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Are You a Lover Or A Fighter? Are You A Chopper And A Thrower? - Vancouver Home Staging

By Sally Weatherley

Home Stager with EXIT STAGE RIGHT

November 06, 2011 05:30 AM

Are You A Lover Or A Fighter? Are You A Chopper And A Thrower? - Vancouver Home Staging

I was sitting down with a cup of tea and relishing the most recent arrival of one of my favourite design magazines (unfortunately, I can't remember which one), when I came across a fun article that made me stop and ponder... Oh, and no, I don't really care if you're a lover or a fighter - I just thought that might grab your attention (he he he) Am I a chopper? Am I a folder? Hmmmm. I thought I'd toss this question out to the staging community, and see where the majority stood on these 'important' questions. Ok, here's a bit of an explanation...

chopped cushions

When staging or decorating, do you give your pillows a "karote chop", or do you leave them as squares or rectangles? What works best for you? Why do you chop? Why do you not chop?

Also, how do you display your throws? Do you "throw" or toss them, as their namesake suggests, or do you carefully fold them? Does this depend on where you display the throws? Do you have a preference, or are you guided by your whim or fancy that day?

While we're on the topic, when you set up a bed, do you place the decorative cushions and shams upright, or do you slant them at an angle?

It would be fun to see what the majority of Stagers do. Chop, not chop, fold, throw, slant, place upright. Chime in and let us know!

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Cindy Bryant

Redesign Etc. Home Staging - Houston, TX

"Houston Home Staging Pros"

I do both, it depends on the types of pillows and throws and the look I want. Some pillows can't be chopped and some throws can be a bit difficult. There are so many types, sizes and fabrics for throws, I do know I spend far too long finagling them around!

Nov 06, 2011 01:42 PM

Sally Weatherley

EXIT STAGE RIGHT - Vancouver, BC

Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C

Anna - I so agree. I'm forever wrestling with those throws, and inevitably the tag is always showing, and I have to make a special effort to hide it!

Sharon - Thanks for posting your photo. It's a great example of how you arrange your pillows and "throw" your throw! Personally, I love the bedroom pillows standing upright, but I've had assistants who lean them back at a slight angle. Interesting...

Malcolm - My sides are hurting from laughing so hard at your comment! Relieved to hear your a "briefs" man, and that's all I'm going to add to the topic!

Nov 06, 2011 02:28 PM

Sally Weatherley

EXIT STAGE RIGHT - Vancouver, BC

Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C

Shar - Succinct and to the point! I like a Stager who knows their own mind and sticks to it!

Sharon - Oh no, I just stopped laughing and you got me started again! I agree. Sometimes the style of the home dictates what we do. I must admit that I often forget to karate chop, too, which is just as well, since it seems to be out of fashion. I still think it's important to decided on a case by case or home by home basis.

Cindy - I know - sometimes chopping isn't even an option, because no matter how hard you hit the cushion, it just won't be chopped! I know what you mean - when I go to haphazardly throw a throw, it never seems to land right, and I spend 20 minutes fussing with it. That's why I've gone over to the "fold" side.

Nov 06, 2011 02:34 PM

Sally Weatherley

EXIT STAGE RIGHT - Vancouver, BC

Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C

Valerie - I know, there are times when a throw needs to be thrown, and a time when it needs to be folded. Often, I'll let that little guy just speak to me... "toss me, fold me" - sometimes it just depends on my mood.

Nov 07, 2011 03:09 AM

Kristine Ginsberg

Elite Staging and Redesign, LLC - Short Hills, NJ

NJ Home Stager

It depends on the pillows - some lend themselves to the Karate chop (usually a more contemporary look) and some I don't. I'm not crazy about pillows at an angle - I like them like you have in your picture. Same things with trows - depends on the material of the throw - on a chair I usually fold it and on a couch I leave it more natural. Well let me just show you......as you already know this is my house - lol...

Nov 07, 2011 11:33 AM

Wendy Tomm

Beyond the Walls - East St Paul, MB

CCSP, RESA-PRO, BBB - Wpg Realtors

Great post and by the looks of your responses...it's all over the map.

I am a lover not a fighter, I tend to chop some and not others, I tend to place and fold rather than throw, and I like variety, new ideas and fabulous looks. Active Rain is a great place to find all of these things.

Nov 07, 2011 12:04 PM

Janet Jones

Just Your Style Interiors, LLC - Kihei, HI

Home Staging, Interior Redesign Kihei, Maui, Hawaii

Hi Sally--well, that depends. I chop when the room seems to call for it--more traditional than contemporary. I toss as much as I fold--again, for me depends on the "mood" of the room. Bed pillows, however, I generally set at an angle. Funny, I can't say "always" to anything here.

Nov 07, 2011 05:53 PM

Kathy Nielsen

http://atlantahomestaging.net - Marietta, GA

Atlanta Georgia Home Stager

Here's my question - how much throws would a stager throw if a stager could throw throw?

I suspect that you'll answer with: A stager would throw as much throw throw if a stager could throw throw.

(smile).

As for throws - I own maybe 20 and used throws maybe a handful of times out of hundreds of homes. They sure look pretty sitting in my warehouse though.

