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Dark and Drab... How furniture brightens a space...

By
Real Estate Agent with Keller Williams First Coast Realty - The Marro Team

This seems really kind of interesting to me.  We finished staging a home today that was called 'dark' and 'very vanilla' by agents & buyers alike (prior to us getting our hands on it.)  We were there until 11:30 last night staging and had to bring in just a few things this morning.  While we were waiting for the furniture to arrive my assitant and I kept commenting how dark it was... the buyers were definately right.  We, of course, added lamps, etc hoping the agent would come turn them on before buyers walked through.  We even thought of putting them on a timer.

This morning when we arrived, surprisingly, without a light on in the home the home was brighter!  Somehow the furniture made the difference.  We are assuming that it broke up the patches of dark with splashed of color & shimmer.  Your eyes had more to look at, so they did. 

Today I went to another vacant listing presentation.  The complaint from buyers was the same.  Dark.... I told them the story of the home we did today and walked away with another job and signed contract.  I explained that I'm not exactly sure how it work (the dark to light thing) but that it does!  I find it very interesting...

Here are photos of the completed home....

   

   

   

Some additional photos that I don't have before photos...

   

 

This is just another example of what staging can do to help bring life into an otherwise dark & drab vacant home.  In this highly competitive market, shouldn't your clients be getting every edge they can?

Posted by

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 Author Bio: Melissa Marro, Home Staging Industry leader, Realtor, and entrepreneur offers a unique perspective on New Home Construction, Resale Residential Real Estate, and Home Staging

For more information on buying or selling in the Fleming Island, Orange Park, or Jacksonville, area, visit StageListSellNEFL.com or call Melissa Marro (marro.melissa at gmail.com), Keller Williams First Coast Realty, for more information (904-466-2093).

 

Comments (18)

Charlottesville Solutions
Charlottesville Solutions - Charlottesville, VA
Very nice clean lines, I like it a lot. I may have to get into staging as it makes a huge difference!
Jul 27, 2007 08:32 AM
Susan Buchanan
harvey & associates realty - Taos, NM
Nice job.  I am amazed at the difference and most of your wonderful accessories are not brightly colored which is what I expected before I looked at the pictures. Love the dining table accessories! 
Jul 27, 2007 08:39 AM
Maureen Maureen
Orangeburg, NY
Melissa - It looks so pretty.  I love the three flowers on the dining room table. 
Jul 27, 2007 08:44 AM
Juliet Johnson
Vizzitopia - St Johns, FL
Jacksonville Photography & Digital Marketing

Why Charles, yes it does!  Hey Melissa, great job.  Yeah, you can totally see what you mean about the light, and I agree it makes no sense logically though I jsut thougth of this:

You know how when one looks at an empty room, normal people have a hard time seeing how big it is.  Once we have furniture in place, there is suddenly a frame of reference and you can clearly and easily see how big the space is likely to be.  Must be the same with light.  Only by adding dark pieces can you see how light the place really is?

You got such style; I l-u-v looking at your work.  I like the life imitating art in the Dining Area. 

J

Jul 27, 2007 08:56 AM
Juliet Johnson
Vizzitopia - St Johns, FL
Jacksonville Photography & Digital Marketing

Why Charles, yes it does!  Hey Melissa, great job.  Yeah, you can totally see what you mean about the light, and I agree it makes no sense logically though I just thought of this:

You know how when one looks at an empty room, normal people have a hard time seeing how big it is.  Once we have furniture in place, there is suddenly a frame of reference and you can clearly and easily see how big the space is likely to be.  Must be the same with light.  Only by adding dark pieces can you see how light the place really is?

You got such style; I l-u-v looking at your work.  I like the life imitating art in the Dining Area. 

