Sheila:  I posted and then left for the day to visit my parents at the lake.  What a nice surprise to come home to!  The powers that be obviously agreed with you about featuring!  Thank you!

Debbie:  Too often people are focused on the wrong thing.  The sellers who don't want to be inconvenienced while selling and want the buyers to "see past" their stuff and homeowners who are too hung up on what's trendy instead of what makes them happy.

Valerie:  Lesson learned!  I'm sure they were expensive and once we spend money on window treatments it's like we HAVE to live with them....it's hard to admit you don't like your own choice.

Sally & David:  You have to be happy....that's the bottom line!  Unless you are for sale...then you want happy buyers!

Dorie:  The post didn't start out being about the difference between staging and decorating.  When I thought about how sad it was that this couple lived "hating" the way their home looked, I realized many other people probably are living the same way.  I just wanted to make the point about choosing what makes you happy and it went from there.

Christiansen Team:  Thank you, and thanks for linking back to my other post!

Kim:  Agreed.  It all just gets thrown together in people's minds....staging/decorating one and the same.  I don't have a problem with people thinking I'm a decorator...but I have not had the training and it wouldn't be right to call myself one.  I'm always quite clear with clients looking for "decorating" advice.

Michael:  You've got it!  Thanks for stopping by!

Kathy:  Thank you!  Life is too short to hate your wall colors or your furniture too.  There's always something we can do to refresh and renew!  It doesn't have to be expensive to make your home a happier place.

Mary:  It's an easy way for sellers to understand that they are going to have to make some changes.  It's always important to add that staging has nothing to do with their personal style or taste....you never want to insult them.  

Ella:  It's the strategic marketing of a product.  Companies go to great lengths to choose packaging that will appeal to buyers, why should selling a house be any different?

Richie:  Thank you for the nomination!  An honor!

Laura:  I've seen the same thing, and it's beyond me.  "That's the color it was when we bought the house" or "I don't know how it got broken, it was broken when we moved here."  I just don't get it.

Chris & Dick:  At least your mother was smart enough to show Rob the door!  Wonder what Rob is doing today, LOL!

Sally:  Been there, done that!  LOL!  Hope you straightened him out before losing too much of that beautiful har!

Kate:  Agreed, make it yours or don't bother!

Pam:  I once chose paint colors based on a clients pasta bowl.  She was thrilled with the results!

Roger:  You didn't miss it, you are here!  Agree....we should guide not make the decisions for them.  Well said!

Alexandra:  For some people, it's all about the status or having something they think others will be impressed with.  I'ld rather be happy!

Joanna:  You don't expect to have to tell people it's ok to pick what they like.  Many times it's just a matter of validating their choices.  They just need someone to say it's going to look good.

Tatyana:  It's all about the buyer when you are selling!

Lloyd:  Plenty of pics of the kids to share on Wednesdays.  Stay tuned!

Good question about acquiring taste.  I would think each person would be different.  I think you could learn to like a color or a style if exposed to it over time.  In this case, they had plenty of time and it wasn't happening, LOL!

I know certain styles of clothing are ugly to me when they first start appearing, but then after seeing the look on TV and in magazines and it becomes quite popular, I end up liking it...maybe that's just me falling into the fashion trap of designers.

Ana:  Funny how people think....she was so relieved to be given permission to remove the rug.  If only she had asked for permission sooner!

Charlie:  We give others too much power sometimes when it comes to our own lives.

Al & Peggy:  As long as they are happy, that's the important thing!

Maureen:  You know as well as I do that nothing I said was "new", but it's nice to think that I've helped more people to understand.  Thank you!

Lou:  Thanks for stopping by!

Anna:  That was a brave decision!  I'm sure the new look will be gorgeous!  I hope you will be sharing pictures.

Peg:  I just did a follow up with this client and turns out it was more like 20 yrs!  The poor thing!  I think staging this house has been therapeutic for her.