As for pillows - I chop when I feel there's a need.

As for boxers or briefs, I think Malcomb said he sides with "boxers."

Kathy

Nov 07, 2011 10:24 PM

Sally Weatherley

EXIT STAGE RIGHT - Vancouver, BC

Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C

Kristine - Thanks for posting that great photo of your living room! We're all so visual - isn't it so much easier to explain things with a picture?!!

Wendy - I'm also a lover not a fighter! Active Rain is great for ideas and inspiration. I've used many ideas I've found here in my own stages.

Janet - I think you're with the majority here. Interesting that we, as Stagers, tend to be pretty bending on this matter. I think we're used to adapting, trying out various set ups and never saying never!

Kathy - Now, I wonder what the Woodchuck would do...Interesting, now why don't you use your throws? As for Malcolm's comment, I think my face went as red as his shirt when I read that!

Nov 08, 2011 03:13 AM

Fred Carver Real Estate Consulant

Retired BC Realtor - Victoria, BC

Accredited Real Estate Consultant

Hi Sally....I like to watch and enjoy the outcome, yes I'm a lover and sometimes a fighter..ha

Nov 08, 2011 02:22 PM

Sally Weatherley

EXIT STAGE RIGHT - Vancouver, BC

Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C

Fred - Glad to hear you're happy to enjoy the fruits of our labour! Oh, and I think I figured that out about you already - that you're a lover and sometimes a fighter! Ha ha!

Nov 09, 2011 03:20 AM

Valerie Sagheddu

Apostle Art Home Staging & Design - Stroudsburg, PA

~Home Staging Professional, Poconos, PA

Oh my Sally I had a good laugh earlier today as I was getting my house ready for a visitor. I had read your post yesterday and wanted to comment but my internet was being really slow so I gave up in the end. But there I was 8 am chopping away at the 3 pillows on the bench in my entryway. I had to chuckle to myself as an image of you popped in my head...not because I wanted to chop your face or anything but because of this post of course!!!

I am with Kristine...depends on the type of pillow. Those filled with down are crying to be chopped while others with a bit stiffer fill prefer to remain upright. As for the throws...got to go with Kathy on those...got tons that hang out in my warehouse but only rarely get to go out on the town!!!

Nov 10, 2011 01:36 PM

Sally Weatherley

EXIT STAGE RIGHT - Vancouver, BC

Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C

Valerie - Too funny! Thanks for taking me along to your staging (in your head, that is...). Isn't it funny how that happens? I've read posts here and then come face to face with the challenge the author was writing about, and think to myself - hmmmm, what would so and so do about this?

Nov 10, 2011 01:56 PM

Valerie Sagheddu

Apostle Art Home Staging & Design - Stroudsburg, PA

~Home Staging Professional, Poconos, PA

Actually, It was my house! I have 3 pillows in my entryway so now everytime I primp and CHOP them I will think of you Little Miss Sally!!!! Come to think of it...Now, I will probably think of you everytime I throw a throw or set a sham or karate chop a cushion!

By the way...shams straight up for me!!

Nov 10, 2011 03:06 PM

Barbara Heil-Sonneck

Design2Sell - Atlanta, GA

Home Staging Atlanta

Hi Sally, I am definitly an "Angle" person, love your post

Nov 10, 2011 11:55 PM

Sally Weatherley

EXIT STAGE RIGHT - Vancouver, BC

Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C

Valerie - Oh sorry, I mis-read your comment - it's your home, so you get to think about me every day when you chop your pillows. See, it's my form of revenge for you holding that voodoo doll of me!!!

Barbara - Ah, so you're an Angler... interesting. It's fun that we all have our different styles and ways of doing things. I guess that's what makes us all different and unique!

Nov 11, 2011 03:31 AM

Sally Weatherley

EXIT STAGE RIGHT - Vancouver, BC

Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C

David - You're a chopper? And here I pegged you as a lover not a fighter!

Nov 11, 2011 08:31 AM

Mary Lou Teague

HOME STYLE AND STAGING LLC - Knoxville, TN

Home Style and Staging Knoxville. TN

Sally, what a great post...lets see, if the couch looks boring then I chop, if there is alot of color or pattens I don't chop...I do a combination of toss and fold, I fold the the throw but make it loss as if it is tossed...does that make sense ?

Jan 02, 2012 12:09 AM

Mary Lou Teague

HOME STYLE AND STAGING LLC - Knoxville, TN

Home Style and Staging Knoxville. TN

Sally, Thank you so much for posting on STAGING STORIES your post is so entertaining !! You have received a Gold Star and have been highlighted...Thanks again for sharing,

Mary Lou Teague

Jan 02, 2012 12:15 AM

Sally Weatherley

EXIT STAGE RIGHT - Vancouver, BC

Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C

Mary Lou - I like your method - if the sofa looks boring, chop and if there's too much colour, keep the cushions simple by not chopping. At the end of the day, there's no right or wrong answer, but it's interesting to hear how others operate.

Thank you for the big, shiny, gold star!

Jan 03, 2012 03:43 AM