Decorating Secrets Revealed
Ever seen a great room in a decor magazine or show and wondered, “man, how do they make it look that good?” The answer is simple: trade secrets! Designers and decorators have written and rewritten the book on making their clients’ homes feel more comfortable and complete; and they all have go-to tricks that deliver …
Laundry Closets – moving on up!
Over the past few years, I have noticed the spaces allocated to laundry are getting smaller and moving up! Instead of dedicated laundry rooms in basements, many suburban and urban homes feature laundry closets, in upstairs hallways, just off master bedrooms, or bathrooms. Below are some tips to keep in mind when planning to upgrade …
Great gifts ideas for the men on your list…from your local thrift store
I am a big proponent of supporting local small businesses, so I often visit area thrift stores looking to find items to use in upcoming home stagings that add character and life to my projects. On recent thrift store hunts I’ve also stumbled upon some wonderful gift items that can be highly personalized to reflect the personality of …
Add drama to your walls – even as a renter!
I always get questions about how to dress walls from renters, especially when painting is not an option. There are plenty of options — from fabric covered walls to hanging large pieces of art and decorating with stencils — but I was still not satisfied with those options. Since I stage so many homes with …
Home buyers are bringing color back!
About 6 years ago, my company offered Color Consultations to home owners who struggled with white and unpainted walls. It was a great way to start a relationship with a potential design client and for the homeowner to ‘test’ out working with an interior designer. While our business is now focused primarily on home staging, …
Dramatic kitchen flooring makes a difference!
I met with one of my favorite clients a few years ago to discuss her kitchen. She recently upgraded her appliances to stainless steel and had the cabinet fronts changed to bamboo. After marveling over the look of the new items, we turned to address the floor. She had secured a number of dark colored …
Use art to brighten your home!
When I first started working as an interior decorator, I was surprised at how few people painted their walls and hung art on them. I have since started and continue to do paint/color consultations to help my clients confidently choose color but still find folks are nervous about using art in the home. First – …
My Favorite Modern Outdoor Room
Recently, I was fortunate to join a small and exclusive group of design bloggers, interior designers, and interior decorators, representing 28 states and 4 countries, for Blogfest 2012, a design event hosted by Kravet Fabrics. As part of the event, we were able to see two fabulous showhouses, which have both recently opened in New …
Need to update a small kitchen before selling? Spend wisely…
So you need your dated kitchen in tip top shape in order to sell your home, but you find yourself short of the typical $30-40K for a full upgrade. What to do? As a home stager, my experience has shown three key areas of the kitchen that are important to home buyers – appliances, counter …