home decorating: As an Interior Stylist, I'm Progressive - Creating Continuous Clients - 07/18/11 02:25 AM
•·        My two appointments today illustrate how having a progressive menu of services, additional education and expertise brings you long term relationships with your best business source - An existing client!
•1.     A Realtor associated with my Builder Models I merchandised hires me to stage the home for her lasted sale in the sub-division.  Most likely, I'll be helping them decorate the new home as well.
•2.     My staging client hires me to help choose a new paint palette and arrange her new space in her NEW home.
Beyond the typical home stager's repertoire of just prepping that home for sale, as … (9 comments)

home decorating: Al Fresco Spaces - Making your Outdoors Magnificent - 06/12/09 04:10 AM
As our latest season, summer, is almost upon us, we are all a buzz to making our outdoor living space a haven.
Whether your home is on the market or not, your outdoor spaces should show as well as your indoor space.
If you are need of a bit of inspiration, here are a few tips, advice and ideas from my own outdoor spaces to yours.
Be inspired to eke out areas of your yard into "rooms."  This can be done by establishing an area for an activity, or by anchoring a space with a structure. A room is established by … (15 comments)

home decorating: The Stuff We're Made From - Creative Application to Your Craft - 06/01/09 09:44 AM
I know this is slightly off-key for an Active Rain Home Staging post - But I felt the need to share. 
It's not actually all the content that can be applied to our craft - But the creative process in which I gather the materials to create the end results.
I'll be hosting my niece's baby shower in September. As I was going through magazines and books - I found these great recipes, twisted them slightly and came up with this month's recipes for the "Easy Gourmet" Cable TV show. ( Wghich I film once a month for a local Cable TV Channel.)
Every show … (1 comments)

home decorating: It’s my Prerogative – A Philosophy on HOME STAGING - 05/18/09 01:28 AM
I did not want to hijack Cynthia's great blog on staging vs. decorating http://activerain.com/blogsview/1079414/decorating-staging-decorating-staging, but since the subject came up... Here's my thought...
If you want to stay in the game - Evolve.  
A home stager in business in 2009 HAS TO EVOLVE AND BECOME A HYBRID - You need to seamlessly combine both staging, decorating and design skills to service your client properly.  
The longer I am in this industry, and now that staging is becoming a norm in the selling process of a home, and the longer that HGTV and other shows educate the homeowner, the more I … (16 comments)

home decorating: The 7 Year Color Itch - 09/26/08 11:52 AM
Tales of an Interior Stylist - The 7 Year Itch
My job as an interior stylist allows me to help you celebrate all aspects of your home. My quest is that you are delighted with the way your home looks and feels each time you walk into it.  My goal is that your home has your soul written all over it.
Although your home may seem complete, approximately every 7 years, we feel the need to make a change, especially when it comes to color.  Do not fret over this itch that comes over you.
Our taste in color changes, just … (12 comments)

home decorating: As the Seasons change - So does your business! - 10/22/07 10:12 AM
 
I call myself a progressive designer (just like a progressive dinner, but for your home instead.) My service menu is from appetizers right through dessert -
Fall marks a rotation for my design services The beginning of this season kicks off the commencement of my residential design and lifestyle consultation rush (definitely the main dish.) From home projects left undone due to summer vacations, to a finalized family conversation exclaiming  "It's Your Turn to Host This Year" -Fall starts my business rush for redecorating, redesigning , and accessory rotation (aka Holiday Decorating.)
Offering a broader array of services is a very important factor to our design business … (11 comments)