Admin

Traditional Is Conditional - Home Staging Furniture

By
Home Stager with Reveal Estate Home Staging - Vancouver

I was inspired to write this blog by fellow stager Eva Rivera, after she kindly commented on the use of modern furniture in our recent projects. Some of you have been wondering if we ever use traditional furniture, to date we have not. Doing so would appeal to fewer potential buyers and limit the opportunity for maximizing the selling price. Keep in mind that we are located in a large urban metropolis and you can't swing a tape measure without hitting a modern building. Occasionally we do get the opportunity to stage more traditional homes.

Unless targeting a specific demographic, using transitional furniture is key when merchandising property. By transitional I mean neither contemporary nor traditional, but rather somewhere in between. While homes may be traditional in design the furnishings should be pleasing to both young and more mature buyers. This is the simplest and most effective way to create mass appeal.

Consider these shots of older, vacant homes from our portfolio using what I consider to be transitional pieces. Adding a hint of bold fabric or interesting furniture placement provided the edge needed to make these properties stand out and linger in the minds of a wide range of buyers.

vacant living room         Living Room staged by Reveal Estate

 

 

vacant sun room         Sunroom staged by Reveal Estate

 

 

vacant living room          Staged by Reveal Estate

 

 

before home staging          Home Staging by Reveal Estate

 

 

before home staging           Home Staging by Reveal Estate

Reveal Estate is a full service home staging company located in Vancouver, British Columbia. 

 

Comments(32)

Show All Comments Sort:
Wendy Casey
A-List Home Staging & Decor - Surrey, BC

Hi Jackson,

Great post about using transitional furniture for staging. When I first saw this house, my first comment was how much I loved the floors and the kitchen...two very important selling features in any home. Using transitional furniture here as opposed to traditional, actually shows off these features rather than making a statement in one style. The clean lines really work here, to show off the architectural elements!

Keep up the wonderful work and educational blogs!

Wendy Casey, CSP

 

 

 

Jul 17, 2007 06:15 AM
Lynette Lawson
Starlight Design - Yucaipa, CA
Inland Empire, CA Home Staging

Hi Jackson

Wow !!! What a impact.

Lynette

Jul 17, 2007 06:35 AM
Jessica Hughes
Ambiance Staging - Boulder, CO

Jackson~ Amazing work as always!  When I first started I was using more 'traditional' furnishings, but, luckily we are moving more and more into the 'transitional' market.  We are also lucky to be living in a more progressive town, where there already is a quite ecclectic mix of styles.

I do wonder though whether in many 'middle america' places this design style would be largely rejected??  It would just be so off the charts from what people are used to seeing.  Also I have heard of home buyers being dissuaded to buy a home because the staging looked 'too good' and made them feel intimidated.  The staging should always be in keeping with the price point of the home!

I think for sure, in more progressive areas there is never the need to go with more traditional furniture; and that doing so would be a disservice to our sellers.  I'm glad you are in an area where you can indulge your taste!!

Jul 17, 2007 07:25 AM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"
Very nice staging and great photography Jackson!  I love using transitional pieces too for all the reasons you've mentioned.  Why don't you write a blog on the photography angles.....
Jul 17, 2007 07:55 AM
Eva Rivera
Decorating Flavor - Fairfield, CA

Jackson,

All I can say is WOW!!!  Your work is breathtaking!  I love your inventory........if you'd ever consider branching out and opening another location in northern California, CALL ME!!!  We could use a California Reveal Estate!  You have fantastic style, and what the young crowd call "Flavor" (aka taste).  Keep up the good work!

Jul 17, 2007 10:50 AM
Maureen Maureen
Orangeburg, NY
Jackson - it is upscale and fantastic.  I think you could stage a barn and it would look chic. 
Jul 17, 2007 01:38 PM
Kathy Nielsen
http://atlantahomestaging.net - Marietta, GA
Atlanta Georgia Home Stager

I'm with Maureen - You can stage anything!  This is incredible (as always).

Congratulations.  Your post is being featured in the group Staging "Before" & "After" Pictures.

