Paint: One of the Most Important Home Staging Tools
- 11/19/09 11:29 AM
When your home is for sale, it is now a product that needs to appeal to the greatest number of buyers. Walls, along with the floors, are the bones of a home and they need to be in good condition and neutral in appearance so that they do appeal to the greatest number of buyers. People are heavily influenced by color, and it is difficult for buyers to look past the dark purple or other strong colors on the walls. Paint is an inexpensive but effective way to re-decorate a room. It can update a kitchen or bathroom, make a small … (9 comments)
interior decorating: Pictures, Chandeliers, End Tables, Lamps, etc.: How High?
- 09/27/09 01:57 PM
How high should a picture be hung? How low should a chandelier hang over a dining room table? What's the appropriate height for an end table? Here are some useful guidelines: Hanging Pictures - generally, pictures should be hung at eye level, but whose eye level? Hang it so that the center is at 5'8" to 5'10". But it should relate to the height of the furniture (and the objects on it) and not be hung too high. Also, the width of a piece of art or group of art should be a minimum of 2/3 the length of the piece … (8 comments)
interior decorating: Does Your Home or Listing Have Architectural Features that Pose Problems: Here are some possible solutions
- 09/04/09 07:17 AM
Does your home have architectural features in the interior that pose problems? For example, the ceilings are so high that it just doesn't feel comfortable when walking into or being in that room? Or a room is so narrow, it feels claustrophobic? See below for some common problems and how to "fool the eye" to make them just disappear: Long Rooms - divide the space into two or three separate areas (e.g., in a living room, have several seating areas as pictured below) and anchor each with an area rug. Use dark colors on the end walls to visually advance the wall … (5 comments)
interior decorating: Five Decorative Accessories to Perk Up Any Space
- 08/19/09 01:52 PM
Recently I was contacted by a writer for a real estate magazine and she asked me what are the five decorative items I use most often when staging a home for sale and why I use them. After giving it some thought, I came up with the following, which can also be used to perk up any space even if you're not selling your home: 1. Throw Pillows - do wonders for both the living room and bedroom. Use pillows in bright contrasting colors to the couch, chair or bedding color. Because it's important to use neutral colors on the walls … (8 comments)
DON'T: Place objects in a straight line Place objects in the corner of the table Place objects so that they block the view of a seated guest Crowd the surface with too many objects My favorite places to shop for great-looking but inexpensive decorative accessories: Target for lamps, bedding, bathroom items and throw pillows Pier One for throw pillows, candles, placemats, napkins and stemware Home Goods for … (11 comments)
When I am staging a home for sale, area rugs serve many functions in a room:
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