Redesigns

(photo by ShutterSparks)

I recent took on a client who wants me to redesign her existing home right now but at the same time preparing it for sale 2-3 years down the line. When I suggested green finishes, she was very open to it.

This is why:

a) Green finishes are healthier to live in the home, especially if you have young children and pets. They roll around in those finishes every day on the floor, touching the wall, you want to make sure the finishes are quality green materials that is safe to live in. It’s also better for your installer, they don’t need to breathe in those terrible chemical smells. Moreover, you are not exposed to off-gasing from non-green materials or chemical glue. In typical carpet installation, the chemical glue emits toxic off-gasing for 8 years after it is installed. 8 years!!! Do you want your children or grandchildren to breathe that toxic in for 8 years?!

b) Quality green finishes and materials perform just as well as non-green finishes, if not better. Take the new green fabrics for example, they breath well therefore reduce the chance for skin allergy. They are not processed in chemicals so they are healthier to wear or to sleep in. You are not rubbing those chemicals off your skin that can cause irritations and rashes, you sleep better. You sleep better, you perform better during the day. Not a bad bargain at all.

c) Green finishes increase RESALE value. It’s true. By being more environmentally conscious and by installing green finishes and green appliances, you are reducing the costs to maintain your home, utilities and helping the planet out. With an rapid increase awareness of being green and eco-friendly, using green finishes and materials make the continue

As part of my ASPM (Accredited Staging Professional MASTER) training with the Creator of Home Staging, Barb Schwarz, my Final was to make over part of my hotel room with $100 budget using the existing furnishing from the hotel. I had a great time shopping at Home Goods (my favorite stores hands down!). It was quite a rush to do everything in a short time frame and a small budget. It turned out to be quite difficult to shop when I was only allowed to use $100!

Here is the Before:

Here is the After: continue

I surprise-visited little raspberries recently (so the owner won’t clean up before I show up hee hee, I can find out how they really organize the store…) which is a infant & children’s resale boutique that I had a couple consultation sessions with back in January. The owners didn’t have much money but they had been acting on my suggestions from our consultation sessions and working toward making the store more organized and transforming into the space that they dreamed about when they first bought the store last December.

Formerly known as Darla’s Baby Boutique, when mr. & mrs. raspberry bought the store, the original owner was weary of the space. Her heart was no longer in it and the customers felt it. The store was disorganized and messy. The inventory wasn’t working. The sales had plummeted. I felt very inspired after listening to mrs. raspberry about her vision for the store and how she wanted the store to be a space for the community. That’s something that I model my business after, so I glad took on the challenge. The store carries both resale and new inventories, as well as very bulky items such as strollers, play structures, etc. which can be tricky when it comes to organization. Also, when I was at the store for the first time, the paint job was very outdated, pealing and faded. Moreover, the display were messy and dis-organized. The inventory looked drabby and outdated. We knew it was going to be quite a challenge when we first met.

We decided that the scope of the project would include:
*Shopping assistance
*Redesigning the space
*Redesigning the shopping experience for boutique’s clients
*Creating a community space
*Streamline the inventory flow process to increase profits
*Cosmetic changes such as color consultations, furnitures, etc.

We were only able to meet twice, however, they had made a lot of great changes following my suggestions:

Here are some photos when we first begun:

Here is some after photos (still work in progress but I am SO proud of what they had done and how far they had come!): continue

I was SO happy when I met with the seller today to de-stage the home and he told me that their house has been sold $49,000 OVERASKING! It took a little bit longer than they thought, but they got there. I staged it on 8/3/2007 and they received their offer on 9/29/2007. Not bad in a rough housing market, eh?

It was a really fun redesign project. The home owner had a lot of traditional Chinese furniture with detailed carvings that tell stories of folklores. The feet of the dining room chairs had lions’ feet on them. I covered the chairs with white slipcovers to neutralize the chairs but kept the other pieces since my first motto in staging is “always working with seller’s budget, and work with what they’ve got.” The furniture pieces left were also very large and heavy to move. So it was much easier for the sellers to deal with since they have young children and another on its way. I put runners on larger chests where the details become less distracting. The neighborhood is also in an area of San Francisco where there is a large Chinese population.