J

Jul 27, 2007 08:56 AM
Marcus Valdez
Berkshire Hathaway Rocky Mountain Realtors - Fort Collins, CO
that looks great.  too bad they didn't have you paint a wall at least one.  your work looks awesome though.
Jul 27, 2007 09:03 AM
Melissa Marro
Keller Williams First Coast Realty - The Marro Team - Orange Park, FL
Jacksonville Real Estate and Home Staging
The funny thing about the dining table is that the setting was changed at the 11th hour (practically literally.. we were there until 11:30pm staging this house!)  When my husband helped us put it in the car, he raked the center of the table right across the metal piece where my back door catched - creating a monumental scratch right down the center.  I scrapped the original idea, stopped by our local World Market for a runner & some kind of centerpiece.  (I had planned to have a party like table setting done.)  Having only about 10 minutes because we were already 4 hrs behind schedule (late movers) I decided on these... Honestly I think it worked out better than my original plan anyway!  Whew!
Jul 27, 2007 09:08 AM
Suzanne Stephens
Stephens Design - Battle Ground, WA
Real Estate Website Design
Nice work Melissa. The darker furniture creates contrast, which adds some snap to the scenes.
Jul 27, 2007 09:15 AM
Leo Namiot - LeoLends.com
Canopy Mortgage - Leo Namiot - Saint Augustine, FL
More than just great rates
Very nice, great job, what a big difference. It amazes me what you stagers do!
Jul 27, 2007 09:39 AM
Kathy Nielsen
http://atlantahomestaging.net - Marietta, GA
Atlanta Georgia Home Stager

Great job, Melissa!  I too like the dining room accessories.

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

Kathy

Jul 27, 2007 11:36 PM
Janice Sutton
1st Stage Property Transformations - Murrieta, CA
Home Stager - Temecula Murrieta

Fantastic job Melissa!  I find that my plans don't always work and I change things up at the last minute.  I find it is sometimes better to come back the next day!  After you have worked on a job and looked at it all day you need to take a big step back. 

Jul 29, 2007 05:07 PM
Cheryl-Anne Priest
Inviting Spaces - Home Staging Calgary - Calgary, AB
Inviting Spaces - Staging Calgary
Melissa - great photos that really show how vacant can be transformed into something inviting and comfortable.  I really like the flowers on the dining room table and how they pick up on the flowers in the pictures.  One question - how do you keep the picture on the mantel.  I have noticed this is several other posts and have forgotten to ask.  I am always afraid that the picture will "slide" off.  Do you attach it will velcro or something?
Jul 30, 2007 02:27 PM
Melissa Marro
Keller Williams First Coast Realty - The Marro Team - Orange Park, FL
Jacksonville Real Estate and Home Staging
Cheryl Anne - I just set the mirror/art on the mantel.  They are pretty big pieces and weigh a ton most of the time.  As long as the home is empty (no pets, children, etc) they are pretty safe.  I've yet to have a piece come down.  I did the same thing in my home until we got the flat screen hanging up. 
Jul 30, 2007 03:19 PM
Anonymous
Anonymous
Melissa - thanks for the information but not sure if I am as brave as you.  On a staging project in Vancouver, there was a very large picture (with a glass insert) sitting on a cabinet about three feet high.  For no reason this picture slid off the cabinet and crashed to the floor.  I have no idea how, but fortunately the glass did not break.  Notwithstanding your success, I don't think I would try placing anything on a mantle unless it was secured in some way.  Perhaps someone will do a post on how to secure paintings and mirrors.
Jul 31, 2007 11:36 AM
#14
Suzanne Stephens
Stephens Design - Battle Ground, WA
Real Estate Website Design
I've used white florist putty to secure items on narrow ledges.
Jul 31, 2007 12:54 PM
Melissa Marro
Keller Williams First Coast Realty - The Marro Team - Orange Park, FL
Jacksonville Real Estate and Home Staging
The florist putty sounds like a good idea.  Because the pieces are HEAVY and the mantels are usually painted (which gives them a bit of a sticky grab) I've never had a problem.  I wouldn't do it on a hutch or TV stand, however.  I think it really depends on the surface.  I also do a little test nudge to see how hard it is to budge & let that be a big part of my determinations.
Aug 01, 2007 03:28 AM
STAGED IN STYLE, Home Staging
STAGED IN STYLE - Palmdale, CA

Hi Melissa,

You created really great focal points! I especially love the bedroom! Really Pretty!

Aug 06, 2007 12:04 PM
Kathleen Lordbock
Keller Williams Realty Professionals - Baxter, MN
Keller Williams Realty Professionals
Very nice and the contrast of the light walls and dark furniture does the trick.
Aug 06, 2007 12:55 PM