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Make It Work: What Home Staging and Project Runway Share

By Cathy Brosius

Home Stager with Arranged Smartly LLC

February 11, 2010 12:00 PM

I love Project Runway. I love watching the fashion. I love mentor Tim Gunn. And I love his mantra: "Make it work." That got me thinking about the many ways Project Runway and home staging are similar.

If you're not familiar with the show, they start with 16 fashion designers. Each week they get a crazy project and one or two days to complete a garment, usually within a limited budget. The designer with the worst style as determined by a panel of judges goes home. At the end, the final three go to Fashion Week in New York and the lucky winner gets $100,000 to start a line.

Hmm, what does this have to do with home staging? It seems most of my staging projects need to be completed within a tight time frame, usually within a limited budget. That requires a lot of creativity, inspiration, stamina and "make it work" attitude. I love a challenge and I find the results personally rewarding. While it's not $100,000, people pay me to do this for them. And the best part is, my clients are really happy with the results.

Now, time to watch my favorite program... auf Wiedersehen!

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Donna Schoby

Liberty Bank of Arkansas - Bentonville, AR

Cathy, I was thinking the same thing after my post that you just commented on. The Realtor hired me for a total of 4 hours. Not seeing the home before hand. I had to tour the home with the homeowner, tell him what to get started on while I went back to my storage to pull inventory. No time for shopping and I had to pull inventory that worked within the Realtors budget. Sometimes I would love to have a "runway" end result. But in my market...it's work with what you have...time and budget!

Feb 11, 2010 12:11 PM

Cathy Brosius

Arranged Smartly LLC - Saint Louis, MO

Home Staging St. Louis region

Donna, that's a great example of making it work! You did a great job with that project.

Feb 11, 2010 12:32 PM

Virginia Tatseos

Stage-Show-Sell - Bloomfield Township, MI

Every job has a limited budget. Some limits are high and some low. I guess the limit is in the eye of the beholder.

We all do what we can with what is given us. I do like the way you link it to the show.

Feb 11, 2010 01:05 PM

Ginger Foust

Certified Staging Professional - Oakhurst, CA

Home Stager Oakhurst CA, Dream Interior Redesign & Staging

Cathy I've only seen project runway a couple of time but I loved it too. I could have easy gotten into fashion design IF things had gone differently early on. Good analogy between the show and staging. Now I have to go find it on the DVR and record it...thanks!

Feb 11, 2010 01:45 PM

That's true, Virginia. I have yet to get a project with what I would consider a high budget, though!

Ginger, at one time I wanted to go into fashion design, too. I think that's one of the reasons why I love it so much. It's definitely worth watching the reruns!

Feb 11, 2010 02:17 PM

Cathy Lee

CL Design Services Home Staging - Danville, CA

ASP, IAHSP, RESA Danville, CA

I love this analogy and love the show when I have time to watch my tevo of it.

Feb 11, 2010 03:13 PM

Mary Lou Teague

HOME STYLE AND STAGING LLC - Knoxville, TN

Home Style and Staging Knoxville. TN

I am like Cathy, I have to tape the show and watch it when I can..but the comparision is right on

Feb 11, 2010 09:16 PM

Cathy and Mary Lou: I knew there were other stager/Project Runway fans out there!

Feb 12, 2010 01:02 AM

Valerie Sagheddu

Apostle Art Home Staging & Design - Stroudsburg, PA

~Home Staging Professional, Poconos, PA

Great analogy! Did you see last night when they were doing the evaluation and the judges said they didn't like the straps on Emilio's dress so he took out a pair of sissors and cut them off right there???

That was awesome...make it work...That's what we do!!!

Feb 12, 2010 11:46 AM

I did see that, Valerie! Great point, how many times have you had to reinvent or cut something up on the job? Well I have, anyway!

Feb 12, 2010 03:11 PM

Being able to adapt to the situation is essential... things don't always work out the way you intend them too...Making it work is what it's all about!

Feb 12, 2010 11:08 PM

Oh...and what does theat mean...auf Wiedersehen??? Just wondering, isn't that what Heidi says when they get sent home?

Feb 12, 2010 11:11 PM

Hey Valerie, thanks for coming back! Auf Wiedersehen means so long or good bye in German... That's why Heidi says it when they are eliminated. You're right--making it work is what staging is all about!

Feb 14, 2010 02:47 PM

c m

Colorado Springs, CO

Great analogy! I too, like that show, and love Tim Gunn! I seem to have always worked in creative fields where that was our mantra, "make it work"...(visual merchandising, florist, staging) Always making do, and always being excited where the creative mind goes when called upon!

Mar 02, 2010 02:11 AM

Fashion design was my first love when I was a girl, not sure why I ended up in graphic design. I think that's part of the reason I love the show so much. But I'm using "make it work" as my motto. Glad you agree, Cheryl. Thanks for stopping by!

Mar 02, 2010 05:50 AM

Rebecca Gaujot, Realtor®

Lewisburg, WV

Lewisburg WV, the go to agent for all real estate

i haven't seen this show, but sounds very interesting. Enjoyed reading this post, when does this show air?

Apr 01, 2010 01:50 AM

Lucky you, Rebecca. It's on tonight on Lifetime! It might not be as fun for you to watch coming in near the end of this season, but it is my favorite reality show by far. Let me know if you get hooked!

Apr 01, 2010 02:33 AM

Make It Work: What Home Staging and Project Runway Share

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