Before the 2012 chaos starts, get your home office rockin’

By
Real Estate Agent with RE/MAX Advantage Realty FA100041320

 

Before the 2012 chaos starts, get your home office rockin’, Colorado Springs. All you need is a little inspiration to move your home office from bland to spicey.

 

My client was very aware she needed to clean up, declutter and organize her home office, but more than that - she yearned for some rich color in her wonderful attic space and wasn’t afraid to shake things up (since I’m also a color consultant, she’s my kind of gal). This bonus room wasn’t working for her, and she didn’t enjoy the time she spent up there.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I found this gorgeous rug rolled up in a closet of her basement. She always liked it, but had carpet upstairs and wasn’t sure where to put it.  This little treasure was our jumping point for the room.

 

On a tight budget, my only purchases were a clock, pillows and a few frames (all 50% off) to honor her boys’ artwork. We really didn’t need anything else.

 

I carried the theme into her powder room as well. Her neighbor had painted a small picture,  so we repurposed an old bandana and changed out the mat on a frame to give it more prominence.

 

What do you have lying around your house to give you inspiration? It’s always much more personal to use what you have instead of buying new. If you're unsure where to start, contact a professional home stager. They can make your home office a place that stirs your soul and inspires you to do your best work!

 

Cheers to a successful sale!

 

 

Kim Gaston

Home Stylist, Interior Redesigner, Color Consultant

Front Porch Interiors, LLC

style to sell * style to stay

~ delighted to style Colorado Springs and the Front Range communities.

Posted by

 

Colorado Springs Realtor

 Front Porch Real Estate

Front Porch Team Real Estate & Property Styling | kimgaston719@gmail.com

If you'd like to know how we can creatively stage and sell your home for the most money in the shortest time,

please call me at 719-661-6987.  

To view inspiring Before & After staging photos, visit my portfolio at:  www.FrontPorchInteriors.com

 

 follow me on linkedin    facebook     Pinterest 

Comments (24)

Carol Zingone
Berkshire Hathaway Home Services Florida Network Realty - Jacksonville Beach, FL
Global Realtor in Jax Beach, FL - ABR, CRS, CIPS
Great post! It's so important to be comfortable where you work - thanks!
Dec 27, 2011 05:17 AM
Kim Gaston
RE/MAX Advantage Realty - Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs REALTOR®, CNE (719)661-6987

Hi Deborah, I agree, its always a boost to find a new way to love an old thing!

Sea to Sky, thank you - I appreciate you stopping by!

Thanks so much, Kathy. She loves it and even her boys like to sneak up there to do homework:)

WIN, thanks, there are lots of tricks to help with that - an area rug that defines your work space from your personal, living space can be the grounding element. Artwork is a must (something that speaks to you) and, most importantly, choose colors that complement and encourage a cohesive flow throughout the space. Good luck and email me pics if you'd like some additional help. :)

Thank you, Carol. Your space should reflect your style and then the productivity comes naturally!

Dec 27, 2011 05:54 AM
Joan Whitebook
BHG The Masiello Group - Nashua, NH
Consumer Focused Real Estate Services

Hi Kim ~ very clever use of the homeowner's items to create a fun and functional new space.  I'm sure she was thrilled with the outcome!

Dec 27, 2011 08:25 AM
Maureen Bray Portland OR Home Stager ~ Room Solutions Staging
Room Solutions Staging, Portland OR - Portland, OR
"Staging Consultations that Sell Portland Homes"

Hi Kim ~ the comment above (#7) is actually from ME.  For some reason, AR went HAYWIRE for a while today and everything I did showed up as Joan Whitebook!!  Very strange!!

Dec 27, 2011 08:45 AM
Kim Gaston
RE/MAX Advantage Realty - Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs REALTOR®, CNE (719)661-6987

Hi Maureen, (alias Joan!), how bizarre. Are Joan's comments showing up as Maureen? :) 

Thanks for clearing it up - Happy New Year!

Dec 27, 2011 09:00 AM
Sally Weatherley
EXIT STAGE RIGHT - Vancouver, BC
Vancouver Home Staging, Home Stager Vancouver, B.C

Mmmmmmm, I love those rich wall colours you chose!  Brilliant to use the rug as the jumping off point. 

Dec 27, 2011 03:28 PM
Ginger Foust
Certified Staging Professional - Oakhurst, CA
Home Stager Oakhurst CA, Dream Interior Redesign & Staging

Love the warm wall colors and how you used the rug as your inspiration.  Very well done Kim!