Kathy

Jul 17, 2007 02:37 PM
Lori Hakeem Oxley
Charles Rutenberg Realty, Inc. - Tampa, FL
I am always impressed with your before and after pictures... You do not disappoint!  Great job!
Jul 17, 2007 03:39 PM
Penny Schoenbeck
AZ Home Styling & Redesign - Mesa, AZ
AZ Home Styling

Hi Jackson,

Your pictures are awesome! All the rooms look fabulous!

Jul 17, 2007 03:44 PM
Cindy Bryant
Redesign Etc. Home Staging - Houston, TX
"Houston Home Staging Pros"

Jackson,

As usual, a beautiful job.  I would love to get my hands a hold of your rental furniture company!

 

Jul 18, 2007 02:16 PM
Rhonda Hay Rawlins
Glastonbury Home Staging - Glastonbury, CT
Jackson, you have provided an excellent lesson in furniture styles and mass appeal. As always great visual; supported by clear, concise explanations. Very effective. Thank you.
Jul 18, 2007 04:21 PM
Patricia Ebrahimi
SHOW SMART! HOME STAGING & Color Consultant - Rockville, MD
Home Staging the Washington DC Area from Rockville MD
Jackson, top drawer as usual.  And, I agree with you on the transitional furniture, bold fabric and different  placement to create broad spectrum appeal and lasting impression.  Question:  How do you put the black frame around the after pics?
Jul 19, 2007 04:52 AM
Jackson West
Reveal Estate Home Staging - Vancouver - Vancouver, BC

Patricia, I frame the shots with this, check it out it is simple and free!

Denise, we have the same style; clean lines, less is more. Can't go wrong with that!

Jul 19, 2007 08:40 AM
Coco Lemmon
Concepts by Coco, Home Staging, Portland, Oregon - Portland, OR
Concepts by CoCo - Homestager - Portland, OR
Jackson - thank you soooo much for the info about picture frames!! It's a great site - I've already changed my pictures! Your work is GREAT too!!!
Jul 21, 2007 02:57 PM
Michelle Minch
Moving Mountains Design Home Staging, Pasadena, CA - Los Angeles, CA
Home Staging Los Angeles and Orange County, CA

Jackson: I am in total agreement - Transitional is the way to go. I have had people call me and say "I have a Craftsman house and I want Craftsman furniture". I explain that their home will appeal to many, many more buyers, even those that are not crazy about Craftsman, if they take a little more 'middle of the road' approach, with a bow to the Craftsman style in some of the accessories.

 BTW- I think your photos are great and clearly illustrate what a talented stager you are.

Jul 21, 2007 03:37 PM
Marsha Carlton
Project: Staging - Portland, OR

Jackson,

What great work you are sharing with us. We always like to appeal to that which the buyer aspires to, and your work illustrates that wonderfully. Your rooms are absolutely inspiring!

Jul 23, 2007 07:07 PM
Leanne Zumbrunnen
Z Touch Design Services - Lenexa, KS
I love your style.  Great definition for transitional.  By the way has anyone ever told you your picture looks like Jeff Goldblume?
Jul 24, 2007 01:39 PM
Cindy Lin
Staged4more School of Home Staging - South San Francisco, CA
Host, The Home Staging Show podcast

it's very true. i live in san francisco bay area and encounter quite a few historical homes where sellers ask for specific furnishing. (where the heck am i gonna find victorian rental furnishing?!) it just is not common and does not show well.

cheers

cindy 

Jul 26, 2007 04:11 PM
Jackson West
Reveal Estate Home Staging - Vancouver - Vancouver, BC

Coco, frame away! Great name by the way. 

Michelle, thank you for the compliment, the photo of the room on your profile page is so beautiful, calm and fresh. Amazing work!

Marsha, thanks for stopping by, very cool line "appeal to that which the buyer aspires to" I'm going to add that one to my vocabulary.

Leanne, Jeff Goldblume eh? lol... now he knows something about transformation, well at least in "The Fly" anyway!

 

Jul 26, 2007 04:15 PM
Jackson West
Reveal Estate Home Staging - Vancouver - Vancouver, BC
Cindy, you are right Victorian furniture appeals to a limited group of buyers. Perhaps one day homeowners will realize that staging is not interior design.
Jul 26, 2007 04:45 PM