While I kept the ethnic details in Dining Room & Living Room, I toned them down with continue

I have been lurking Bemz for awhile now and finally they have opened up the American market. You may be asking.. What the heck is Bemz?! What Bemz does is taking your worn out IKEA furnishing and adding a new life by its transforming and versatile slipcovers. They are absolutely AMAZING.

Let me show you what I meant:

Here is one of my favorite couches — Klippan. It goes everywhere and I am sure you have seen it appearing at various TV show sets and commercial spaces. It’s sleek, clean and fabulous. In fact, it was a elimination challenge of HGTV’s Design Star.

But all white can be boring sometimes. Enter Bemz.

Pretty cool, huh?

This is a guest blog by Nate from imagekind.com, where you can buy high quality framed wall art. You can also create & sell your own art. It’s pretty nifty.

5 Simple Tips for Decorating with Art
Choosing art can be a difficult process. Not only are there millions of pieces out there for you to sift through, look at, dismiss and decide upon, you must also have a good understanding of what it is you are trying to accomplish when decorating with art. Below are five simple tips that can make selecting artwork easier and ultimately more enjoyable.

• Connect with it: You have to find art you like! Of course, this might seem obvious, but it can often be left out of the equation when selecting art. Don’t be so willing to take other people’s opinion of what is “good” and neglect to understand your own. Art is many things to many people, but when choosing how to decorate with it, it needs to be yours and yours alone. Whether the piece inspires you, calms you, excites you or just generally makes you happy, that is where you need to start.
• Blend it: Not only should the artwork affect you internally and emotionally, it must help create a space that surrounds you externally. Aside from within the walls of a museum, art is rarely viewed independently. Meaning, there are usually other elements that will affect your perception of the piece. Whether it is furnishings, accessories or the people who occupy the space, the art you choose should be a reflection of that and be able to pull it all together.
• Hang it: What good is wall art if is not on the wall? Here are a few tips for hanging your artwork:
• Bigger is often better by creating more of a statement. Go with small prints on narrow walls large works for large surface areas.
• When hanging above a desk, try to get the frame about five to ten inches above the desktop. Also, when hanging wall art over furniture, it should generally not be longer than the piece of furniture.
• Hang art so that the center point of the piece is at eye level for the average person. However, with high ceilings, it is often times good to go up a bit, if you are trying to emphasize the height. Bring the print lower if you want to create the feeling of a smaller space.
• Mat it: A white or subtle cream mat is what you may often see in stock or default art prints because it brings the most amount of focus to the artwork itself. However, when actually decorating with art, you might choose something that gives the artwork a complete and whole look, emphasizing colors and surroundings. To create maximum impact with your prints, consider choosing a mat that contrasts your wall color: light mat with a dark wall and dark mat for wall painted with a light color.
• Frame it: Usually, when selecting a frame, you want to avoid choosing a color that is too similar to the color of the mat you chose. Again, like mat and wall colors, it is a good idea to find a mat and frame option easily distinguished by the eye. A dark mat and a dark frame can leave the eye confused as to where one starts, and the other begins. Blending and selecting mat and frame colors that are evident within the painting itself, can provide a cohesive and complete look. Like a well-dressed suit, you can think of the mat and frame like a sharp shirt and tie combination.

Nate Jelovich is an online art consultant at www.imagekind.com where he works extensively with interior decorators, designers, redesigners and home stagers find that perfect art print for all their decorating needs.

Whether you are staging homes or just entertaining guests in your home, a little bit elegant and fun presentation can go a long way. It not only makes the table looks nice, adds points of interests, it can also be a great conversation starter if you are strapped for topics

• The Easiest Folds
  • Scarf Fold
  • Traditional Fold
  • Rolling Fold
  • Goblet Fan Fold
  • Knotted Fold
  • Tailored Fold

• Complicated Folds
  • Pocket Fold
  • Stand Up Fan Fold
  • Three Point “Hat” Fold
  • Cuffed Roll Fold
  • Tulip Fold
  • Cat’s Paw Fold
  • Triangle Pocket Fold

Here are some more resources (there are a few repeats here, but sometimes it’s easier to see from different diagrams):

• 27 ways to fold @ Napkin Folding Guides
• Learn Fancy Napkin Folds
• Napkin Folding Arrangements from WeddingDetails.com
• Table Setting Instructions from Butler’s Guild
• Napkin Folding Guide by Milliken Table Linens