Dec 27, 2011 03:34 PM
Kim Gaston
RE/MAX Advantage Realty - Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs REALTOR®, CNE (719)661-6987

Thank you, Sally. The rug really tied in the denim loveseat she already had and Sherwin Williams Tigereye brought in the drama.

Hi Ginger, I thought the scale of the room with its high, pitched ceiling and steep dormers could handle a deeper hue. It feels like a treehouse up there! Thanks so much.

Dec 27, 2011 04:11 PM
Janet Jones
Just Your Style Interiors, LLC - Kihei, HI
Home Staging, Interior Redesign Kihei, Maui, Hawaii

Hi Kim--the room is really "Wow" now and I am sure your client is delighted.  I would love to work in that space--so warm and inviting.  Nice work. 

Dec 27, 2011 05:35 PM
Kathy Nielsen
http://atlantahomestaging.net - Marietta, GA
Atlanta Georgia Home Stager

You found some awesome treasures within the home and used them nicely. I'm not the least bit surprised to hear she liked it.

Congratulations. Your home staging is being featured in the group Staging Before and After Pictures.

Kathy

Dec 27, 2011 10:28 PM
Kim Gaston
RE/MAX Advantage Realty - Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs REALTOR®, CNE (719)661-6987

Thank you, Janet. She was a brave girl, and kept leaning towards more saturated, warm hues, so off we went! Have a wonderfully, warm Happy New Year in the Aloha state!

Thank you so much for the feature, Kathy! I greatly appreciate the support and hope its okay that this is an Interior Redesign (or Staged to live) rather than Staged to sell. Hope your New Year is happy, healthy and blessed!

Dec 28, 2011 12:14 AM
Michelle Finnamore
Toronto GTA, Alliston, Newmarket - Vaughan, ON
Preparing your property for sale

HI Kim, love the repurposing of the bandana, I've used wallpaper and magazine pages before but this is a great new tip. Thanks for sharing.  The office definitely looks like the person working there means business. Terrific transforamtion. Your client must love working in the space now.

Dec 29, 2011 01:02 AM
Kim Gaston
RE/MAX Advantage Realty - Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs REALTOR®, CNE (719)661-6987

Hi Michelle, sounds like you're pretty resourceful - I've used wallpaper, but not magazine pages, so thanks for your tip. She tells me its her little escape sometimes from what's happening down below. :) Thanks for coming by!

Dec 29, 2011 02:27 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
New Hampshire Home Stager

Beautiful results!  I once designed an entire first floor inspired by the seller's favorite mixing bowl so I understand starting with the rug!

Dec 29, 2011 04:57 AM
Kim Gaston
RE/MAX Advantage Realty - Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs REALTOR®, CNE (719)661-6987

Thanks Sharon, its funny where inspiration can come from...a mixing bowl is a new one for sure, and an entire floor is crazy!! :)

Dec 30, 2011 09:21 AM
Kathy Strader
Memorial Staged Homes - Houston, TX
ASP

It is so fun to repurpose and rearrange.  Your client must have been over the moon.  Love the pictures.  Congratulations.

Dec 31, 2011 03:22 AM
Kim Gaston
RE/MAX Advantage Realty - Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs REALTOR®, CNE (719)661-6987

Thank you, Kathy. She had a lot of family photos, kids' school artwork, and collections, so we did need to edit, but the room still reflects her, her personality (very vibrant), and the treasures she loves. Happy New Year!

Jan 01, 2012 12:57 AM
Margaret Gehr
Chicagoland Home Staging LLC - Naperville, IL

I think its always more rewarding when you are create something beautiful with whats already there. Great job

Jan 01, 2012 05:36 AM
Tori Toth
Tori Toth, International - Howard Beach, NY
888.667.6643 NYC & Beyond, HSR, SAR, RESA, LIBOR

I'm working on it trying to fix up my office for 2012.

Jan 02, 2012 07:18 AM
Kim Gaston
RE/MAX Advantage Realty - Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs REALTOR®, CNE (719)661-6987

Hi Margaret, yes putting a new spin on an old thing (in this case, the rug) is repurposing at its best. Thank you!

Tori, me too. I need some bookshelves and have been eyeing a couple from IKEA that I'd like to customize. 

Jan 03, 2012 03:10 AM

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